Crop Quality (CQ) is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of crop quality as a primary outcome. In an era of climate change and rising global demand for nutritious food, the journal addresses the critical challenge of enhancing quality without compromising productivity or sustainability.
CQ's scope is organised around six research frontiers:
1. Nutritional Enhancement and Functional Components
Focuses on the genetic and physiological pathways used to bolster essential nutrients, including proteins, lipids, vitamins, and micronutrients (biofortification). We emphasize research on optimizing bioactive compounds (e.g. antioxidants, polyphenols) to address "hidden hunger" and satisfy the global shift toward functional, health-promoting diets.
2. Synergistic Mechanisms of Yield and Quality
Bridging the historical gap between high productivity and superior quality. This section prioritizes research on gene regulatory networks (GRNs), metabolic signaling, and the use of molecular markers or gene editing techniques to decouple the negative correlation between biomass yield and nutritional density.
3. Climate Resilience and Adaptive Quality Responses
Investigating how anthropogenic climate change—specifically elevated CO2, rising temperatures, and water scarcity—alters crop biochemistry. We seek research on the physiological mechanisms of quality degradation and the development of climate-resilient germplasm that maintains nutritional integrity under environmental stress.
4. Digital Phenotyping and Precision Quality Management
Explores the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in agriculture. Key areas include the use of hyperspectral imaging, remote sensing, and AI-driven predictive models for non-destructive quality assessment, real-time nutrient monitoring, and precision harvest decision-making.
5. Advanced Breeding and Genomic Selection
Harnessing "Omics" technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) to accelerate the development of next-generation cultivars. This includes de novo domestication, genomic selection for complex quality traits, and the development of cultivars with enhanced shelf-life and sensory profiles.
6. Post-Harvest Physiology and Processing Quality
Addresses the maintenance of quality from farm to fork. This includes research on metabolic changes during storage, the molecular basis of fruit ripening, and the suitability of new cultivars for industrial food processing and "clean label" ingredient manufacturing.
Article types accepted: original research, reviews, meta-analysis of published data, highlights, and perspectives.
Editor in Chief: Rodomiro Ortiz
Professor and Chair of Genetics and Plant Breeding at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Alnarp, Sweden
Research interest: Crop improvement through utilisation of exotic germplasm, evaluation of gene action for economically important traits, and development of efficient breeding techniques for diverse reproductive systems.
