Guest Editors:
Zhangjun Fei, PhD, Cornell University, USA
Martin Mascher, PhD, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany
Zhixi Tian, PhD, Yazhouwan National Laboratory, China
Zhangjun Fei, PhD, Cornell University, USA
Dr Zhangjun Fei is a Professor at Boyce Thompson Institute and an Adjunct Professor in School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University. Dr Fei’s research focuses on leveraging integrated bioinformatics and genomics approaches to advance trait discovery, enhance crop improvement, and expand scientific knowledge.
Martin Mascher, PhD, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany
Dr Mascher leads the ‘Domestication Genomics’ research group at IPK Gatersleben. His lab investigates crop evolution and adaptation, focusing on how these processes shape genetic diversity in domesticated plants and their wild ancestors. His research centers on temperate cereals—barley, wheat, rye, and oats—leveraging the extensive collections of these crops and their wild relatives housed in the German national genebank.
Zhixi Tian, PhD, Yazhouwan National Laboratory, China
Dr Tian is a Professor at Yazhouwan National Laboratory. He got his PhD degree from Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2007, after which he studied at Purdue University as postdoctoral Fellow. He joined the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences as principle investigator in 2011. Now he is the director of the Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His main research interest is soybean functional genome research, focusing on the investigation of genetic networks that affect soybean yield, quality and other important agronomic traits. He has published more than 80 papers in journals including Cell, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Genetics, Nature Communications and Genome Biology.
Genomics and pangenomics involve the comprehensive analysis of the genetic makeup in a single individual or within a species. In crops, recent advances in sequencing and assembly technologies accelerate the generation of both high-quality novel single reference genome and multiple reference genomes within a species. This allows for a better understanding of the genetic changes that have occurred during domestication and that impact traits such as yield, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. Understanding the genetic basis of these domestication traits is crucial for enhancing crop resilience, optimizing growth, and boosting agricultural productivity. Such improvements are vital for ensuring food security and meeting the demands of a growing global population.
Our collection aims to highlight research that utilizes genomics and pangenomics to study crop domestication. We invite submissions that explore the genetic mechanisms underlying domestication, the evolutionary history of crops, and the practical applications of this knowledge in modern agriculture.
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Image credit: © cmnaumann / stock.adobe.com
There are currently no articles in this collection.
This Collection welcomes submission of original Research, Method, Short Report, Review, and Database article types. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Genomics and pangenomics for understanding crop domestication" from the dropdown menu.
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.