Biotechnologies for Enhancing Crop Performance

The sustainability of food systems is critical for food security. A tremendous amount of progress has been made over the years to enhance the productivity and efficiency of various food systems, including the intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers to increase plant yield and frequent sprays of chemicals to protect against pests and pathogens. While this has enabled a more secure food supply chain for increasing global demand, many of the agricultural practices that were instrumental in this endeavour were not necessarily aligned with safeguarding the environment. Indeed, what appeared to be the answer to successfully feed the world began leading to adverse environmental impacts over the years, such as polluted bodies of water, disturbed plant and soil microbiomes, and antimicrobial/fungicide resistance. Furthermore, although the carbon footprint of agricultural operations was not a major concern in the past, it has become incredibly relevant in the context of sustainability. To feed the rising global population, there will be a continuous upward pressure to continue, or even scale up, agricultural practices that do not support sustainable environmental goals. These risks have drawn the attention of researchers who seek alternative or supplementary approaches to make food systems more sustainable.

Biotechnology not only has the potential to facilitate enhancements in crop performance, but also plays an important role in advancing our understanding of cell biology, both at basic and applied levels. This knowledge can contribute directly and indirectly to the promotion of sustainability, and better our understanding of imminent risks. The aim of this research topic is thus to capture developments in the biotechnological improvement and molecular characterization of crops and associated symbiotic rhizobia through high-quality original research articles, cutting-edge scientific reviews, and technology papers.

We welcome (but do not limit our authors solely to) submissions addressing the following suggested topics:

• Developments in the biotechnological improvement/characterization of symbiotic nitrogen fixation
• Molecular improvement of rhizobial strains
• Identification or genetic modification of disease resistance genes;
• Modulation of plant host-pathogen interactions for enhanced resistance;
• Molecular innovations in biopesticides for reduced reliance on chemical pesticides;
• Progress in tissue culture or microspore embryogenesis to generate novel germplasm;
• Identification, characterization or modification of genes involved in abiotic stress response (e.g., water use efficiency, improved plant response to drought and heat).