Genetic Variation and Breeding Strategies for Efficient Sustainable Production of Forage Crops
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Breeding and Genetics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2020) | Viewed by 11833
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forages contribute significant value to global crop production: for example, they account for 10% of the total European Union crop output. The global trends currently predict increases in meat and animal product consumption, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experiencing rapid growth and development. At the same time, evidence is mounting that animal husbandry is one of the most inefficient agricultural production methods and is associated with a range of significant negative environmental phenomena.
The challenge to forage crop breeders, if the demand of animal products is to continue, is to mitigate the negative consequences of the animal production systems through crop improvement. For perennial forage crops, most of which are out-crossing species, this is particularly challenging, as only additive genetic variation can be exploited for important complex agronomic traits such as yield, nutritive quality, nutrient use efficiency, and abiotic and biotic stress resistance.
This Special Issue seeks original contributions that address strategies to maximise the amount of genetic variation that can be exploited in forage crops through new breeding methodologies and technologies. In particular, research that addresses major climate change and environmental stewardship issues through reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced chemical inputs and run-off, and increased abiotic and biotic stress resistance is welcomed.
Dr. Danny Thorogood
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- breeding methodology
- non-additive genetic variation
- nutrient use efficiency
- abiotic stress resistance
- biotic stress resistance
- reduced inputs
- climate change mitigation
- climate change resilience
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