Plant Gene最新文献

{"title":"Excavating superior grain quality with aroma in doubled haploids derived from hybrid rice","authors":"Sudhansu Sekhar Bhuyan ,&nbsp;Nupur Naik ,&nbsp;Byomkesh Dash ,&nbsp;Sandeep Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Prachitara Rout ,&nbsp;Ramlakhan Verma ,&nbsp;Jawahar Lal Katara ,&nbsp;Chidambaranathan Parameswaran ,&nbsp;Basavantraya Navadagi Devanna ,&nbsp;Awadhesh Kumar ,&nbsp;Sanghamitra Samantaray","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2026.100568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2026.100568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two hundred doubled haploid (DH) lines from the elite <em>indica</em> rice hybrid BS6444G, developed through anther culture, were evaluated for various physio-chemical traits with a special focus on grain quality and aroma. Significant diversity was observed across traits such as hulling and milling percentage, Head Rice Recovery (HRR) percentage, kernel length, kernel breadth, length-to-breadth ratio, water uptake, volume expansion ratio (VER), gel consistency (GC), alkali spreading value (ASV), amylose content (AC), and moisture content. The superior performance of some DH lines suggests potential for obtaining transgressive segregation in doubled haploid populations, likely due to additive effects of favorable genes from the parent. Notably, two out of the 200 DH lines exhibited aroma, a surprising find since BS6444G is not aromatic. The quantification of 2-AP, a key compound responsible for the characteristic fragrance in aromatic rice, was validated through molecular characterization and measured using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GCMS/MS). The 2-AP (2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline) content in these aromatic DH lines was measured at 148.45 ng/g and 170.32 ng/g, respectively. This is a significant research target for plant biotechnologists, as the aromatic DH lines derived from a non-aromatic hybrid present a unique case for study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100568"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lipoxygenases: The gatekeepers in plant resilience against biotic stress","authors":"Manisha Yadav ,&nbsp;Srishti Satija ,&nbsp;Saurabh Awasthi ,&nbsp;Indrakant K. Singh ,&nbsp;Archana Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are widely distributed, non-heme iron-containing oxidoreductase enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), synthesizing cis- and trans-pentadienes with conjugated double bonds. These hydroperoxides serve as precursors for oxylipin synthesis, which include jasmonates and GLV (Green Leaf Volatiles), that govern important defense and development reactions. LOXs exhibit wide distribution across taxa and display structural and functional diversity, reflecting their evolutionary significance. Recent advances in LOX research have provided insights into their tissue-specific localization, structural organization, catalytic mechanism, and reannotation of the angiospermic LOX gene families based on evolutionary descent and oxidation specificity (LOX13, LOX9_A, LOX9_B). LOXs are often categorised based on their spatial selectivity for oxidizing unsaturated fatty acids. LOX-mediated pathways are critical in shaping plant immunity against a broad spectrum of biotic stresses, including bacterial, fungal, nematode, and herbivore attacks, often through crosstalk with other phytohormonal signaling networks such as salicylic acid, abscisic acid, brassinosteroids and Ca²⁺/calmodulin-amplified responses that link membrane lipid remodeling to transcriptional defense programs. This review summarises the distribution, structure, catalysis, and signaling mechanisms of LOXs and crucial role of 9-LOX and 13-LOX pathways in combating pathogenic bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and herbivores where LOX perturbations modulate resistance, hypersensitive cell death, stomatal immunity, reactive oxygen signaling and defense gene expression. Exploring the potential of LOXs as defense agents against biotic stresses, and their contribution towards enhancing plant tolerance and resistance mechanisms, is worthwhile for crop improvement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 100557"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flower development in Brassica rapa: Linking anatomy, physiology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics","authors":"Waseem Ahmad Lone,&nbsp;Rayees Ahmad Rather,&nbsp;Tahira Akhtar Bhat,&nbsp;Umer Majeed Wani,&nbsp;Riffat John","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flowering is essential to most plants, and is regulated by environmental and internal signals. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms regulating flower development in <em>Brassica rapa</em> L. by performing, anatomical studies, RNA sequencing, analysis of photosynthetic parameters and metabolomics at different developmental stages. We conducted RNA sequencing and analysed 47,135 genes across three pairwise comparisons: Vegetative vs. Pre-Bolting, Pre-Bolting vs. Bolting, and Bolting vs. Post-Bolting. The greatest differential gene expression was observed between the vegetative and pre-bolting stages, with significant changes in 3618 genes. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that photosynthesis, circadian rhythm regulation, response to environmental stimuli, and glucosinolate biosynthesis were the most enriched biological processes during floral transition. Photosynthetic parameters showed a significant increase from the vegetative to bolting stages, peaking from pre-bolting to bolting, and decreasing post-bolting. Metabolomic analysis identified 23 metabolites with significant changes during development. Key metabolites such as campesterol and gamma sitosterol increased during bolting, indicating a role in promoting floral meristem formation. Our study identified several key regulatory genes involved in the photoperiod, circadian clock, and gibberellin pathways, such as <em>GIGANTEA (GI), SOC1,</em> and <em>ELF3</em>. Upregulation of these genes from pre-bolting to bolting stages correlated with enhanced photosynthetic activity and gene expression related to light signaling, carbohydrate metabolism, carbon metabolism, and glucosinolate biosynthesis. These findings provide a comprehensive view of the transcriptional changes and regulatory networks governing the transition from vegetative growth to flowering in <em>B. rapa</em> L., highlighting the integration of environmental and internal cues in this complex process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100545"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide identification and transcriptome-based expression analysis of hybrid sugarcane calmodulin-binding transcription activators under drought","authors":"Vitor Luciano Costa da Silva ,&nbsp;Ana Maria Martinez ,&nbsp;Maqsood Alam ,&nbsp;Muhammad Noman ,&nbsp;Antonio Chalfun-Junior","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the highly demanding complex genome of the hybrid sugarcane cultivar became publicly available recently (2023), it opened avenues to further study this important crop at molecular level. We are interested in digging the multiple stress responsive transcription factors family, the Calmodulin-Binding Transcription Activator (CAMTA) of sugarcane. This manuscript presents a comprehensive study of <em>ScCAMTA</em> family based on the latest sugarcane genome sequence information. Within the 10 gb genome, through HMM model prepared from sorghum <em>CAMTA</em> common domains, we found 48 genes, 46 out of which carry all the <em>CAMTA</em>-associated domains including CG-1, TIG, IQ and Ank. The phylogenetic analysis clustered then into seven classes. Keeping sorghum as reference, we named them as <em>ScCAMTA1</em> – <em>ScCAMTA7</em>, while each one representing a class having 5–7 copies such as <em>ScCAMTA1A</em> – <em>ScCAMTA1E</em>, present in each sub-genome (chromosome) within the hybrid sugarcane. In parallel to determining their physico-chemical attributes, miRNA targets, protein interaction network and genome collinearity, we observed evolutionary conservation in gene structures, protein domains, and motif organization across the phylogenetic classes. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of multiple stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements, such as MBS (drought) and MYB (salinity), suggesting their direct involvement in stress adaptation. MicroRNA target analysis predicted 20 unique miRNAs targeting <em>ScCAMTA</em> transcripts, highlighting potential post-transcriptional regulation. Additionally, protein-protein interaction networks indicated functional connections to stress signaling pathways. Finally, their expression patterns under drought stress were determined using RNA-seq data, which revealed that <em>ScCAMTA7</em> is highly active under drought conditions, underscoring its potential role in drought response. This study furthers the insights into complex sugarcane genome and will assist in developing its drought-tolerant varieties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100547"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating AI in plant science: A review of applications and future prospects","authors":"Imran Khan,&nbsp;Brajesh Kumar Khare","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100542","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100542","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant science, which includes crop biology, genetics, and agronomy, is crucial for ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity. As global food demand increases, the field is evolving by incorporating advanced technologies to address challenges such as climate change, disease resistance, and yield improvement. Artificial Intelligence is a key technology driving this transformation, offering new opportunities for innovation and progress in plant science. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current and future applications of AI in plant science, with a special focus on areas where conventional techniques fall short. Unlike traditional methods that often rely on manual, time-intensive analysis, AI-driven models can learn complex patterns from high-dimensional biological and phenotypic data, automate decision-making, and scale rapidly. It begins with a discussion of the core principles of plant science, followed by an examination of AI technologies and their potential. The paper explores AI's role in plant genomics and breeding, focusing on key areas like genome sequencing, genetic marker identification, and the development of improved crop varieties. Special attention is given to AI-driven approaches in crop improvement, where machine learning models are increasingly used to optimize breeding programs, enhance yield predictions, support phenotypic selection, and address challenges like disease resistance. The review also discusses the challenges of applying AI in plant science, including issues with data quality, model interpretability, and integrating AI into large-scale agricultural practices. Finally, the paper looks ahead to the future of AI in plant science, suggesting directions for further research and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100542"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144879786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IAA and ABA-stress mediate Omega-3 fatty acid enhancement in Monoraphidium contortum SRR472","authors":"Nidhi Chaudhary,&nbsp;Monalisha Mishra,&nbsp;Mariyam Fatima,&nbsp;Nand K. Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microalgae are a sustainable source of high-value bioactive compounds with significant nutritional and therapeutic benefits. They contain essential dietary components, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are known for their positive effect on mental, vision, and cardiovascular health in humans. In the present study, the stress-inducing effect of indole acetic acid (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA), on <em>Monoraphidium contortum</em> SRR472 was investigated with a focus on omega-3 fatty acid biosynthesis. Our study highlighted, both phytohormones acted as biochemical stressors, significantly enhancing cellular proliferation, biomass accumulation, and omega-3 fatty acids biosynthesis. Among the treatments, ABA exerted the most stimulatory effect on overall cell growth and biomass. Notably, IAA induced stress significantly increased omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA (9.10 ± 0.01, 3.75 ± 0.07, and 4.1 ± 0.1 %). Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes under phytohormone further confirmed the cellular stress response. The gene expression analysis revealed a substantial upregulation of key fatty acid biosynthetic pathway genes, including FAD (fatty acid desaturase), D6E (elongase ∆6b1), and D6D (∆6-desaturase) were significantly enhanced by 5.3, 2.1, and 1.4-fold, respectively, relative to the control following IAA stress in the microalgae. These results support the role of stress-driven transcriptional regulation in enhancing PUFA production. These findings demonstrate that IAA and ABA-induced oxidative stress serve as a potent trigger for boosting omega-3 fatty acid accumulation in microalgae, offering a strategic approach for optimizing omega-3 PUFA yields in microalgal bioprocessing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100559"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EG-net: A gene regulatory network to serve as a blueprint for tailored and precise oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) breeding.","authors":"Thalliton Luiz Carvalho da Silva ,&nbsp;Wellington Rangel dos Santos ,&nbsp;Roberto Coiti Togawa ,&nbsp;Manoel Teixeira Souza Júnior","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional breeding of oil palm, a perennial with a protracted lifespan conducive to sustained production, is significantly hampered by two primary factors: its extended juvenile phase and a substantial time period required to reach peak productivity. These constraints significantly delay the development of improved cultivars through traditional breeding techniques. Plant genetic engineering and genome editing techniques, although unable to directly address these constraints, offer an alternative approach for introducing desirable traits in a more precise and expeditious manner. However, careful gene selection for targeted modifications is imperative. In long-lived crops, breeding precision is paramount. The selection of the most suitable gene for modification, and the assurance of its intended trait expression without disrupting others, becomes even more critical. This is where Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) come in. This study identified key regulatory molecules and constructed EG_Net, a GRN for the African oil palm (<em>Elaeis guineensis</em> Jacq.). EG_Net elucidates gene-regulatory interactions and guides precise genetic engineering strategies, offering valuable insights into oil palm biology. Three case studies validated the efficacy of EG-Net in identifying genes for engineering resistance to biotic (red ring and fatal yellowing diseases) and abiotic (drought and salinity) stresses. The identification of candidate genes and analysis of regulatory elements within GRNs facilitate future investigations into sustainable stress tolerance strategies in oil palm, ultimately promoting the long-term sustainability of the palm oil industry. This study provides a framework for optimizing genetic engineering approaches to enhance disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and, consequently, the sustainability of the oil palm production system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100548"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145157956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Negative regulation of GhCOBL6 and GhCOBL7 uncover their role in whitefly resistance","authors":"Faiqa Anjum,&nbsp;Rubab Zahra Naqvi,&nbsp;Naima Razzaq,&nbsp;Imran Amin,&nbsp;Muhammad Asif","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>COBL</em> (<em>COBRA-LIKE</em>) gene family is characterized by its remarkable responsiveness to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. It is a widely studied gene family, but two of its gene members, <em>GhCOBL6</em> and <em>GhCOBL7</em>, have shown differential gene expression under whitefly stress in soybean plants; however, their role as susceptibility or resistance genes under whitefly infestation on cotton plants remains unclear. This study presents the genome-wide analysis and distribution of <em>COBL</em> genes in <em>Gossypium hirsutum</em> and other plant species. We identified 39, 07, 24, 13, 15 and 12 protein sequences in <em>G. hirsutum, N. tabacum, G.</em> max<em>, O. sativa, Z. mays and A. thaliana</em> respectively that have a conserved CCVS motif. The overall bioinformatics analysis has shown that the COBL genes are classified into two main groups based on presence of CCVS conserved motif and the functional divergence based on number of amino acids. Two members of <em>COBL</em> gene family, <em>GhCOBL6</em> and <em>GhCOBL7</em>, have been targeted through VIGS in <em>G. hirsutum</em>. The VIGS-infiltrated plants were evaluated under whitefly infestation. It was observed that <em>GhCOBL6</em>-downregulated and <em>GhCOBL7</em>-downregulated plants showed 70–75 % reduction in adult whitefly population, and both genes were found to be strong negative regulators of whitefly stress. In nutshell, this study provides an important insight into <em>COBL</em> gene family and the role of two <em>COBL</em> genes in <em>G. hirsutum</em> under whitefly infestation. Thus, the findings will help to develop crop varieties resistant to whitefly stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100553"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable biocontrol of bacterial blight disease using Eisenia fetida gut derived Glutamicibacter sp.: Insights from metabolomics and in silico discovery","authors":"Inrikynti Mary Kharmawphlang ,&nbsp;Rene Barbie Browne ,&nbsp;Jayanti Datta Roy ,&nbsp;Ratul Pegu ,&nbsp;Nazneen Hussain","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100552","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100552","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.) serves as a vital staple crop for over 3.5 billion people globally, but its productivity is severely impacted by bacterial blight (BB) caused by <em>Xanthomonas oryzae</em> pv. <em>oryzae</em> (<em>Xoo</em>), leading to yield losses of up to 80 %. Conventional management strategies relying on synthetic chemicals and antibiotics face limitations due to environmental risks and evolving pathogen variants. This study explores the potential of earthworm gut microorganisms in sustainable rice health and disease management, emphasizing their dual role in potassium solubilization and biocontrol of <em>Xoo</em>. <em>Glutamicibacter</em> sp. KS1, isolated from the gut of <em>Eisenia fetida</em>, demonstrated excellent potassium solubilizing ability and the presence of bioactive metabolites. GC–MS analysis of KS1 crude extract identified eight antibacterial compounds, wherein in silico studies highlighted ricinoleic acid (RA) and its derivatives (Methyl-ricinoleate and Potassium Ricinoleate) as promising bioactive agents. However, among all, molecular docking revealed potassium ricinoleate (PR) to exhibit an excellent binding affinity of −6.19 kcal/mol with peptide deformylase (PDF), a key enzyme in BB pathogenesis. The stability assessments using root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration analyses confirmed the structural integrity and compactness of hydrogen bond interactions in 5CY8-PR complex. These findings underscored the potential of <em>Eisenia</em> gut-derived microorganisms as an eco-friendly solution for disease control and nutrient optimization. By integrating microbial analysis with computational approaches, the study highlights a novel avenue for leveraging earthworm-associated metabolites as therapeutic agents to address bacterial blight disease and improve crop productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100552"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing genome editing for the advancement of underutilized crops: A critical review highlighting current progress, challenges and future prospects","authors":"Sunandan Swain ,&nbsp;Sadhan Debnath ,&nbsp;Khalil Khamassi ,&nbsp;Kajal Samantara ,&nbsp;Parsa Ram ,&nbsp;Amarjeet Kumar ,&nbsp;Ashok Kumar Mahawer ,&nbsp;Tanushri Kaul","doi":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plgene.2025.100534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Underutilized cereals and legumes are the rich source of important minerals, essential amino acids, vitamins and phytochemicals. These crops possess valuable agronomic and physiological traits, including resilience to harsh climates and the ability to thrive in low-input farming systems. Such characteristics make them vital for agricultural diversification in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, and they hold significant potential for strengthening global food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. As they possess exceptional nutritional properties, there is a huge need for specific attention to these crops. However, they have been marginalized due to the dominance of high-yielding commercial varieties of major staple food crops, limited adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, insufficient investment, lack of awareness, and monoculture practices. In recent years, advancements in genomics and high throughput sequencing technologies have paved the ways for implementing cutting-edge genomics technologies, like RNA-guided nucleases and other advanced genome editing tools to improve traits such as yield and quality, stress tolerance, nutritional properties and antinutritional factors (ANFs) in these crops. This review mainly focusses on the importance of various underutilized crops, latest progress in gene-editing applications in these crops, major challenges in the implementation of this precise technology for crop improvement including regulatory restrictions and the need for tailored gene-editing approaches to unlock the full potential of these neglected crops. Additionally, it explores strategies to address technical hurdles, such as off-target effects and delivery methods, to enhance the effectiveness of these technologies in agricultural and crop improvement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38041,"journal":{"name":"Plant Gene","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 100534"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}