Plant Biodiversity (Cultivated and Wild Flora) and Its Utility in Plant Breeding

Submission Deadline: 30 November 2025 View: 353 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Adriana F. SESTRAS

Email: adriana.sestras@usamvcluj.ro 

Affiliation: Department of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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Research Interests: biodiversity, biostatistics, ecology, environmental impact assessment, genetics resources, plant breeding

Prof. Dr. Ana FITA

Email: anfifer@btc.upv.es 

Affiliation: COMAV Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Valencia, 46022, Spain

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Research Interests: agrodiversity, new crops, plant breeding, root-and-soil interaction, tolerance to climatic change

Prof. Dr. Adrián RODRÍGUEZ-BURRUEZO

Email: adrodbur@doctor.upv.es 

Affiliation: COMAV Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Valencia, 46022, Spain

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Research Interests: antioxidants, flavor and aroma, quality traits, low input agriculture, new crops, organic farming, participatory breeding, plant breeding

Summary

Plant biodiversity, encompassing cultivated species and their wild relatives, forms the backbone of global agriculture and food security. The diversity of flora offers vast untapped potential for enhancing crop resilience, improving yields, and food nutritional value, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. Wild flora, in particular, harbors unique genetic traits, such as tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, which can be crucial in addressing the challenges of climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity.

This special issue focuses on the integration of plant biodiversity into modern plant breeding strategies to develop cultivars that are more resilient, productive, and sustainable. We encourage contributions that explore innovative approaches to harnessing the genetic diversity of wild and cultivated plants for improving crop traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutrient efficiency, and more.

Potential Topics:

1. Genetic diversity of cultivated and wild plant species;

2. Utilization of wild relatives in plant breeding programs;

3. Genomic approaches to biodiversity in crop improvement;

4. Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources;

5. Breeding for climate-resilient and stress-tolerant crops

6. Integrative approaches combining traditional and molecular breeding techniques

7. Case studies of biodiversity-driven success in crop breeding

8. Impacts of plant biodiversity on food security and sustainable agriculture

9. Identification of high-added value traits in wild species and neglected crops

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