Perspectives in 2018

A Perspective summarizes advances in the research of plant diversity, and discusses how big data resources and new technologies, such as analytical and integrating tools, are revolutionizing our views of plant diversification and guiding conservation.

There are multiple strategies to fortify crop nutrition and support global food security and sustainable agriculture. Here the authors propose to increase the diversity of crops by devoting more efforts to studying minor crops that are naturally stress resistant.

Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants is rich and varied, with uses differing between cultures. Cultural evolutionary theory, particularly phylogenetic comparative methods, provide a framework to investigate continuity and change in medicinal plant knowledge.

Microbial communities are not only of great importance in the human gut, but also play irreplaceable roles in sustaining plant growth and functions. In this Perspective, strategies to optimize microbiome usage in agroecosystems are proposed.

This Perspective discusses recent progress in base editing, as well as potential applications in research and biotechnology.

To reduce climate warming we must stop adding CO₂ to the atmopshere, and develop approaches for removing it. Adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands could improve productivity, restore soil quality and reduce atmospheric CO₂.