The Crop Journal Open Access Editor-in-Chief: Jianmin Wan
Home The Crop Journal All Issues Volume 14 Issue 1
Volume 14 Issue 1, February 2026
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PP. 1-301
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28 articles
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Editorials
Editorial | Open Access
Message from the Editor-in-Chief: From metabolic pathway design to synthetic biology breeding
Jianmin Wan
Published: 02 February 2026
2026, 14(1): 1-3
Editorial | Open Access
Synthetic biology and metabolomics-driven precision crop design
Shuangxia Jin, Qinlong Zhu, Qiao Zhao, Shouchuang Wang
Published: 07 February 2026
2026, 14(1): 4-7
Reviews
Review | Open Access
Synthetic metabolic engineering of functional crops: Boosting nutrition and human health
Nan Chai, Jie Xu, Ruixiang Zhang, [...], Guangzhou Li, Jun Wen, Liying Su, Yang Xue, Tie Li, Jialin Liu, Dongchang Zeng, Jiantao Tan, Jiaqi Huang, Letian Chen, Yao-Guang Liu, Qinlong Zhu << Fewer
Published: 04 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 8-21
Review | Open Access
Metabolic engineering for increased nutritional quality in rice
Mingqi Zang, Shining Han, Ruixue Zhang, [...], Ziwei Li, Peisong Hu, Zheyong Xue << Fewer
Published: 03 February 2026
2026, 14(1): 22-36
Review | Open Access
Precision modification and de novo design of metabolic pathways to enhance crop nutritional quality and stress tolerance
Penghui Liu, Jie Yang, Ziyue Xu, [...], Yige Han, Shouchuang Wang, Zoran Nikoloski, Jun Yang << Fewer
Published: 25 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 37-47
Review | Open Access
Crop metabolic engineering towards enhanced resistance to pests and pathogens
Jiaojiao Wang, Jinyue Yang, Junxing Yu, [...], Yaxian Liu, Youping Wang, Amr El-Demerdash, Wenbin Zhou, Dewei Wu << Fewer
Published: 03 February 2026
2026, 14(1): 48-60
Review | Open Access
Metabolic adaptations of Qingke: A review of stress resilience and nutritional functions
Congping Xu, Yulin Wang, Naoxue Fei, [...], Yuzhen Basang, Haizhen Yang, Jiabu Dunzhu, Hongjun Yuan, Mu Wang, Sang Zha, Wa Da, Taba Xiongnu, Puci Basang, Chunbao Yang, Qijun Xu, Zexiu Wei, Yawen Gan, Yawei Tang, Alisdair R. Fernie, Zhaoyan Chen, Jie Luo, Ganggang Guo, Xingquan Zeng << Fewer
Published: 12 January 2026
2026, 14(1): 61-73
Review | Open Access
Biological nitrogen and carbon fixation: Bridging the gap between synthetic symbioses and synthetic biology
Qi Cheng, Chukang Ma, Xuelu Wang
Published: 03 February 2026
2026, 14(1): 74-86
Review | Open Access
Metabolic engineering of vegetative organs for enhanced oil accumulation in biofuel feedstocks
Maqsood Khan, Jingtao Zhang, Yuhao Zhang, [...], Yunlong Zhang, Chaorong Tang, Jiang Wang << Fewer
Published: 09 December 2025
2026, 14(1): 87-94
Review | Open Access
Natural and artificial evolution of acetolactate synthase for crop breeding
Wenbo Pan, Yaoyao Zhu, Pingdong Li, [...], Zhiqiang Li, Chunjue Xu, Man Jin, Xiaoyan Tang << Fewer
Published: 30 May 2025
2026, 14(1): 95-106
Research Papers
Research paper | Open Access
A synthetic glycolate metabolism bypass in rice chloroplasts increases photosynthesis and yield
Xiangze Chen, Guangru Li, Haohui He, [...], Wenle Xie, Lili Cui, Zhisheng Zhang, Xinxiang Peng, Guohui Zhu << Fewer
Published: 01 April 2025
2026, 14(1): 107-116
Research paper | Open Access
Editing-overexpression coupling system synchronizes photosynthetic enhancement, yield optimization, and abiotic stress tolerance in rice
Suting Wu, Xue’an Cui, Yuan Chang, [...], Zhiwei Wang, Liying Zhang, Jing Sun, Tiegang Lu, Zhiguo Zhang << Fewer
Published: 03 December 2025
2026, 14(1): 117-128
Research paper | Open Access
Development of eRUBY maize with betalain-enriched endosperm using a push-and-pull synthetic metabolic engineering strategy
Yang Xue, Qindi Deng, Nan Chai, [...], Xiaojia Li, Tie Li, Weidong Luo, Xiaoli Yan, Letian Chen, Jiantao Tan, Yao-Guang Liu, Qinlong Zhu << Fewer
Published: 08 November 2025
2026, 14(1): 129-140
Research paper | Open Access
Soybean MYB diversification identifies GmMYBA1 as a light-responsive anthocyanin activator
Xiaotong Shan, Shirui Zhu, Ruifang Gao, [...], Siqi Yang, Yanan Wang, Luhong Leng, Ye Zhang, Xianzhong Feng, Chunbao Zhang, Xiang Gao, Yueqing Li << Fewer
Published: 12 December 2025
2026, 14(1): 141-153
Research paper | Open Access
The miR166–ATHB14-LIKE module regulates flavonoid biosynthesis in soybean
Chen Yan, Jiaxin Zhang, Ye Zhang, [...], Chen Zhao, Jingjing Ma, Yaohua Zhang, Suxin Yang, Xianzhong Feng, Jun Yan << Fewer
Published: 10 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 154-165
Research paper | Open Access
Developing eco-friendly, pest-resistant cotton by a heterologous multi-gene transformation system for caffeine synthesis
Yibo Fan, Yingchao Tang, Yuanmei Miao, [...], Yanchang Zhao, Lu Yu, Peng Han, Xiangqian Zhu, Tingwan Li, Guanying Wang, Zhongping Xu, Lu Long, Wei Gao, Lisong Hu, Shuangxia Jin << Fewer
Published: 03 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 166-175
Research paper | Open Access
PSY4-mediated carotenoid biosynthesis confers yellow anther and enhances heat tolerance in cotton
Yujie Wang, Daowu Hu, Kaixuan Wang, [...], Xiaoli Geng, Hangyuan Guo, Kun Li, Baojun Chen, Jinggong Guo, Zongyan Chu, Hongge Li, Wandong Han, Xinchuan Cao, Xiongming Du, Yuchen Miao, Shoupu He, Kun-Peng Jia << Fewer
Published: 28 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 176-187
Research paper | Open Access
Phytoene synthase gene GbDYA modulates carotenoids accumulation and confers yellow anther and pollen antioxidant activity in cotton
Zhihan Guan, Caiping Cai, Meng Lyu, [...], Lu Wang, Zhenqi Wang, Weixi Li, Jiaqi Wang, Wangzhen Guo << Fewer
Published: 11 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 188-200
Research paper | Open Access
Post-translational control of biotic stress-related nicotine biosynthesis by a MAP kinase signaling cascade
Yan Zhou, Yongliang Liu, Ruiqing Lyu, [...], Sanjay Kumar Singh, Xueyi Sui, Xin Hou, Sitakanta Pattanaik, Ling Yuan << Fewer
Published: 25 September 2025
2026, 14(1): 201-213
Research paper | Open Access
Optimizing carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (CCD4) for enhanced β-ionone production in Nicotiana tabacum
Chen Dong, Yu Zhang, Zifu Ni, [...], Mengxin Shen, Faming Lin, Xiaoran Wang, Yongchun Shi, Yuchen Miao, Jinggong Guo, Ran Wang << Fewer
Published: 23 April 2025
2026, 14(1): 214-223
Research paper | Open Access
Differing functions of two CYP716 genes for saikosaponin biosynthesis in Bupleurum chinense
Kaimi Dong, Hua Chen, Ma Yu, [...], Shiying Wang, Xue Yin, Chuanxin Mo, Meng Zhang, Yuchan Li, Yong Luo, Zeru Yu, Zisong Yang, Jun Zhao, Chao Xin, Wenshuai Chen, Zhen Ni, Zheyong Xue, Jianhe Wei << Fewer
Published: 13 January 2026
2026, 14(1): 224-234
Research paper | Open Access
GiMYB76, a MeJA-inducible R2R3-type transcription factor, regulates licochalcone A biosynthesis in licorice (Glycyrrhiza inflata)
Yuping Li, Zhigeng Wu, Jixiang Zhu, [...], Jiangyi Zeng, Yongliang Liu, Jihua Wang, Ling Yuan, Ying Wang, Yongqing Li << Fewer
Published: 05 October 2025
2026, 14(1): 235-246
Research paper | Open Access
PcUGT84A82 catalyzes a key step in the biosynthesis of galloylated macrocyclic polyphenols in Penthorum chinense Pursh
Yajing Li, Yiru Liu, Xiao Li, [...], Ke Zhang, Yun Wang, Minghui Lu, Xu Yang, Yinan Zou, Jiajia Cao, Lianna Sun, Junfeng Chen, Doudou Huang, Wansheng Chen, Ying Xiao << Fewer
Published: 13 December 2025
2026, 14(1): 247-254
Research paper | Open Access
DaMYB75 and DaMYB56 antagonistically regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis by binding to the DaANS promoter in Dioscorea alata
Xin Chen, Jingyu Sun, Nan Shan, [...], Asjad Ali, Sha Luo, Shenglin Wang, Qianglong Zhu, Yao Xiao, Zihao Li, Yufan Fang, Jiali Lin, Xiaorong Chen, Qinghong Zhou, Yingjin Huang << Fewer
Published: 11 April 2025
2026, 14(1): 255-270
Research paper | Open Access
Transcription factor ZbERF6-ZbbHLH2 complex enhances monoterpenoid synthesis in Zanthoxylum bungeanum by synergistically activating the expression of ZbIDI
Jie Zhang, Nuan Han, Ziyi Wang, [...], Bobo Li, Cheng Wang, Dongmei Wang << Fewer
Published: 29 March 2025
2026, 14(1): 271-284
Short Communications
Short Communication | Open Access
Development of a “Golden fiber” cotton germplasm via carotenoid biofortification
Yujie Wang, Lu Long, Yanqi Zhang, [...], Kaixuan Wang, Luying Shao, Yingchao Tang, Kun Li, Wei Gao, Jinggong Guo, Salim Al-Babili, Yuchen Miao, Kun-Peng Jia << Fewer
Published: 06 June 2025
2026, 14(1): 285-288
Short Communication | Open Access
Chromosome-level genome of Iris domestica reveals genes involved in isoflavonoid biosynthesis
Beibei Su, Da Sun, Deyu Zhang, [...], Ping Li, Xiaojie Zhao, Shuo Huang, Yumeng Wu, Yunfan Ji, Kang Zhang, Dazhuang Huang << Fewer
Published: 02 December 2025
2026, 14(1): 289-295
Short Communication | Open Access
Efficient genetic transformation and gene editing in Erigeron breviscapus using developmental regulators
Qin Zhu, Yingchun Lu, Yunhui Yang, [...], Jiayao Song, Rong Gong, Shanglin Zhang, Jinglei Xiong, Shengchao Yang, Guanghui Zhang, Jianli Yang, Simei He << Fewer
Published: 04 July 2025
2026, 14(1): 296-301