CRISPR/Cas genome editing in nonregenerative cotton using sexual hybridization
Available online 27 March 2026
Sexual transfer of the CRISPR/Cas genome-editing system to targeted cotton cultivars could bypass their recalcitrance to regeneration from tissue culture. We used sexual hybridization to transmit a...
PhytoCell: An ensemble learning framework for identifying cell states in plant scRNA-seq data
Available online 27 March 2026
Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) can reveal the roles of diverse cells in an organism, but accurately classifying cell subpopulations and their marker genes remains a challenge. Here,...
OsBSR1 increases rice blast immunity by suppressing the enzymatic activity of the sulfite oxidase OsSO1
Available online 27 March 2026
The objective of this study was to determine how the rice receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase OsBSR1 positively regulates broad-spectrum disease resistance. Our results showed that OsBSR1 is induced upon...
Genomic selection and genome-wide association studies using UAV-derived plant height and aboveground biomass of maize
Available online 27 March 2026
Plant height (PH) and aboveground biomass (AGB) are critical agronomic traits that determine the yield potential of maize (Zea mays L.). However, the application of genomic selection (GS) and genome-wide...
Genetic identification of AhGH15, a gene under convergent selection during peanut growth habit domestication and breeding
Available online 26 March 2026
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea), a globally important oilseed crop, exhibits contrasting growth habits between wild species (prostrate) and cultivated varieties (erect or spreading), but the underlying mechanism...
Identification of genes that confer a semi-determinate growth habit in faba bean
Available online 22 March 2026
In faba bean (Vicia faba L.), growth habit determines plant architecture and significantly influences flowering, podding patterns, and maturity. A recently identified semi-determinate germplasm exhibits...
Pathogen-inducible gene LRD6-6E315Q breaks the trade-off between disease resistance and yield in rice
Available online 22 March 2026
Although some lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) confer broad-spectrum disease resistance, their constitutive autoimmunity often penalizes plant growth and yield, limiting their application in crop breeding....
The T1DL·1VS translocation harboring the Glu-V1/Pm67 loci could accelerate the improvement of disease resistance and quality in wheat
Available online 22 March 2026
A key objective of wheat (Triticum aestivum) breeding is the simultaneous improvement of disease resistance and bread‑making quality. The Glu-V1 locus encoding the high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit...
Dissecting the genetic basis for resistance to pre-harvest sprouting in a wheat line with strong seed dormancy
Available online 21 March 2026
Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) significantly reduces yield and quality in wheat (Triticum aestivum). One effective way to address this issue is to identify and deploy quantitative trait loci (QTL) for...
Mapping and introgression of all-stage stripe rust resistance gene Yr1T from Aegilops mutica into common wheat using a dominant Ph1-suppression system
Available online 21 March 2026
Aegilops mutica (genome T) harbors stripe rust resistance and is a potentially valuable genetic resource for broadening the genetic basis of disease resistance in common wheat. A dominant Ph1-suppression...
Allelic variation at TaMYB30-B1 is associated with enhanced Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat lacking Fhb1
Available online 20 March 2026
Fusarium head blight (FHB) threatens global wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production and food security. Fhb1 confers stable, broad-spectrum resistance to FHB, but the underlying molecular mechanisms...
The leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase AhZAR1 regulates early seed development in peanut
Available online 20 March 2026
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) serves as a vital oilseed and food crop worldwide. Embryo abortion reduces seed set in peanut and significantly limits yields, but the mechanisms responsible have remained...
Straw incorporation surpasses mulching for wheat yield and water use efficiency under deficit irrigation on the North China Plain
Available online 20 March 2026
In the water-scarce North China Plain (NCP), choosing between straw mulching (SM) for surface conservation and straw incorporation (SI) for soil amelioration is a critical agricultural dilemma. However,...
Planting density affects the yield and quality of indica-japonica hybrid rice by regulating grain filling characteristics
Available online 20 March 2026
Planting density and grain filling are important cultivation practices and physiological processes that affect the yield and quality of indica-japonica hybrid rice. Elucidating how planting density...
Fine-mapping of a gene associated with pod number in the lower parts of soybean plants and evaluating molecular-design breeding schemes
Available online 16 March 2026
Pods are unevenly distributed on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) plants, with significantly fewer pods in the lower regions, which limits overall yield. Elucidating the genetic basis of pod formation...
Fine mapping of QLr.caas-5AL for adult-plant resistance to leaf rust in wheat
Available online 14 March 2026
Leaf rust is among the most destructive diseases of wheat globally, incurring significant yield losses and serious economic damage. Characterization and fine mapping of genetic loci for leaf rust resistance...
Genetic architecture and predictive modeling of heading date in japonica rice cultivars
Available online 14 March 2026
Directional selection within elite breeding pools has narrowed the genetic base, yet phenotypic diversity persists among modern cultivars. Here, we analyzed 257 Korean japonica rice cultivars to dissect...
Impacts of controlled-release fertilizer application on maize yield stability, soil quality and carbon footprint in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
Available online 2 March 2026
Although controlled-release urea (CRU) has demonstrated higher nitrogen use efficiency compared to conventional urea, comprehensive evaluations of its multi-year continuous application on yield stability...
Metabolic adaptations of Qingke: A review of stress resilience and nutritional functions
February 2026
Qingke, a staple crop grown on the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, has evolved a metabolomic profile providing both environmental stress resilience and human nutrition. We review the hypothesis that...
Differing functions of two CYP716 genes for saikosaponin biosynthesis in Bupleurum chinense
February 2026
Saikosaponins are the major pharmacologically active components in Bupleurum genus and exhibit significant application potential in multiple fields such as immune regulation and anti-tumor activity....
Message from the Editor-in-Chief: From metabolic pathway design to synthetic biology breeding
February 2026
Crop metabolic engineering towards enhanced resistance to pests and pathogens
February 2026
Plants produce a vast array of specialized metabolites that serve as essential defenses against herbivores and pathogens. However, the capacity to produce these compounds differs substantially among...
Biological nitrogen and carbon fixation: Bridging the gap between synthetic symbioses and synthetic biology
February 2026
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and photosynthetic carbon fixation underpin food production and climate mitigation, yet natural systems are constrained by oxygen sensitivity, high energy demand,...
Metabolic engineering for increased nutritional quality in rice
February 2026
Nutritional imbalance has led to many chronic diseases and severely affected people’s quality of life. Developing nutrient-dense crops has emerged as a strategy for improving the current state of human...