Plant genetics is the branch of biology concerned with the inheritance, structure, and function of genes in plants and with how genetic variation shapes growth, development, and agronomically important traits. It integrates classical Mendelian principles with molecular biology, genomics, and quantitative genetics to…
Plant genetics is the branch of biology concerned with the inheritance, structure, and function of genes in plants and with how genetic variation shapes growth, development, and agronomically important traits. It integrates classical Mendelian principles with molecular biology, genomics, and quantitative genetics to explain how alleles, gene interactions, and the environment jointly determine phenotypes such as yield, stress tolerance, and nutritional quality. In a Farming context, plant genetics underpins crop improvement: breeders use selection, hybridization, marker-assisted breeding, genomic selection, and increasingly precision tools such as gene editing to accelerate the development of varieties resilient to drought, heat, pests, and disease. A central analytical concern is the genetic architecture of complex traits, including the problems of missing heritability and missing co-heritability that arise when genome-wide markers fail to capture the full inherited variance estimated from pedigrees. The discipline also addresses germplasm conservation, genetic diversity, and the management of populations to sustain adaptive potential. Allied work in phytochemistry examines how genotype and growing conditions, including factors such as solvent and tissue pH, influence the accumulation of antioxidant and bioactive compounds. Collectively, plant genetics provides the scientific foundation for food security, sustainable agriculture, and adaptation of cultivated species to a changing climate.
5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 5 articles above have been cited 19 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Plant Genetics, linking to each citing work.