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The State-of-the-Art Propagation and Breeding Techniques for Horticulture Crops
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The State-of-the-Art Propagation and Breeding Techniques for Horticulture Crops

A topical collection in Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This collection belongs to the section "Propagation and Seeds".

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Editor

Dr. Sergio Ruffo Roberto

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Agronomy, Agricultural Research Center, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Road, Londrina P.O. Box 10.011, Brazil
Interests: horticulture; fruit crops; post-harvest; fruit ripening
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticulture has established its importance in many aspects of innovation, improving land use, promoting crop diversification, generating employment, and providing food for the world’s population. Thus, innovations in plant propagation and breeding are essential to meet the requirements of global changes, such as population growth and climate change.

Over the years, horticulturists have developed several propagation methods which have supported breeding programs and allowed for the production of high-quality nursery plants and higher crops.

Traditional breeding is one of the main strategies used to improve agronomic traits. In many horticultural species, several cultivars have been developed through conventional methods, such as mutagenesis, inter- and intra-specific crosses, and clonal selection. Conventional breeding is a long-term and expensive process; a long period of time and resources are needed to obtain progenies and to evaluate their traits. In addition, sexual breeding is not always feasible because some cultivars to be used in crosses are incompatible, sterile, or polyembrionic. Moreover, in many cases, after breeding, backcrosses are required to recover elite features of the improved cultivar, further lengthening breeding programs.

Since the 1990s, new biotechnology techniques have been applied to the propagation and breeding of horticultural species, providing efficient alternatives to traditional methods for the improvement of novel cultivars. This has been possible through the development of transformation protocols starting from many sources of explants. More recently, a number of new techniques have been developed and classified as new plant breeding techniques.

This Topical Collection, titled “The State-of-the-Art Propagation and Breeding Techniques for Horticulture Crops”, aims to gather the main recent advances in new horticultural propagation and breeding methods. We encourage researchers and experts to submit high-quality manuscripts related to the above-mentioned topics to this Topical Collection, which may include basic and applied studies.

Dr. Sergio Ruffo Roberto
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vegetables
  • fruits
  • medicinal plants
  • ornamental plants
  • sexual and vegetative propagation
  • breeding techniques
  • molecular biology
  • plant transformation
  • RNAi
  • genetically modified organism

Published Papers (8 papers)

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2024

Jump to: 2023

14 pages, 5015 KiB  
Article
Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Improve In Vitro Growth of Blueberries
by Luca Regni, Daniele Del Buono, Maurizio Micheli, Simona Lucia Facchin, Arianna Cesarini, Dario Priolo and Primo Proietti
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121234 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1231
Abstract
Nanotechnology offers promising applications in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield, and antioxidant defenses. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the in vitro growth of two blueberry cultivars, Brigitta and Duke. The ZnO-NPs [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology offers promising applications in agriculture by enhancing crop growth, yield, and antioxidant defenses. This study is the first to evaluate the effect of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the in vitro growth of two blueberry cultivars, Brigitta and Duke. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized biogenically using an extract of Lemna minor L., which is a free-floating aquatic plant, as a capping and modulating agent, and were added to the plant’s growth media at different dosages (0, 2, 6, and 18 mg L−1). The ZnO-NPs significantly increased the shoot number, fresh biomass, and dry weight in both cultivars without affecting shoot vitality, length, or basal callus formation. Moreover, the increases in carotenoids in both cultivars, as well as chlorophyll and and soluble proteins in the ‘Brigitta’ cultivar, confirm the prompted benefits and possibly evidence genotype-specific metabolic adaptations in response to ZnO-NPs. These results demonstrate that biogenic ZnO-NPs can effectively promote the in vitro growth of blueberry explants, offering improvements in micropropagation efficiency. Full article
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11 pages, 7413 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Initiation, Regeneration, and Characterization of Plants Derived from Mature Tetraploid Floral Explants of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)
by Ahmed Othmani, Amel Sellemi, Monia Jemni, Karim Kadri, Leen Leus and Stefaan P. O. Werbrouck
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1206; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111206 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 880
Abstract
A stable tetraploid date palm mutant with the potential for increased fruit size was recovered from a sectorial di-tetraploid chimera via the in vitro culture of flower explants. Callus was induced using 2,4-D, followed by shoot regeneration on a medium containing NAA and [...] Read more.
A stable tetraploid date palm mutant with the potential for increased fruit size was recovered from a sectorial di-tetraploid chimera via the in vitro culture of flower explants. Callus was induced using 2,4-D, followed by shoot regeneration on a medium containing NAA and BAP and rooting with IBA. Regenerated plantlets, confirmed as tetraploid via flow cytometry, were acclimatized and grown for six years. The leaves of tetraploids exhibited significantly wider petiole bases, thicker rachis and spines, broader leaflets, and a more intense green leaf color compared to diploids. However, leaf length, spine count, and overall leaf number were reduced. This is the first report of successful tetraploid recovery from a chimeric date palm, demonstrating the potential of this technique to generate novel germplasm and highlighting the phenotypic differences associated with tetraploidy in this species. Full article
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12 pages, 865 KiB  
Article
Rooting Conditions for Production of Guarana Clonal Seedlings
by Karla Gabrielle Dutra Pinto, Rocinádia Franco Parédio, André Luiz Atroch, Firmino José do Nascimento Filho, Naara Raana da Costa Leite, Bruna Nogueira Leite Konrad and Sônia Maria Figueiredo Albertino
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1169; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111169 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 864
Abstract
The guaraná tree is a species known for the stimulating properties found in its seeds, leading to increased consumption and promising production. Cultivation is primarily carried out in family farming systems, and one of the challenges in the production process is the acquisition [...] Read more.
The guaraná tree is a species known for the stimulating properties found in its seeds, leading to increased consumption and promising production. Cultivation is primarily carried out in family farming systems, and one of the challenges in the production process is the acquisition of seedlings. The conventional nursery system, which employs intermittent misting for the production of guaraná clones, raises the cost of seedlings, necessitating the exploration of alternatives to this approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate different conditions as alternatives to the conventional nursery system for rooting guaraná cuttings. The experimental design was entirely randomized, featuring three guaraná genotypes, BRS Maués, BRS CG 611, and BRS Luzeia, alongside two rooting conditions, the conventional nursery and a humid chamber with nebulization, with four repetitions. The rooting of guaraná clones was significantly influenced by the interaction between conditions and genotypes. The humid chamber with nebulization demonstrated superior root system characteristics among the tested conditions, with a rooting rate of 56.66% for BRS Luzeia. This method proved to be efficient and accessible for small producers, making it a satisfactory option for rooting guaraná trees. Full article
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16 pages, 3154 KiB  
Article
Aerial Root Growth and Development Mechanism of Flowering Cherry ‘Gotenba zakura’ (Prunus incisa) and Its Relationship with Waterlogging Tolerance
by Xiaoxuan Feng, Tong Lyu and Yingmin Lyu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090991 - 19 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 996
Abstract
Flowering cherry is a renowned ornamental woody plant valued for its landscape applications and economic benefits in gardens. However, waterlogging during the rainy season in some areas causes death and heavy losses. Fortunately, we have found that the flowering cherry ‘Gotenba zakura’ ( [...] Read more.
Flowering cherry is a renowned ornamental woody plant valued for its landscape applications and economic benefits in gardens. However, waterlogging during the rainy season in some areas causes death and heavy losses. Fortunately, we have found that the flowering cherry ‘Gotenba zakura’ (Prunus incisa Thunberg) is capable of generating aerial roots when subjected to heavy rains and prolonged floods. In this study, we conducted an associated analysis to explore the core regulating network of the aerial root growth mechanism in flowering cherry ‘Gotenba zakura’ by combining phenotypic observations, physiological assays, and transcriptome comparisons across five distinct stages. Through the analysis of the heatmap of DEGs (Differentially Expressed Genes) and the gene co-expression network (GCN), we identified genes that may play critical roles under waterlogging stress. The gene network indicates that aerial roots enhance waterlogging tolerance through ROS degradation, endogenous hormone induction, and energy production. This discovery provides a solid foundation for understanding the waterlogging tolerance of flowering cherry and offers molecular evidence for selecting promising rootstocks for breeding, aimed at improving waterlogging tolerance through grafting. Full article
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12 pages, 5386 KiB  
Article
Red and Far-Red Light Combined with Trans-Cinnamic Acid Enhances In Vitro Rooting and Reduces Callus Formation in Lavender
by Hajer Darouez and Stefaan P. O. Werbrouck
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 954; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090954 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1178
Abstract
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a valuable crop with diverse applications, but its in vitro rooting can be hindered by its sensitivity to natural auxins and it often fails to root due to callus formation. The current study investigates the effects of [...] Read more.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) is a valuable crop with diverse applications, but its in vitro rooting can be hindered by its sensitivity to natural auxins and it often fails to root due to callus formation. The current study investigates the effects of light spectra emitted by LEDs and the application of trans-cinnamic acid (t-CA) on the morphology, propagation, and rooting of lavender shoots in vitro. Initially, the influence of different concentrations of t-CA (0, 1.25, 2.5, or 5 µM) was evaluated under fluorescent light. The application of 1.25 µM t-CA was found to be the most effective in promoting root development while minimizing callus formation. Subsequently, the impact of different light spectra (fluorescent light and combinations of blue, red, and far-red monochromatic LED light) was explored. The combination of red and far-red (RFR) light significantly accelerated rooting and resulted in the most substantial increase in root number and length. Finally, the combined effects of 1.25 µM t-CA and RFR light were assessed. This combination produced the most favorable overall results, notably, a 4.3-fold increase in lateral root number compared to RFR light alone. These findings underscore the potential of optimizing both t-CA concentration and light spectra to enhance the in vitro propagation of lavender. Full article
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20 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Phenotypic and Biochemical Trait Improvement in Husk Tomatoes (Physalis sp.) through EMS-Induced Mutagenesis
by Md Ashraful Islam, Fabeeha Tarannum, Afsana Hossain Dina, Minhaz Ahmed, Md Ahsanul Haque, Sezai Ercişli, Md Golam Rasul, Duran Simsek and Mehfuz Hasan
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090913 - 27 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1063
Abstract
Husk tomatoes are used in salsa and traditional medicine to alleviate illnesses. Market demand requires husk tomato varieties with improved agronomic and physicochemical health benefits. Mutagen application alters plant genomes, creating new traits and genetic diversity. The efficacy of EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) was [...] Read more.
Husk tomatoes are used in salsa and traditional medicine to alleviate illnesses. Market demand requires husk tomato varieties with improved agronomic and physicochemical health benefits. Mutagen application alters plant genomes, creating new traits and genetic diversity. The efficacy of EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) was examined for morphology, bioactive compounds, and phytochemical improvement. Three husk tomato genotypes representing Physalis philadelphica and Physalis ixocarpa underwent two hours of 1.4% EMS. In addition to yield and yield-related properties, total phenol, antioxidant activity, chlorophyll a and b levels in leaves and fruits, and phytochemical concentrations of Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and K in fruits were measured. Genotype-dependent morphological changes were found. The mutants C1T6 (85 cm) and C1T7 (87.60 cm) were shorter than Control C1 (102 cm). The highest yield was 5.80 g for C1T5; Control C1 produced 3.08. The mutant C2T6 produced the most (5.99 g) compared to its control (2.85 g). Mutants had higher total phenol, antioxidant activity, and leaf/fruit chlorophyll. C1T2 had the highest antioxidant activity (1.19 ng/µL). C2T1 outperformed Control C2 at 1.54 ng/µL phenolic content. C3T2 had the highest Ca content (1822 µg/g), while Control C3 had 861.20 µg/g. Mutations altered phytochemical composition, which can be used to generate nutritionally superior husk tomato varieties. Additionally, scientists will be able to study mutants with advantageous morphological and biochemical traits, enabling extensive research. Furthermore, the mutants will serve as a genetic repository for the progression of breeding procedures. Full article
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11 pages, 2138 KiB  
Article
Selection of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Hybrids Resistant to Fol, TYLCV, and TSWV with Early Maturity and Good Fruit Quality
by Richecarde Lafrance, Claudia Villicaña, José Benigno Valdéz-Torres, Raymundo Saúl García-Estrada, Manuel Alonzo Báez Sañudo, Mayra Janeth Esparza-Araiza and Josefina León-Félix
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080839 - 8 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2184
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is widely grown in the tropics, where its production is subjected to heavy disease losses. A goal of tomato breeders is genetic improvement of early maturity genotypes with higher fruit quality under challenging environmental conditions, such as the [...] Read more.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is widely grown in the tropics, where its production is subjected to heavy disease losses. A goal of tomato breeders is genetic improvement of early maturity genotypes with higher fruit quality under challenging environmental conditions, such as the presence of multiple pathogens, is the goal of tomato breeders. In Mexico, tomato is one of the main exported vegetables, grown in most of the northwestern states of the country, with the state of Sinaloa as one of the largest producers. In this study, we evaluated fruit quality parameters in 16 tomato hybrids (14 hybrids under development in Sinaloa and 2 as commercial lines), which were previously analyzed with molecular markers to detect gene resistance. The hybrids were harvested at the “red ripe” stage at three different harvest dates. Total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, pH, color, firmness, and the TSS/acidity ratio were evaluated. Of the 16 hybrids analyzed, 2 showed the presence of genes for resistance to TYLCV, 7 for resistance to TSWV and Fol race 3, 15 for resistance to Fol race 2, and all 16 for resistance to Fol race l. Results show that most of the tomato hybrids analyzed during the three harvest dates met market standards reported in the USDA’s fresh tomato import regulations and Mexico Supreme Quality 2005 (MCS Mexico Calidad Suprema for its acronym in Spanish). However, two of the advanced developmental hybrids better met the market requirements and are also maturing early. Full article
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2023

Jump to: 2024

10 pages, 3684 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Propagation Using Organic Materials and Growth Hormone: A Study on the Effectiveness of Growth and Rooting of Pomegranate Cuttings
by Shafiqullah Aryan, Gulbuddin Gulab, Zabihullah Safi, Asmatullah Durani, Mohammad Ghani Raghib, Kifayatullah Kakar, Tayebullah Zahid, Bakht Munir Baber, Yogesh K. Ahlawat, Ihab Mohamed Moussa and Hosam O. Elansary
Horticulturae 2023, 9(9), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9090999 - 4 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4811
Abstract
Pomegranate production in Afghanistan is increasing remarkably, but nursery services are lacking, leading to inconsistent growth and low rooting percentages in cuttings. Hence, this research was conducted at the greenhouse of Nangarhar University, Faculty of Agriculture, to investigate the efficacy of indole-3-butyric acid [...] Read more.
Pomegranate production in Afghanistan is increasing remarkably, but nursery services are lacking, leading to inconsistent growth and low rooting percentages in cuttings. Hence, this research was conducted at the greenhouse of Nangarhar University, Faculty of Agriculture, to investigate the efficacy of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and organic materials, namely banana, garlic, aloe vera, and panchagavya, as rooting promoters on cuttings of the ideal seedless pomegranate cultivar (Bedana). The cuttings were derived from one-year-old dormant branches in mid-February of 2023. The findings indicated that panchagavya and aloe vera significantly (p < 0.05) accelerated the sprouting process of pomegranate cuttings, resulting in 100% rooting, while IBA showed a delayed initiation of sprouting. In contrast, banana had a detrimental effect on the sprouting of the cuttings. IBA and organic materials, except banana and garlic, significantly influenced all the shoot parameters. Among the treatments, panchagavya (21.1%), IBA (23.4%), and aloe vera (26.8%) demonstrated the highest number of shoots per cutting compared to the control. A consistent soil plant analysis development (SPAD) pattern was observed across treatments, positively correlating with shoot and root parameters (range, r = 0.30–0.97). The application of organic materials significantly (p < 0.05) impacted root length, acrobasal roots, root diameter, total root length, and root fresh weight. However, banana and garlic yielded contrasting results in most of these parameters. In conclusion, aloe vera and panchagavya are found to be more suitable for propagating pomegranates through cuttings, making them excellent alternatives to IBA for nurserymen and companies. Full article
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