About this Research Topic
During the latest ten years, fast breeding technologies have been effectively applied in crop trait modification, gene mapping, and functional genomics study, which include haploid induction based on inducer lines, genome editing mediated by CRISPR/Cas9, and molecular selection based on special markers. By using CRISPR/Cas9, many crop traits such as disease resistance, good quality, early maturity, high grain weight, male sterile, and pre-harvest sprouting tolerance have been modified in a few generations. Particularly, new haploid inducer lines have been created in maize, rice, Arabidopsis, wheat, alfalfa, foxtail millet, tomato, and Brassica oleracea by editing MTL (PLA1/NLD), DMP, and PLD3 genes via CRISPR/Cas9 for largely producing haploid grains directly. Additionally, new types of molecular markers have been developed and used to trace agronomically important traits for easily screening and locating gene position on chromosomes for gene cloning, except for generally employed makers like SSR, SNP, and EST.
To our well knowledge, novel crop varieties play more and more important roles in agriculture production, which are definitely up to the exploration and application of some key germplasm resources, so-called seed chips. Up to date, crop germplasm and variety have been mainly developed by conventional strategies, which are always time-consuming. Using the aforementioned techniques, the period for breeding new crop varieties and germplasms can be greatly shortened. Therefore, it is necessary to organize a Research Topic for collectively reporting the achievements on the applications of fast breeding technologies in genetic improvement and functional genomics study in various plants. The release of this article collection will certainly accelerate the development of new germplasms and varieties as well as the cloning of target genes in crops.
In this Research Topic, we welcome all article types published by Frontiers in Plant Science, which optimize or summarize fast breeding technologies and emphasize the application of the technologies in developing new germplasm and dissecting gene function in various crops. Especially we encourage studies that focus on the following subthemes:
• Crop mutant creation on important agronomic, botanic, and economic traits by genome editing technologies
• Development of haploid inducer lines in dicot and monocot crops by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and their applications in developing germplasms
• Investigation on the mechanism of haploid embryo formation induced by haploid inducer
• Characterization of targeted genes assisted with genome editing haploid induction techniques
• Development of molecular markers closely linked with targeted traits and their applications in material development and gene mapping
• Development and application of visual screening techniques and efficient chromosome doubling techniques of haploid grains
To our well knowledge, novel crop varieties play more and more important roles in agriculture production, which are definitely up to the exploration and application of some key germplasm resources, so-called seed chips. Up to date, crop germplasm and variety have been mainly developed by conventional strategies, which are always time-consuming. Using the aforementioned techniques, the period for breeding new crop varieties and germplasms can be greatly shortened. Therefore, it is necessary to organize a Research Topic for collectively reporting the achievements on the applications of fast breeding technologies in genetic improvement and functional genomics study in various plants. The release of this article collection will certainly accelerate the development of new germplasms and varieties as well as the cloning of target genes in crops.
In this Research Topic, we welcome all article types published by Frontiers in Plant Science, which optimize or summarize fast breeding technologies and emphasize the application of the technologies in developing new germplasm and dissecting gene function in various crops. Especially we encourage studies that focus on the following subthemes:
• Crop mutant creation on important agronomic, botanic, and economic traits by genome editing technologies
• Development of haploid inducer lines in dicot and monocot crops by CRISPR/Cas9 technology and their applications in developing germplasms
• Investigation on the mechanism of haploid embryo formation induced by haploid inducer
• Characterization of targeted genes assisted with genome editing haploid induction techniques
• Development of molecular markers closely linked with targeted traits and their applications in material development and gene mapping
• Development and application of visual screening techniques and efficient chromosome doubling techniques of haploid grains
Keywords: Crop, Fast breeding, Haploid induction, Molecular marker, Genome editing, Chromosome doubling
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.
