Crop plants are constantly exposed to multiple abiotic (such as drought, salinity, cold, flooding, heavy metal, and heat) and/or biotic (bacterial/fungal/viral) stress factors that hinder their growth and development, subsequently leading to decreases in quality and yield. During the last two decades, many classical genetic and breeding approaches have been used to develop stress-tolerant and climate-adaptable plants that can provide a better yield to meet food demands. Climate change poses a major risk to food security as the world faces frequent floods, droughts, heat waves, and the emergence of new invasive pests and diseases. Novel genomic and genetic approaches look promising to improve plant resilience under stress conditions and achieve sustainable crop improvements.Recent advances in sequencing technologies have facilitated the generation of a plethora of genomic resources in a variety of crop and plant species. With the increased availability of genomic and transcriptomic data, an increasing number of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes are being identified for their application in improving plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. New approaches such as genomic selection and genomic-assisted breeding have been utilized to develop stress-tolerant cultivars in a variety of plant species. Furthermore, transgenics and rapidly evolving CRISPR technology offer great potential for plant improvement. This Research Topic aims to provide insights into the molecular and genetic factors involved in imparting abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants and their application in enhancing plant adaptation to these stress conditions. To review the progress in this research category, we invite manuscripts related to the plant responses to abiotic/biotic stresses and trait improvement through genomic selection, and transgenic or gene-editing approaches. Studies including physiological, biochemical, and molecular genetic analyses revealing the mechanisms involved in plant response to abiotic/biotic stresses are welcome. We welcome submissions as original research, reviews/mini-reviews, and opinion articles, that address (but are not limited to) the following themes:• Strategies for improving abiotic/biotic stress tolerance in plants• Transcriptomic and genomic (Genome-wide association mapping and QTL) studies underpinning the molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic/biotic stress tolerance • Understanding the morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular stress-responsive mechanisms • Application of genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas genome-editing in improving plant performance in abiotic/biotic conditions• Impact of combined abiotic and biotic stresses on plant growth and productivity• Accelerating crop genetic gains through genomic selection under stress conditions• Development of SNP markers for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance and plant disease resistance• Multi-omics approaches for gene/trait validation and crop improvement• Validation of desired traits and genes in model, crop, and tree speciesTopic editor Dr. Balaji Aravindhan Pandian is employed by Enko Chem Inc. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Crop plants are constantly exposed to multiple abiotic (such as drought, salinity, cold, flooding, heavy metal, and heat) and/or biotic (bacterial/fungal/viral) stress factors that hinder their growth and development, subsequently leading to decreases in quality and yield. During the last two decades, many classical genetic and breeding approaches have been used to develop stress-tolerant and climate-adaptable plants that can provide a better yield to meet food demands. Climate change poses a major risk to food security as the world faces frequent floods, droughts, heat waves, and the emergence of new invasive pests and diseases. Novel genomic and genetic approaches look promising to improve plant resilience under stress conditions and achieve sustainable crop improvements.Recent advances in sequencing technologies have facilitated the generation of a plethora of genomic resources in a variety of crop and plant species. With the increased availability of genomic and transcriptomic data, an increasing number of quantitative trait loci and candidate genes are being identified for their application in improving plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. New approaches such as genomic selection and genomic-assisted breeding have been utilized to develop stress-tolerant cultivars in a variety of plant species. Furthermore, transgenics and rapidly evolving CRISPR technology offer great potential for plant improvement. This Research Topic aims to provide insights into the molecular and genetic factors involved in imparting abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants and their application in enhancing plant adaptation to these stress conditions. To review the progress in this research category, we invite manuscripts related to the plant responses to abiotic/biotic stresses and trait improvement through genomic selection, and transgenic or gene-editing approaches. Studies including physiological, biochemical, and molecular genetic analyses revealing the mechanisms involved in plant response to abiotic/biotic stresses are welcome. We welcome submissions as original research, reviews/mini-reviews, and opinion articles, that address (but are not limited to) the following themes:• Strategies for improving abiotic/biotic stress tolerance in plants• Transcriptomic and genomic (Genome-wide association mapping and QTL) studies underpinning the molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic/biotic stress tolerance • Understanding the morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular stress-responsive mechanisms • Application of genetic engineering and CRISPR/Cas genome-editing in improving plant performance in abiotic/biotic conditions• Impact of combined abiotic and biotic stresses on plant growth and productivity• Accelerating crop genetic gains through genomic selection under stress conditions• Development of SNP markers for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance and plant disease resistance• Multi-omics approaches for gene/trait validation and crop improvement• Validation of desired traits and genes in model, crop, and tree speciesTopic editor Dr. Balaji Aravindhan Pandian is employed by Enko Chem Inc. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.