About this Research Topic

Background

Crops serve as a vital source of food production and hold immense potential for applications in various socio-economic sectors. For example, alfalfa and sunflowers can absorb and accumulate heavy metals from the soil, making them valuable for ecological restoration. Corn is widely used for producing biofuels, contributing to the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels and alleviating environmental pollution. Rapeseed has been developed for use as both a vegetable and a source of health-beneficial compounds such as antioxidant components, tocopherols and polyphenols, offering anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits, as well as glucosinolates, showing potential in cancer prevention and other health benefits. Moreover, the specific nutritional value of crops can be enhanced through genetic modification and other technological means, such as golden rice. With the interdisciplinary integration and development of biotechnology, agricultural science, environmental science, and other fields, the multifunctional development and utilization of crops are increasingly gaining attention. Simultaneously, the multifunctional development of crops can lead to new industries and markets, enhance agricultural outputs, and provide additional income to farmers and businesses.

Crops often accumulate special substances in response to different habitats to cope with biotic and abiotic stresses, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, certain special fatty acids, and alkaloids, which are beneficial to human health. These bioactive substances positively affect the human body through various mechanisms like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory actions, and hormone level regulation. The accumulation levels of these bioactive substances in crops determine their application value in industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, cosmetics, and food and beverages. This research topic focuses on crop qualities enabling multifunctional uses in nutrition, environmental sustainability, and industrial applications. The aim is to showcase the latest advancements in the identification and screening of genetic resources and regulations related to bioactive substances or special nutrients for multifunctional crop development. This includes genetic improvements in crops through genetic modification and other technological means and provides a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration among experts in plant science, agronomy, food science, environmental science, and economics.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions on crop improvements based on quality traits involved in bioactive substances or special nutrients. Themes include, but are not limited to:
1) Utilizing modern biotechnological techniques and analytical testing methods for crop metabolite detection and analysis, expanding crop applications in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, beverages, and cosmetics.
2) Employing genetic and biological approaches, including genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and integrative omics strategies, to decipher the genetic basis of special crop metabolites and provide a foundation for enhanced nutritional and multifunctional development.
3) Enhancement of crop nutritional and medicinal values through genetic editing and breeding technologies aimed at addressing global nutritional deficiencies and developing new sources of pharmaceuticals.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Crop, Multi-functional applications, Bioactive substances, Genetic improvement, Nutritional enrichment

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.

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