This special issue, containing the above-mentioned contributions, provides recent updates

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future work of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2024 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 37 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Towards climate-smart crops: advances in plant stress biology research (2026) · Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology · doi

  This special issue, containing the above-mentioned con- tributions, provides recent updates on plant responses to abiotic stresses, biotic stresses, and their combined inter- actions under natural conditions. It covers physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects studied across multiple crops, including millets, chickpea, legumes, and several other plant species. The articles also highlight the use of various tools, including molecular breeding approaches and artificial intelligence-based methods, thereby offering both mechanistic insights and application-oriented perspectives. In future, research in this area may move further toward the application of microbial consortia for mitigating both biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools at field level and for analysis of large datasets such as omics data and pre- dictive models. In addition, CRISPR-based genome edit- ing approaches, as indicated in the articles included in this issue, are expected to play an important role in advancing research and crop improvement in plant stress biology. Author contributions Not applicable. Funding Not applicable. Data availability Not applicable.

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: plant stresses applicable issue abiotic biotic molecular including articles tools approaches artificial intelligence based application
• Harnessing genomics and transcriptomics to explore the genetic and molecular basis of abiotic stress tolerance in minor millets – a comprehensive review (2026) · Functional & Integrative Genomics · doi

  Abiotic stress remains a critical factor contributing to up to a 3/4th reduction in global crop yields, posing a signifi- cant challenge to food security. Millets, often regarded as a “poor man’s grain,” offer a superior nutritional profile and a Page 19 of 24 117 promising avenue due to their exceptional adaptability to mar- ginal environments, hence regarded as a climate-resilient crop. With the accelerating pace of climate change and an expand- ing global population, the development of climate-resilient crops is imperative. Recent advances in omics technologies have significantly enhanced our understanding of plant stress responses. This review on genomics and transcriptomics stud- ies in the five minor millets revealed a diverse set of stress- responsive genes, DEGs, and TFs modulated by abiotic stress. The absence of functional validation for these genes pre- vents their use as potential markers in crop improvement and genetic engineering to enhance stress resilience. While fox- tail millet has been extensively studied, other minor millets remain largely underexplored, with kodo and barnyard nota- bly lacking a reference genome due to their ploidy complexity (Fig. 7). Moreover, research beyond genomics and transcrip- tomics, particularly in metabolomics, proteomics, epigenom- ics, single-cell omics, phenomics, and ionomics, is still in its infancy for these crops, limiting a systems-level understand- ing of their abiotic stress adaptation mechanisms. Bridging Fig. 7 Representation of (a) genomics and (b) transcriptomics studies prevailing for abiotic stress response in minor millets (created using Microsoft Excel) 1 3Functional & Integrative Genomics (2026) 26:117  117 Page 20 of 24 these knowledge gaps requires an integrative multi-omics approach to unravel the complex molecular networks govern- ing stress resilience in minor millets. Despite the availability of millet databases with omics resources, a unified platform focused on abiotic stress remains absent. Establishing a stress- centric multi-omics database integrated with cross-omics tools would enable the discovery and validation of stress-respon- sive genes, support translational research, and accelerate breeding for climate-resilient millets. Future research efforts should focus on facilitating precise trait improvement through marker-assisted selection, genomic selection, and genomic interventions, ultimately contributing to the development of high-yielding, stress-tolerant cultivars. A comprehensive exploration of stress-responsive pathways in minor millets will be instrumental in strengthening their role in sustainable agriculture and enhancing global food security amidst evolv- ing climate challenges.

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: stress millets omics abiotic climate minor genomics global crop resilient genes remains contributing food security
• Emerging applications of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in horticultural crop improvement (2026) · Discover Plants · doi

  Although CRISPR/Cas technology has emerged as a highly precise and versatile tool for targeted genome modification, it should be viewed as a complementary approach integrated with conventional breeding, marker-assisted selection (MAS), and genomic selection rather than as a complete replacement for traditional crop improvement strate- gies. Conventional breeding and MAS remain highly effective for improving complex quantitative traits controlled by multiple genes and for utilizing naturally available genetic diversity. In contrast, genome editing is particularly advantageous when precise modification of specific genes is required, when desirable alleles are absent in breeding populations, or when rapid trait introgression into elite cultivars is necessary. There- fore, future horticultural improvement programs will likely benefit most from integrated breeding approaches combining conventional breeding, molecular markers, genomic selection, and precision genome editing technologies. The future success of CRISPR/ Srivastava et al. Discover Plants (2026) 3:295 Page 19 of 26 Cas-mediated genome editing in horticultural crops will largely depend on overcom- ing major biological and technical constraints, including low transformation efficiency, genotype-dependent regeneration, polyploidy, prolonged juvenile phases, and limited genomic resources. Among these, inefficient transformation and regeneration remain the primary bottlenecks, particularly in woody perennials and clonally propagated crops. Several strategies may substantially improve transformation efficiency in recal- citrant horticultural species. Optimization of Agrobacterium-mediated transforma- tion through genotype-specific modification of explant type, bacterial strain, virulence induction conditions, co-cultivation duration, and selection regimes can significantly enhance transformation success. The incorporation of developmental regulator genes such as WUSCHEL (WUS), BABY BOOM (BBM), SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM), and GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR–GRF INTERACTING FACTOR (GRF-GIF) chimeric modules has shown considerable promise in improving somatic embryogenesis and shoot regeneration efficiency in several difficult-to-transform species. Similarly, the use of morphogenic regulators, inducible promoter systems, and transient expression approaches may improve regeneration while minimizing stable transgene integration. Alternative delivery platforms are also expected to accelerate genome editing applica- tions in horticultural crops. DNA-free ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-mediated editing offers the advantage of precise editing without transgene integration and may improve regu- latory acceptance, particularly in vegetatively propagated crops. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery syst

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: editing genome breeding selection horticultural mediated crops transformation regeneration precise modification conventional genomic genes particularly
• Role of Genome Sequences of Major and Minor Millets in Strengthening Food and Nutritional Security for Future Generations (2024) · Agriculture · cited 37× · doi

  The availability of millet genomes facilitates the breeding and selection of millets, which are essential to support ongoing and future food security. However, researchers are trying to completely annotate the already available partial genome sequences of pearl millet, fonio millet, tef, job’s tear, proso millet, and barnyard millet (Figure 3). The complete annotation of pearl millet, fonio millet, tef, job’s tear, proso millet, and barnyard millet genome sequences will enable the rapid identification of the key genes that determine highly important traits in millets. Identifying markers and candidate genes from the available genome sequences would help millet improve against biotic and abiotic stresses. Also, this will allow for more efficient millet breeding by facilitating the selection of important traits. Genome sequences are not yet available for brown top millet, little millet, and kodo millet. Developing millet genome sequences for these three millets will support the improvement of these three millets. Genome editing is a famous tool in biotechnology to dissect the role of any candidate genes in any plants. Such novel techniques should be implemented in millets to dissect the already identified key genes related to biotic and abiotic stresses. The need for a rapid genetic improvement of millets is made more urgent by climate change, which demands new genotypes adapted to new and harsh environments. Maintaining millet genetic resources in seed banks and the conservation of the wild millet genotypes provide the genetic resources that are required for sustainable food production. More attention should be given to the collection and conservation of little millet, brown top millet, tef, fonio millet, job’s tear, kodo millet, proso millet, and barnyard millet, because most of the traditional germplasms of those millets have already disappeared from the world. Improving the nutritional contents of each millet through nutritional transporter Agriculture 2024, 14, 670 21 of 28 gene manipulation may help enhance the nutritional availability in seeds of millets. In addition, several differentially expressed genes and molecular markers have already been identified for major and minor millets through transcriptomic resources. Hence, millet researchers can try to use the transcriptomic resources of millets for identifying candidate genes and developing molecular markers for those millets without complete annotated genome sequences. Author Contributions: Conceptualization, T.M. and S.A.C.; table and image creation, T.M.; writing—original draft preparation, T.M. and T.P.A.K.; writing—review and editing, T.M., T.P.A.K. and N.M.K.; project adminis- tration, S.A.C. review, writing, and editing during revision, H.K. and M.V. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding: This research was funded by Rajagiri College of Social Sciences under Seed Money for Faculty Minor Research. Acknowledgments: We would like to acknowledge the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (RCSS) for providing internet access, software, and system facilities for writing the manuscript. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: millet millets genome sequences genes already resources writing available fonio tear proso barnyard markers candidate

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