Genomics-assisted vegetable breeding integrates genomics, genetics, and breeding to enhance breeding programs. Traditional methods rely on time-consuming phenotypic selection, but with advancements like next-generation sequencing and annotation, breeders gain genome-wide genetic insights. Genome-wide studies like GWAS and QTL mapping unravel genetic complexities, aiding in trait understanding and novel variation discovery using molecular markers. By incorporating molecular markers, researchers pinpoint regions linked to key traits like yield and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance by enabling marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS). MAS selects plants based on marker presence, while GS predicts breeding value using genomic data, thus effectively streamlining the selection. Overall, genomics-assisted breeding accelerates the evolution of improved vegetable varieties and hybrids, which are vital for sustainable agriculture, food security, and global nutrition.
Traditional breeding methods in vegetable crops often rely solely on phenotypic selection, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and limited in scope. This approach may not efficiently capture the genetic variation underlying complex traits, hindering the development of improved vegetable varieties with desired agronomic traits, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Additionally, the genetic basis of many important vegetable traits remains poorly understood, further impeding breeding progress.
To address these challenges, adopting genomics-assisted breeding approaches in vegetables is essential. By integrating genomic tools, such as next-generation sequencing, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, bioinformatics analysis, and quantitative molecular genetics, breeders can gain deeper insights into the genetic architecture of vegetable crops. This enables identifying and characterizing genomic regions associated with key traits, facilitating marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) strategies for more precise and efficient breeding.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, opinion papers, and methodological advances that advance our understanding and application of genomics-assisted breeding in vegetable crops. We also encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and contributions from researchers, breeders, and practitioners across the vegetable breeding community. Manuscripts should present novel findings, methodologies, or insights that address the thematic areas outlined below:
- Studies elucidating the genetic diversity and population structure of vegetable crops using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), SNP arrays, or other high-throughput genotyping methods.
- Investigations into the evolutionary history, gene flow, and genetic relationships among different vegetable germplasm collections.
- Research identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with important agronomic traits in vegetables, including yield, quality, pest and disease resistance, and abiotic-stress tolerance.
- Studies focusing on marker discovery and development for trait-specific molecular breeding applications, such as MAS and genomic selection.
- Investigations into the functional characterization of candidate genes underlying target traits through transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches.
- Studies employing functional genomics tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and RNA interference (RNAi), to validate gene function and dissect regulatory networks in vegetable crops.
- Research utilizing GWAS approaches to identify genomic regions associated with complex traits in vegetable crops across diverse germplasm collections and environmental conditions.
- Studies exploring genotype-phenotype associations and marker-trait relationships to improve our understanding of the genetic basis of trait variation.
- Investigations evaluating the effectiveness of genomic selection approaches for trait improvement and cultivar development in vegetable breeding programs.
- Research integrating genomic data with traditional breeding methods to enhance selection efficiency, accelerate breeding cycles, and improve genetic gain.
Keywords:
Genomics; Omics Tools, Molecular Breeding, Under-Utilized Vegetables, Germplasm, Molecular Markers, Marker-Assisted Selection, Genomic Selection, Genetic Diversity Analysis and traits discovery, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), Genomic-Assisted Breeding, Genetic Mapping, High-Throughput Sequencing, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Genomic Resources, Genebank genomics, landscape genomics.
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.
Genomics-assisted vegetable breeding integrates genomics, genetics, and breeding to enhance breeding programs. Traditional methods rely on time-consuming phenotypic selection, but with advancements like next-generation sequencing and annotation, breeders gain genome-wide genetic insights. Genome-wide studies like GWAS and QTL mapping unravel genetic complexities, aiding in trait understanding and novel variation discovery using molecular markers. By incorporating molecular markers, researchers pinpoint regions linked to key traits like yield and biotic and abiotic stress tolerance by enabling marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS). MAS selects plants based on marker presence, while GS predicts breeding value using genomic data, thus effectively streamlining the selection. Overall, genomics-assisted breeding accelerates the evolution of improved vegetable varieties and hybrids, which are vital for sustainable agriculture, food security, and global nutrition.
Traditional breeding methods in vegetable crops often rely solely on phenotypic selection, which is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and limited in scope. This approach may not efficiently capture the genetic variation underlying complex traits, hindering the development of improved vegetable varieties with desired agronomic traits, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Additionally, the genetic basis of many important vegetable traits remains poorly understood, further impeding breeding progress.
To address these challenges, adopting genomics-assisted breeding approaches in vegetables is essential. By integrating genomic tools, such as next-generation sequencing, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, bioinformatics analysis, and quantitative molecular genetics, breeders can gain deeper insights into the genetic architecture of vegetable crops. This enables identifying and characterizing genomic regions associated with key traits, facilitating marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS) strategies for more precise and efficient breeding.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, perspectives, opinion papers, and methodological advances that advance our understanding and application of genomics-assisted breeding in vegetable crops. We also encourage interdisciplinary collaborations and contributions from researchers, breeders, and practitioners across the vegetable breeding community. Manuscripts should present novel findings, methodologies, or insights that address the thematic areas outlined below:
- Studies elucidating the genetic diversity and population structure of vegetable crops using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), SNP arrays, or other high-throughput genotyping methods.
- Investigations into the evolutionary history, gene flow, and genetic relationships among different vegetable germplasm collections.
- Research identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with important agronomic traits in vegetables, including yield, quality, pest and disease resistance, and abiotic-stress tolerance.
- Studies focusing on marker discovery and development for trait-specific molecular breeding applications, such as MAS and genomic selection.
- Investigations into the functional characterization of candidate genes underlying target traits through transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches.
- Studies employing functional genomics tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and RNA interference (RNAi), to validate gene function and dissect regulatory networks in vegetable crops.
- Research utilizing GWAS approaches to identify genomic regions associated with complex traits in vegetable crops across diverse germplasm collections and environmental conditions.
- Studies exploring genotype-phenotype associations and marker-trait relationships to improve our understanding of the genetic basis of trait variation.
- Investigations evaluating the effectiveness of genomic selection approaches for trait improvement and cultivar development in vegetable breeding programs.
- Research integrating genomic data with traditional breeding methods to enhance selection efficiency, accelerate breeding cycles, and improve genetic gain.
Keywords:
Genomics; Omics Tools, Molecular Breeding, Under-Utilized Vegetables, Germplasm, Molecular Markers, Marker-Assisted Selection, Genomic Selection, Genetic Diversity Analysis and traits discovery, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL), Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), Genomic-Assisted Breeding, Genetic Mapping, High-Throughput Sequencing, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Genomic Resources, Genebank genomics, landscape genomics.
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.