Crop legacies as genetic targets for sustainable farming systems.
Crop legacy traits influence soil conditions and can be targeted to improve sustainability, with heritable variation present in key crop species.
- Why it matters: Reducing environmental impact while increasing food production requires new breeding strategies that go beyond traditional traits, addressing soil and ecosystem interactions.
- What they did: The authors examined heritable crop traits that modify soil nutrients, water, structure, and microbial communities, proposing these as novel breeding targets within farming systems.
- The result: Harnessing crop legacy effects through selective breeding offers a pathway to sustainable agriculture by enhancing soil health and reducing reliance on external inputs.