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Volume 12
Issue 7
10.3390/horticulturae12070845
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Article

Functional Identification of Apple MdCBL5 in Improving Fruit Quality and Its Response Under Salt Stress

by
Xiaoyang Lyu
1,†,
Tong Li
1,†,
Ru-Xue Sha
1,
Qi Zhang
1,
Zhi Li
1,
Long-Xin Luo
1,
Shun-Feng Ge
1,
Zhan-Ling Zhu
1,
Ya-Li Zhang
1,
Shang Wu
1,
Cheng-Lin Liang
2,
Yuan-Mao Jiang
1,
Yuan-Yuan Li
1,
Han Jiang
1,* and
Zi-Quan Feng
1,*
1
National Research Center for Apple Engineering and Technology, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
2
Haidu College, Qingdao Agricultural University, No. 11, Wenhua Road, Laiyang 265200, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 845; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070845
Submission received: 2 June 2026 / Revised: 8 July 2026 / Accepted: 9 July 2026 / Published: 10 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Stress Tolerance in Horticultural Plants Through Genomics and Gene Editing)
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Abstract

Calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins are plant-specific calcium sensors critical for ion homeostasis and stress tolerance. Here, seven MdCBL genes were genome-wide identified in apple (Malus domestica). We conducted systematic bioinformatic profiling of their physicochemical features, subcellular localization, cis-regulatory elements, phylogeny, secondary structures, phosphorylation sites, and functional annotations and further verified the salt-stress regulatory function of MdCBL5 via transgenic tests. MdCBL proteins contain 210–246 amino acids, with molecular weights of 24,196.73–28,283.39 Da, pI values of 4.63–4.97 and instability indices of 37.12–49.20. Localization prediction placed these proteins in nuclei, cytosol and chloroplasts. Their promoter regions are rich in hormone-responsive (auxin, ABA, salicylic acid) and stress-responsive (cold, drought, salt) cis-elements. Phylogenetic clustering divided MdCBLs into five subgroups (A–E) with high homology to Arabidopsis CBLs. Random coils and α-helices dominate their secondary structures, and serine residues constitute most phosphorylation sites. Functional annotation supports their involvement in calcium signaling, ion transport and diverse stress adaptation. Salt stress experiments have confirmed that MdCBL5 may enhance apple salt resistance by promoting MdSOS gene expression. Meanwhile, transient transformation in apple fruit showed that MdCBL5 can effectively enhance fruit quality traits. Collectively, this study establishes a theoretical foundation for further elucidating the biological functions of the apple MdCBL5 gene and provides valuable insights for genetically improving stress resistance and fruit quality in apple via molecular breeding strategies.
Keywords: Malus domestica; MdCBL5; salt stress; fruit quality Malus domestica; MdCBL5; salt stress; fruit quality

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lyu, X.; Li, T.; Sha, R.-X.; Zhang, Q.; Li, Z.; Luo, L.-X.; Ge, S.-F.; Zhu, Z.-L.; Zhang, Y.-L.; Wu, S.; et al. Functional Identification of Apple MdCBL5 in Improving Fruit Quality and Its Response Under Salt Stress. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 845. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070845

AMA Style

Lyu X, Li T, Sha R-X, Zhang Q, Li Z, Luo L-X, Ge S-F, Zhu Z-L, Zhang Y-L, Wu S, et al. Functional Identification of Apple MdCBL5 in Improving Fruit Quality and Its Response Under Salt Stress. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(7):845. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070845

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lyu, Xiaoyang, Tong Li, Ru-Xue Sha, Qi Zhang, Zhi Li, Long-Xin Luo, Shun-Feng Ge, Zhan-Ling Zhu, Ya-Li Zhang, Shang Wu, and et al. 2026. "Functional Identification of Apple MdCBL5 in Improving Fruit Quality and Its Response Under Salt Stress" Horticulturae 12, no. 7: 845. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070845

APA Style

Lyu, X., Li, T., Sha, R.-X., Zhang, Q., Li, Z., Luo, L.-X., Ge, S.-F., Zhu, Z.-L., Zhang, Y.-L., Wu, S., Liang, C.-L., Jiang, Y.-M., Li, Y.-Y., Jiang, H., & Feng, Z.-Q. (2026). Functional Identification of Apple MdCBL5 in Improving Fruit Quality and Its Response Under Salt Stress. Horticulturae, 12(7), 845. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070845

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