Molecular Breeding is an international journal publishing papers on applications of plant molecular biology, i.e., research most likely leading to practical applications. The practical applications might have demonstrable benefits for the seed industry, farmers, processing industry, environment and consumers. All papers published should contribute to the understanding and progress of modern plant breeding, encompassing the scientific disciplines of genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, physiology, pathology and breeding. Topics include contemporary methods of molecular genetics and genomic analysis, functional genomics, proteomics and metabolic profiling, biotic stress, abiotic stress, molecular breeding and field evaluation of crops with improved traits. Molecular Breeding welcomes the following categories of papers: full papers, short communications, review papers and papers describing novel methods. All submission are subject to peer review ensuring the highest scientific quality standards. Manuscripts submitted to Molecular Breeding will focus on applications, but we will also accept fundamental science papers as long as they are of direct relevance to crop plants. Molecular Breeding also welcomes relevant articles addressing intellectual property issues, regulation and public attitudes to plant biotechnology and also significant technology advances in applied plant molecular biology.