About this Research Topic
The projected rise in global population requires concurrent increases in agricultural output to ensure worldwide food security. Likewise, the rise of diet-related, non-communicable diseases necessitates the consumption of more nutritious crops to help mitigate the prevalence of hidden hunger, obesity, and autoimmune disorders. The sustainable approach is to improve the yield and nutritional value of the most widely consumed crops (e.g., rice, maize, wheat, potato, soybean) and not expand the amount of land allocated to agriculture, as this puts stress on the environment.
Crop yield can be improved by targeting traits related to photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and utilization, plant architecture, storage organ number/size/weight, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and postharvest storage. Similarly, the nutritional quality of crops can be enhanced through macronutrient (e.g., carbohydrate, protein, oil) or micronutrient (e.g., vitamins, antioxidants, minerals) engineering, as well as by reducing antinutrient content. Despite the recent advancements, there is a growing need for further research in crop trait modification. Genome editing can help engineer these traits faster and easier than ever, heralding a new era of precision agriculture.
We invite contributions to our Research Topic, which will explore innovative advancements in genome editing techniques applied to crop plants. Specifically, we encourage manuscripts addressing the following themes:
• Boosting crop yield: how genome editing can improve crop productivity through yield-enhancing modifications;
• Enhancing stress tolerance: genome editing techniques to improve biotic and abiotic stress tolerance of plants;
• Engineering crop primary metabolism: strategies to increase or alter carbohydrate, protein, and lipid content in plants using genome editing tools;
• Production of beneficial compounds: research on genome-edited plants that produce valuable secondary metabolites;
• Reducing antinutrients: approaches to reducing the harmful content of plants through genome editing.
Submissions related to the development of novel genome editing tools that demonstrate the potential of trait improvement as well as proof of concept studies that demonstrate transgene-free gene editing are also encouraged. We welcome Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles that contribute to the field of sustainable crop improvement using genome editing techniques.
Keywords: crop breeding, genome editing, CRISPR, crop yield, genomics, stress tolerance, biotic stress, abiotic stress, secondary metabolites, CRISPR-Cas9
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.