Dear Colleagues,

Dietary, culinary, and cultural diversity are found in indigenous communities with a long history using underutilized and minor crops that can be grown in harsh environmental conditions. As climate change leads to an unpredictable occurrence and intensity of drought, heat, chilling, and/or salinity stresses, underutilized crops used in rustic growing conditions are generating more research interest as sources of stress tolerance traits for direct production and for application in breeding programs. Considering both food security and health promotion, there are attempts to promote the use of the underutilized crops such as pseudo-cereals like Quinopodium spp., minor pulses, which can be grown in dry lands, and root/tuber crops. Meanwhile, it is essential to maintain biodiversity in traditional agricultural systems for the sustainability of ecosystem services, including soil formation, soil microbiota balance, nutrient cycling, water management, and overall landscape architecture. Innovation in the use of underutilized crops would enhance human resilience to climate change with the inputs of science and technology.

This Special Issue aims to address the (i) current information status of underutilized crop research and (ii) key issues in altering the utilization of underutilized crops. We welcome all scientific works (original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modeling approaches, and methods).

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Genetics, cytogenetics, biodiversity, and reproductive biology of underutilized crops
• Molecular and physiological mechanisms of stress tolerance of underutilized crops
• Metabolic profiling and nutraceutical evaluation of underutilized crops
• Perspectives for a wider use of underutilized crops based on cutting-edge knowledge
• Future research directions aimed at the creation of economic value for underutilized crops.

Prof. Dr. Kazuo N. Watanabe
Dr. Akiko Hashiguchi
Prof. Dr. Jorge Cadena-Iñiguez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• underutilized crops
• genetics
• cytogenetics
• biodiversity
• reproduction
• environmental stress
• tolerance
• metabolism
• health-promoting effects, added value