Genetic Resources and Improvement of Forage Plants
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetic Resources".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1240
Special Issue Editors
Interests: apomixis; plant genetic systems; plant evolutionary genetics; plant genetic resources; plant genomic analysis; plant molecular genetics; plant reproduction; forage grass improvement; polyploidy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: polyploidy; genetic systems; plant fertility; plant meiotic behavior; plant hybridization; plant evolutionary genetics; plant genetic resource characterization; plant genetics; apomixis; plant reproduction; seed production; germination
Interests: genetic resources; plant breeding; forage ecology and management
Interests: plant genetics; plant breeding; hybridization; molecular marker-assisted genetic improvement; genetic population
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue, "Genetic Resources and Improvement of Forage Plants", focuses on the paramount significance of genetic resources and advancements in the improvement of forage plants, particularly considering the escalating global demand for animal protein, compounded by the challenges posed by climate change and the imperative of sustainable production practices. This issue aims to underscore the critical role of collecting and characterizing genetic resources of forage plants, including non-domesticated wild species, alongside the utilization of cutting-edge genetic improvement tools.
Forage plants are fundamental to global food security, providing essential nutrients for livestock and supporting the sustainable production of meat, milk, and other animal-derived products. The need for improved genetic resources and breeding methodologies is urgent to address issues such as climate change, land degradation, and shifting consumer preferences.
The collection and characterization of genetic resources, especially from wild species, offer untapped genetic diversity and resilience traits that can be harnessed through innovative breeding programs. Advances in genomic technologies, gene editing, and high-throughput phenotyping promise to accelerate the pace and precision of forage crop improvement efforts.
This Special Issue extends an earnest invitation to researchers, students, and plant breeders to contribute their insights, findings, and reviews. Submissions may encompass a spectrum of topics, including but not limited to germplasm characterization, trait mapping, genomic selection, marker-assisted breeding, and genetic engineering. Contributions exploring the use of wild relatives, omics technologies, and computational approaches are particularly encouraged
Dr. Eric Javier Martínez
Dr. Ana Isabel Honfi
Dr. Carlos Alberto Acuña
Dr. Elsa Andrea Brugnoli
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
- breeding programs
- forage plants
- genetic diversity
- genetic engineering
- genetic improvement
- genetic resources
- genomic selection
- marker-assisted selection
- molecular breeding
- phenotyping
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
