Bridging rice genetics and developmental biology for sustainable crop improvements

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) stands as a cornerstone in global agriculture, crucially nourishing over half of the world's population. As a model organism for monocotyledons, rice has illuminated aspects of plant genetics and developmental biology, offering insights into key physiological processes. Research into the development of rice's leaves, roots, flowers, and seeds has unveiled intricate regulatory networks that dictate growth, yield, and resilience to stress. In recent years, advancements in genomics, transcriptomics, and gene-editing have enhanced our understanding of fundamental genetic and developmental processes, sparking new strategies for rice breeding. Yet, to ensure food security amid climate change and environmental challenges, further exploration is needed to harness these insights for improved crop productivity and quality.This Research Topic aims to showcase the latest advancements and potential future directions in understanding the genetic and developmental frameworks that influence rice growth and productivity. While much is known, there remain significant gaps in connecting fundamental processes like leaf morphogenesis, root architecture, and flowering regulation with practical breeding outcomes. Further, the intricate interplay between developmental pathways and stress responses has not been fully elucidated, which constrains the practical application of foundational discoveries into novel breeding strategies. Through the amalgamation of original research and comprehensive reviews, this topic will focus on uncovering new genes and networks dictating rice organ development, examining developmental impacts on yield and stress resilience, and integrating innovative genomic and gene-editing approaches into rice breeding.This Research Topic encompasses a broad range of themes, with specific focus on the genetic, molecular, physiological, and developmental dimensions that underpin rice biology and their implications for yield enhancement and stress adaptability. We welcome articles exploring but not limited to the following themes:o Leaf growth and architecture, alongside chloroplast biogenesis and photosynthetic efficiency.o Root development focusing on nitrogen and nutrient use efficiency.o Regulation of flowering time, floral organ identity, and reproductive success.o Seed development, grain quality, and nutritional advancements.o Mechanisms linking development with responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.o Application of genomics and genome-editing for trait dissection and engineering.We invite submissions of original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and methods papers, particularly those bridging basic developmental biology with applied agricultural practices and biotechnology. Topic editors: Shirong Zhou, Zhiwei Chen, Antonio Costa De Oliveira Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74473/bridging-rice-genetics-and-developmental-biology-for-sustainable-crop-improvements