Focus on vegetable crops
Journal
Plant Physiology
Journal Volume
195
Journal Issue
2
Start Page
901
End Page
905
ISSN
0032-0889
1532-2548
Date Issued
2024-06-01
Author(s)
Duan, Qiaohong
DOI
10.1093/plphys/kiae246
Abstract
Vegetable crops encompass over 200 plant species utilized as human food.These predominantly herbaceous plants can be consumed raw or cooked, either fresh or preserved, in various forms including leaves, roots, fruits, seeds, flowers, inflorescences, and stems.In addition to providing calories, vegetables also provide various micronutrients for healthy diets to combat hidden hunger.Thus, vegetables together with fruits and legumes are proposed as new generation staple food.Vegetable crops have been domesticated from their wild progenitors that have undergone a process influenced by human preferences and diverse environment factors.Consequently, current vegetable germplasms exhibit relatively high genetic diversity.Because edible parts (organs) of vegetable crops are quite different for each crop, goals in physiological research and breeding are quite different for each crop.Vegetables, like other crops, have faced threats from abiotic and biotic stresses such as global climate change, decreasing arable land, and soil erosion.Overcoming these challenges requires a deep understanding of the fundamental biology and genetics of the crops.Additionally, vegetable breeding needs to consider consumers' preference and market demands.Integrating high throughput phenotyping data and artificial intelligence analyses will enable smart agriculture in vegetable industry.Therefore, basic research in plant physiology and genetics can provide guidance for cultivation practice and breeding of vegetable crops, achieving sustainable agriculture and increasing food security.In this Focus Issue on Vegetable Crops, we present a collection of research articles and update reviews that cover the latest research on vegetable crops and highlight the current trends and future directions.The advancements reported in the Focus Issue not only help us better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying growth and development of vegetable crops and their responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, but
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
editorial