From Genes to Biomass: Genetics and Genomics of Climate Resilience in Bioenergy and Industrial Crops

Bioenergy and industrial crops — including Miscanthus, switchgrass, sorghum, sugarcane, energy cane, Napier grass, and other high-biomass lignocellulosic feedstocks — are central to renewable energy, carbon sequestration, land restoration, and a sustainable bioeconomy. Many are targeted for biomass production under drought, salinity and saline-alkalinity, cold, flooding, heat, and other climate-related stresses, often on marginal, degraded, or reclaimed land. Realizing this potential depends on understanding the genes and genomes that govern stress resilience and biomass formation. Genomic resources for these feedstocks remain uneven compared with major food crops: reference genomes, mapping populations, functional annotations, and multi-omics datasets are still incomplete for many species, and the genetic architecture of stress-resilient, high-quality biomass remains underexplored. Advances in GWAS, QTL mapping, genomic prediction, multi-omics, and machine-learning-assisted phenotyping now make it possible to dissect these traits at scale. Closing the genomics gap for dedicated biomass crops is a timely opportunity to connect functional discovery with genomics-assisted improvement across diverse environments.This Research Topic aims to advance the functional and applied genomics of climate resilience and biomass formation in bioenergy and industrial crops. It addresses a clear gap: for many of these underexplored feedstocks, the genes, alleles, and regulatory networks underlying stress tolerance and biomass quality remain poorly resolved, limiting genomics-assisted breeding. We seek an integrative genomics framework that links genetic diversity and germplasm genomics, GWAS, QTL mapping and quantitative genetics, multi-omics dissection of stress responses, genome-wide functional analysis of candidate genes and gene families, and genotype–phenotype–environment interactions. By combining these with high-throughput phenotyping and AI-based genomic prediction, the collection seeks to identify genes and genomic signatures that maintain productivity under drought, salinity, cold, flooding, heat, and combined stresses, and that shape conversion-relevant biomass traits. The objective is to translate genomic insight into prediction and selection tools for resilient, high-yielding feedstocks, bridging functional genomics and genomics-assisted breeding to support renewable energy, carbon goals, and the wider bioeconomy across variable climates.This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Perspectives, Methods, Hypothesis and Theory, and Data Reports in the functional and applied genomics of bioenergy and industrial crops. Studies on Miscanthus, switchgrass, sorghum, sugarcane, energy cane, Napier grass, and other perennial or industrial feedstocks are particularly encouraged, with insights of broad, cross-environment applicability.Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:• Germplasm genomics, genetic diversity, population genomics, and adaptive variation;• GWAS, QTL mapping, quantitative genetics, and epistasis for stress and biomass traits;• Genomic selection, genomics-assisted breeding, and AI-based genomic prediction;• Multi-omics, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, of drought, salinity, cold, flooding, heat, and combined stress responses;• Functional and genome-wide analysis of candidate genes, alleles, and gene families;• Genotype–phenotype–environment interactions and high-throughput phenotyping for trait discovery across marginal, saline-alkaline, degraded, or reclaimed environments.• Genomic control of biomass yield, cell wall composition, lignocellulose quality, and conversion-relevant traits.We welcome contributions from researchers across the field, and we are glad to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like early feedback on whether your planned manuscript fits the scope of this Research Topic, please write to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. A quick check at this stage helps confirm your work is a strong fit and can save you time later in the process.To take part, click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page, then confirm through the “Participate” link in the follow-up email. This lets us know to expect your contribution, keeps you informed of key deadlines, and gives you access to resources that guide you through submission. We look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant, cohesive Research Topic together. Topic editors: Liang Xiao, Dessireé P. Zerpa-Catanho, Zemao Yang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84451/from-genes-to-biomass-genetics-and-genomics-of-climate-resilience-in-bioenergy-and-industrial-crops