About this Research Topic

Background

The global population is increasing at a much faster pace than an increase in the genetic gain for food production by plant breeding. Therefore, we must find ways or methods to improve our food production if we are to ensure food security for all. This special edition is about the novel ways or methodologies that crop or plant scientists are working on to improve crop yield. This could fall under the physiological, biochemical, molecular, or even any novel technological approaches such as phenotyping to rapidly select or find traits that are vital for the improvement of current germplasm to make them resilient to an ever-changing environment.

Crop yield, especially grain yield, is a very complex trait to deconvolute and understand as it is influenced by so many factors. With the recent unprecedented weather events where plants are subjected to extreme temperatures (low and high), it is imperative to find ways quickly to screen for varieties that can withstand these changes. Novel ways or methods in the various disciplines (physiology, molecular, phenotyping, biochemical) that can help to identify rapidly the traits related to yield in crops that can lead to an increase in productivity will be informative and help the scientific community to be up to date with recent progress.

We are looking for state-of- the art technologies/methodologies that researchers have been investigating to improve crop yield at any level (cellular, leaf or canopy) to bring to the scientific community by disseminating the information in our refereed journal. Your research needs to focus on how we can increase crop yield for the next decade to keep pace with the increasing human population. We will consider all crops though emphasis will be more on the major crops that are feeding the world. Any major breakthrough in technologies, discovery of new genes or identification of physiological traits that are linked to crop yield will be of considerable interest for this edition. The topics are that will be considered are as follows:

• Physiological traits linked to grain yield

• New phenotyping methods for rapid screening of traits

• New genes discovery associated with increase in yield

• Studies of photosynthesis related to biomass production

Keywords: crop yield, global population, food production, cellular, leaf, canopy, biomass

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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