Genetic Diversity of Phenotypic Traits in Crops
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 101
Special Issue Editors
Interests: image-derived phenotypes; genetic/environmental data integration; prediction of complex traits; genomic variation; germplasm diversity; agricultural sustainability
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce a call for papers for a Special Issue of Plants titled “Genetic Diversity of Phenotypic Traits in Crops”. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research, comprehensive reviews, and forward-looking perspectives that advance our understanding of the genetic basis underlying phenotypic diversity in crops and its applications in crop improvement.
Crop phenotypic trait research is entering a transformative phase, driven by rapid advances in crop phenomics and integrative genetics. High-throughput phenotyping and remote sensing now enable the efficient extraction of image-based traits (e.g., canopy structure, root architecture) across large populations. Integrating these digital phenotypes with genomic/transcriptomic data, alongside computational tools (machine learning, AI), is revolutionizing the dissection of complex trait architectures and acceleration of breeding. Germplasm diversity—including wild relatives, landraces, and core collections—remains fundamental to crop improvement, harboring valuable alleles for stress tolerance, yield, and nutritional quality. Linking this diversity to measurable phenotypes is critical for building climate-resilient cropping systems amid growing global food demand.
We welcome original research articles, critical reviews, and insightful perspectives that address these questions and highlight:
- Innovative methodologies in crop phenomics, genomics, and integrative genetics;
- Theoretical advances in dissecting genotype–phenotype relationships and complex trait architecture;
- Practical applications of genetic diversity in crop breeding, stress resilience, and yield enhancement;
- Strategies for germplasm preservation, characterization, and utilization.
We believe this Special Issue will serve as a pivotal resource for researchers, breeders, and policymakers, providing new insights into the genetic diversity underlying crop phenotypic traits and its role in shaping the future of global crop improvement. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.
Dr. Qiaojun Lou
Dr. Kai Xu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- crop phenomics
- genetics of phenotypes
- image traits
- computation agriculture
- germplasms diversity
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