Call for Papers

Special Issue

• Machine Learning for Plant Stress Phenotyping
• Functional Genomics for Developing Climate Resilient Crops
• Soil Microbiome and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants

Guest Editors:
Prof Jungpil Shin (University of Aizu, Japan)
Prof Md. Al Mehedi Hasan (Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh)
Dr Yong Seok Hwang (Kwangwoon University, Korea)

Abiotic and biotic stresses cost agriculture in excess of $200 Bln and jeopardise food security. With a rapid development of various omics platforms, plant phenotyping has become a major hurdle in breeding programs. Currently, the spatial and temporal data are collected using autonomous, semi-autonomous, and manual platforms outfitted with one or more sensors, producing enormous volumes of data for storage and analysis. Machine learning offers a unique opportunity to speed up this process, paving a pathway for better, quicker, and more efficient data handling. This Special Issue welcomes research papers and invites academics to submit original research articles and review papers to discuss cutting-edge phenotyping applications of machine learning approaches for stress detection and plant phenotyping at the different scales of their structural organization.

The topics to be considered (but not limited to) are:

• Deep Learning for stress phenotyping based on automatic image detection
• Efficient Net Deep Learning for stress detection
• UAV multispectral machine learning using industrial traits for the classification of genotypes
• Machine learning algorithms for nitrogen application and optimal water prediction
• Chlorophyll fluorescence image analysis for high throughput quantitative phenotyping
• Small-scale analysis for hyperspectral imaging
• Thermography and imaging sensors for plant phenotyping using Machine Learning
• Fluorescence and Reflectance methods using remote sensing
• Imaging technologies and hyperspectral sensors in plant phenotyping
• Phenotyping and plant stress detection using thermal imaging

All papers should be submitted to the journal through our online journal management system ScholarOne Manuscripts.

Submission deadline: 29 February 2024

Return to Index

Guest Editors:
Dr Sajid Fiaz (The University of Haripur, Pakistan)
Dr Muhammad Azhar Nadeem (Sivas University of Science and Technology, Turkey)
Dr Inzamam Ul Haq (Gansu Agricultural University, China)

Climate change, coupled with exponential population growth, environmental degradation, reduction in cultivable land, represents a greater threat to future global food security. To meet these challenges will require integrated approaches across various agriculture disciplines with no exception to genetics and functional genomics of crop plants. The recent advancement in the era of genomics has opened new avenues of research for sustainable agriculture and heightened crop resilience under climate change condition. The high-quality reference genome of several crop plants e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Zea mays, Solanum lycopersicum etc. has been constantly growing owing to large scale application of genome sequencing technologies.

The advancement in large scale population genotyping have further contributed to comprehensive understanding of genomic variations controlling phenotypes. Moreover, the genomic data has enabled pangenomics, providing insights for genomic diversity available for crop improvement and plant breeding for new cultivar development. Genome assisted breeding based on functional genomics knowledge is allowing the rapid identification of underlying genes controlling climate influenced traits which can be introgressed to develop crops under changing climatic conditions. Therefore, innovative technologies such as QTL mapping, OMICs, genome sequencing, pangenomes, genome engineering and editing will be instrumental for the better understanding of genome structures and underlying trait architectures for developing climate resilient crops.

The scope of the Special Issue is to summarise the technological and conceptual advances in genetics and functional genomics that have the potential to achieve the 2nd sustainable development goal of zero hunger under challenging climatic conditions.

We welcome submissions of original research and review articles covering following topics (but not limited to):

• Assessment and applications of novel plant breeding targets using genomic based technologies and high-throughput plants phenotyping.
• Assessment of genetic diversity among cultivated and wild relatives of crop plants and determination of their role using functional genomics.
• Gene prediction, annotation, identification and their functional studies in crop plants essential for food security.
• Application of advance genetics and functional genomics tools for understanding genes controlling key traits in important crops plants and their improvement under ever changing climatic conditions.
• Application of functional genomics (genetic manipulation, marker assisted selection, genomic selections and genes editing) and OMICs based techniques for developing both biotic and abiotic resistant genotypes with better adaptation to changing environment.
• Bioinformatics, gene expression, protein-protein interaction and mutagenesis tools for discovery of genes for stress breeding.
• Any work on functional genomics in crops

All papers should be submitted to the journal through our online journal management system ScholarOne Manuscripts.

Submission deadline: 31 March 2024

Return to Index

Guest Editors:
Dr Muhammad Saqlain Zaheer (Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Pakistan)
Dr Hafiz Haider Ali (Government College University Lahore (GCUL), Pakistan)
Dr Clarisse Brígido (Universidade de Évora, Portugal)
Dr Debadatta Sethi (Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, India​)

In our special issue, 'Soil Microbiome and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants', we invite researchers and enthusiasts to explore the dynamic interactions between soil microorganisms and plant resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

This collection highlights the critical role that soil microbiomes play in enhancing plant health and adaptability to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Contributions include cutting-edge studies that examine microbial diversity, functional traits, and their influence on nutrient cycling and water retention.

We also showcase innovative approaches to harnessing beneficial microbes to improve crop yields and sustainability. By shedding light on the mechanisms underlying these interactions, this issue aims to provide valuable insights for developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture. Join us in this exploration of the hidden power beneath our feet, as we uncover how fostering healthy soil microbiomes can lead to more resilient plants and a more sustainable future.

We encourage contributions that delve into abiotic stress tolerance in plants, focusing on how physiological functions can be improved and examining the molecular responses that occur when plants encounter these stresses. By investigating these aspects, we aim to deepen our understanding of how plants can better cope with environmental challenges.

Submission Deadline: 30th November 2025