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Biology
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Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology
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Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 3939

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Juwu Gong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, Institute of Cotton Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
Interests: plant breeding; biology; biotechnology; molecular genetics; genomics; bioinformatics; environmental stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant breeding is an important branch of agricultural science, with the primary goal of improving plant yield, disease resistance, and adaptability through selective breeding. Traditional plant breeding relies on natural variation, where breeders selectively breed individuals with desirable traits, and gradually improve crop varieties over generations. However, this process is often time-consuming and uncertain. With the advancement of biotechnology, plant breeding has entered a new era. Marker-assisted selection is an important tool in modern plant breeding. By detecting molecular markers associated with target traits, breeders can identify promising plant individuals early in the breeding process, significantly improving the efficiency and speed of the breeding process. Modern biotechnologies, such as genetic engineering and genome editing, provide more precise and efficient means for plant breeding. For instance, gene transfer or gene knockout (CRISPR/Cas9) can introduce new traits or modify existing ones in plants. In vitro culture methods can also rapidly propagate genetically uniform plant materials, which is particularly valuable for plant species that are difficult to propagate through traditional means. Furthermore, tissue culture can be used to produce pathogen-free planting materials. In summary, the development of plant breeding, from traditional methods to modern biotechnologies, has brought about significant progress. By combining traditional breeding techniques and cutting-edge biotechnologies, scientists can more effectively address the challenges posed by population growth and climate change, laying a solid foundation for global food security. In the future, as new technologies continue to emerge, plant breeding will continue to play a crucial role in agricultural production.

Dr. Juwu Gong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant breeding
  • biotechnology
  • molecular marker-assisted selection
  • genetic engineering
  • genome editing
  • tissue culture
  • phenotype
  • genetics
  • omics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2386 KiB  
Article
Cd Stress Response in Emmer Wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schrank) Varieties Under In Vitro Conditions and Remedial Effect of CaO Nanoparticles
by Doğan İlhan and Büşra Yazıcılar
Biology 2025, 14(4), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14040394 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 315
Abstract
In this study, the mitigating effects of CaO NPs obtained from pomegranate extract via environmentally friendly green synthesis on CdCl2 stress in two varieties (Yolboyu and Kirac) of Turkish Kavilca wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schrank) under in vitro callus culture [...] Read more.
In this study, the mitigating effects of CaO NPs obtained from pomegranate extract via environmentally friendly green synthesis on CdCl2 stress in two varieties (Yolboyu and Kirac) of Turkish Kavilca wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schrank) under in vitro callus culture conditions were investigated. The calluses developed from embryos of both wheat varieties were exposed to either CaO NPs alone (1 and 2 mg/L), CdCl2 alone (1 or 10 mM) or the different combinations of these two compounds in MS medium for 4 weeks. Changes in the expressions of two genes (Traes_5BL_9A790E8CF and Traes_6BL_986D595B9) known to be involved in wheat’s response to CdCl2 stress were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Additionally, certain physiological parameters, such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), H2O2, proline and soluble sugar content, and SEM-EDX analysis were used to assess the response of calluses to the applications. The CaO NPs treatments alone generally upregulated the expression of the 5BL and 6BL genes, while the CdCl2 applications decreased their expression in both cultivars. The CaO NPs reduced the proline content in both cultivars compared to the control. Co-treatment with CdCl2 and CaO NPs increased the sugar content and decreased the MDA content, but did not cause a significant change in the H2O2 content. SEM analysis showed that when CdCl2 and CaO NPs were applied to calluses together, the membranous and mucilaginous spherical structures were regained. The application of CaO NPs reduces the amount of cellular damage caused by CdCl2 stress and improves gene expressions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology)
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12 pages, 1452 KiB  
Article
Flower Position and Clonal Integration Drive Intra-Individual Floral Trait Variation in Water-Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederiaceae)
by Guilherme Ramos Demetrio, Luziene Seixas and Flávia de Freitas Coelho
Biology 2025, 14(2), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14020114 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 669
Abstract
Intra-individual variation in floral traits is linked to plant fitness, playing a central role in sexual selection. This variation can arise from architectural constraints, such as flower position on the inflorescence axis, and from environmental factors. In relation to the environmental influences on [...] Read more.
Intra-individual variation in floral traits is linked to plant fitness, playing a central role in sexual selection. This variation can arise from architectural constraints, such as flower position on the inflorescence axis, and from environmental factors. In relation to the environmental influences on floral traits, the most common causes of variation are linked to the presence of pollinators, to plant resource acquisition strategies and to the availability of local resource pools. We investigated how clonal integration and resource depletion through defoliation affect floral trait stability in Eichhornia crassipes, testing whether clonal integration buffer floral traits against resource limitations. Using greenhouse experiments, we manipulated clonal structure and resource availability. We assessed the effects of floral position and clonal integration on floral traits through model selection. Our results showed that basal flowers generally had larger traits, more attractive to pollinators, and isolated or defoliated ramets exhibited significant reductions in floral traits, especially at distal flowers. Clonal integration stabilized floral traits across positions by mitigating the effects of resource variability. Clonal integration in E. crassipes enhances resilience to resource depletion, likely contributing to this species invasiveness. These findings highlight the significance of clonal and architectural integration in sustaining reproductive traits under environmental stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology)
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22 pages, 4589 KiB  
Article
Differences in Physiological and Agronomic Traits and Evaluation of Adaptation of Seven Maize Varieties
by Shuqi Ding, Dan Zhang, Ying Hao, Mengting Hu, Huijuan Tian, Kaizhi Yang, Guolong Zhao, Ruohang Xu and Wentao Du
Biology 2024, 13(12), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13120977 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 955
Abstract
To better understand the growth adaptability of various maize varieties to the climate of the Alar region in Southern Xinjiang Province, an experiment was conducted using seven distinct maize varieties as test materials. A one-way randomized block design was applied to both experimental [...] Read more.
To better understand the growth adaptability of various maize varieties to the climate of the Alar region in Southern Xinjiang Province, an experiment was conducted using seven distinct maize varieties as test materials. A one-way randomized block design was applied to both experimental groups. In 2021 and 2022, a total of 19 indicators were observed for comparative analysis, including antioxidant enzyme activities and agronomic traits. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to evaluate the adaptability of the maize varieties. The findings revealed that: (1) All seven maize varieties exhibited robust growth, with notable differences in their respective trait profiles. Specifically, the yield traits of Jin’ai 588 and Denghai 3672 showed relatively consistent performance over the two-year period. (2) Five principal components (100-kernel weight, bald tip length, catalase (CAT), number of leaves, and angle of leaf pinch at the ear) were extracted from the 19 traits via principal component analysis, with a cumulative contribution rate of 84.689%. This represented the majority of the information regarding the seven maize varieties. After calculating the comprehensive index F value, the results indicated that Xinyu 66 and Denghai 3672 had high composite scores, suggesting high production potential and suitability for cultivation in this region. Conversely, Xinyu 24 showed the lowest composite score, indicating that it is not suitable for planting in this area. (3) Ultimately, the seven maize varieties were categorized into three groups through cluster analysis; this is the same as the result of principal component analysis. This classification provides a reference for the promotion and utilization of different varieties in the southern border region and aims to optimize the comprehensive trait selection of the varieties studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology)
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16 pages, 8461 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of the Oxidative Stress 3 (OXS3) Gene Family and Analysis of Its Expression Pattern During Ovule Development and Under Abiotic Stress in Cotton
by Yu Chen, Rui Yang, Haojie Wang, Xianghui Xiao, Baoguang Xing, Yanfang Li, Qiankun Liu, Quanwei Lu, Renhai Peng, Guodong Chen, Yongbo Wang and Pengtao Li
Biology 2024, 13(11), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13110903 - 6 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1288
Abstract
Oxidative Stress 3 (OXS3) encodes a plant-specific protein that makes great contributions to a plant’s stress tolerance. However, reports on genome-wide identification and expression pattern analyses of OXS3 were only found for Arabidopsis, wheat, and rice. The genus Gossypium (cotton) [...] Read more.
Oxidative Stress 3 (OXS3) encodes a plant-specific protein that makes great contributions to a plant’s stress tolerance. However, reports on genome-wide identification and expression pattern analyses of OXS3 were only found for Arabidopsis, wheat, and rice. The genus Gossypium (cotton) serves as an ideal model for studying allopolyploidy. Therefore, two diploid species (G. raimondii and G. arboreum) and two tetraploid species (G. hirsutum and G. barbadense) were chosen in this study for a bioinformatics analysis, resulting in 12, 12, 22, and 23 OXS3 members, respectively. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using 69 cotton OXS3 genes alongside 8 Arabidopsis, 10 rice, and 9 wheat genes, which were classified into three groups (Group 1–3). A consistent evolutionary relationship with the phylogenetic tree was observed in our structural analysis of the cotton OXS3 genes and the clustering of six conserved motifs. Gene duplication analysis across the four representative Gossypium species suggested that whole-genome duplication, segmental duplication, and tandem duplication might play significant roles in the expansion of the OXS3 gene family. Some existing elements responsive to salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) were identified by cis-regulatory element analysis in the promoter regions, which could influence the expression levels of cotton OXS3 genes. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the GhOXS3 gene were examined in different tissues or organs, as well as in developing ovules and fibers, with the highest expression observed in ovules. GhOXS3 genes exhibited a more pronounced regulatory response to abiotic stresses, of which ten GhOXS3 genes showed similar expression patterns under cold, heat, salt, and drought treatments. These observations were verified by quantitative real-time PCR experiments. These findings enhance our understanding of the evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the OXS3 gene family and provide valuable insights for the identification of vital candidate genes for trait improvement in cotton breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Breeding: From Biology to Biotechnology)
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