Increasing agricultural productivity is one of the most important goals of plant science research and imperative to meet the needs of a…
Earth & Environment
Tropical Agriculture
Agriculture in the world’s tropical regions face mounting pressures due to climate change, emerging pests and diseases, growing demand for food as well as systemic socioeconomic and environmental constraints.
In this collection, we present a selection of PLOS articles representative of the innovative agricultural research taking place in tropical countries and driving forward the development of sustainable, resilient cropping systems.
Submit your research to PLOS Genetics, PLOS Biology, and PLOS ONE to feature your research in this collection.
PLOS Genetics
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PLOS Genetics A novel rice grain size gene OsSNB was identified by genome-wide association study in natural population
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PLOS Genetics Natural variations of TFIIAγ gene and LOB1 promoter contribute to citrus canker disease resistance in Atalantia buxifolia
Citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is one of the most devastating diseases in citrus industry worldwide. Most…
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PLOS Genetics Gene regulatory effects of a large chromosomal inversion in highland maize
Chromosomal inversions play an important role in local adaptation. Inversions can capture multiple locally adaptive functional variants in…
PLOS ONE
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PLOS ONE Simulating adaptation strategies to offset potential impacts of climate variability and change on maize yields in Embu County, Kenya
In this study, we assessed the possible impacts of climate variability and change on growth and performance of maize using multi-climate,…
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PLOS ONE Wheat rust epidemics damage Ethiopian wheat production: A decade of field disease surveillance reveals national-scale trends in past outbreaks
Wheat rusts are the key biological constraint to wheat production in Ethiopia—one of Africa’s largest wheat producing countries. The…
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PLOS ONE Population dynamics of sugarcane borers, Diatraea spp., under different climatic scenarios in Colombia
Seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns on a global scale are main factors to which insects and plants adapt through natural…
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PLOS ONE Construction of a high-density genetic map and QTL analysis for yield, yield components and agronomic traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)
Unravelling the genetic architecture underlying yield components and agronomic traits is important for enhancing crop productivity. Here,…
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PLOS ONE Factors influencing the efficiency of cocoa farms: A study to increase income in rural Indonesia
Indonesia is the fifth largest cocoa-producing country in the world, and an increase in cocoa farming efficiency can help farmers to…
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PLOS ONE The dynamics of coffee production in Brazil
Coffee is a crop of significant importance for Brazilian agrobusiness. There is evidence that both the geographic distribution of coffee…
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PLOS ONE Agroecological coffee management increases arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity
Agroecology aims to maintain ecosystem services by minimizing the impact of agriculture and promoting the use of biological potential.…
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PLOS ONE Tree diversity and its ecological importance value in organic and conventional cocoa agroforests in Ghana
Cocoa agroforestry systems have the potential to conserve biodiversity and provide environmental or ecological benefits at various nested…
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PLOS ONE A global overview of cassava genetic diversity
Although numerous studies of diversity have been conducted in cassava, there is no comprehensive assessment of global genetic diversity.…
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PLOS ONE Genetic diversity and population structure of early-maturing tropical maize inbred lines using SNP markers
Information on genetic diversity and population structure are very important in any breeding programme for the improvement of traits of…
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PLOS ONE Genetic diversity of Pantoea stewartii subspecies stewartii causing jackfruit-bronzing disease in Malaysia
Jackfruit-bronzing is caused by bacteria Pantoea stewartii subspecies stewartii (P. stewartii subsp. stewartii), showing symptoms of…
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PLOS ONE Black Sigatoka in bananas: Ecoclimatic suitability and disease pressure assessments
Black leaf streak disease, or black Sigatoka, is caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora fijiensis, and has been identified as a major…
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PLOS ONE Detection and characterization of fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum) causing wheat blast disease on rain-fed grown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Zambia
Wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT) is a threat to wheat production especially in the warmer-humid…
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PLOS ONE Understanding spatial patterns of soils for sustainable agriculture in northern Ethiopia’s tropical mountains
Knowledge of the geographical distribution of soils is indispensable for policy and decision makers to achieve the goal of increasing…
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PLOS ONE Development of a model estimating root length density from root impacts on a soil profile in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br). Application to measure root system response to water stress in field conditions
Pearl millet is able to withstand dry and hot conditions and plays an important role for food security in arid and semi-arid areas of…
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PLOS ONE Soil nutrient adequacy for optimal cassava growth, implications on cyanogenic glucoside production: A case of konzo-affected Mtwara region, Tanzania
Soils in areas affected by konzo (a cassava cyanide intoxication paralytic disorder) are predominantly infertile and probably unable to…