About this Research Topic
Translational research in plant science focuses on moving basic discoveries into practical applications for crop improvement. While significant advancements have been made in understanding plant structure, function, and development through studies on model species like Arabidopsis, translating these findings to crops presents unique challenges. Crops often exhibit polyploidy, high heterogeneity, and complex traits that are difficult to enhance. Despite the discovery of various genes that improve drought tolerance in controlled environments, only one cultivar, Monsanto’s DroughtGard TM maize, has been successfully commercialized for field production. This highlights the gap between basic research and its application in agriculture. Addressing this gap requires a holistic, cross-disciplinary approach that integrates genetics, epigenetics, and environmental interactions, along with innovative biotechnologies and synthetic biology.
This research topic aims to bridge the gap between basic plant research and practical crop improvement. The main objectives are to explore novel genetic components and mechanisms that can enhance crop traits and to develop innovative biotechnologies for translational research. Specific questions include how to effectively translate findings from model plants to crops and how to incorporate creative thinking and cross-disciplinary approaches to address the unique challenges posed by crop genetics and growth conditions. Hypotheses to be tested include the potential of novel genes or gene components to improve crop traits and the efficacy of synthetic biology in bioengineering crops.
To gather further insights into the translational research of crop trait improvement, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Crop breeding traits (such as yield, quality, biotic stress resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance)
- Crop management traits (including herbicide tolerance, fertilization, etc.)
- Field trials demonstrating the effects of trait improvement in agricultural settings
- Innovative biotechnologies for crop trait enhancement
- Synthetic biology applications in crop bioengineering
- Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating genetics, epigenetics, and environmental interactions
This research topic aims to bridge the gap between basic plant research and practical crop improvement. The main objectives are to explore novel genetic components and mechanisms that can enhance crop traits and to develop innovative biotechnologies for translational research. Specific questions include how to effectively translate findings from model plants to crops and how to incorporate creative thinking and cross-disciplinary approaches to address the unique challenges posed by crop genetics and growth conditions. Hypotheses to be tested include the potential of novel genes or gene components to improve crop traits and the efficacy of synthetic biology in bioengineering crops.
To gather further insights into the translational research of crop trait improvement, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Crop breeding traits (such as yield, quality, biotic stress resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance)
- Crop management traits (including herbicide tolerance, fertilization, etc.)
- Field trials demonstrating the effects of trait improvement in agricultural settings
- Innovative biotechnologies for crop trait enhancement
- Synthetic biology applications in crop bioengineering
- Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating genetics, epigenetics, and environmental interactions
Keywords: translational research, arabidopsis, model plants, crops, crop yield, stress
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.
