Germplasm, Genetics and Breeding of Ornamental Plants

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 May 2025 | Viewed by 1679

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding of Zhejiang Province, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou 311400, China
Interests: flavonoids metabolism; flower color; transcription regulation; gene expression and protein interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Interests: Magnolia sinostellata; shade stress; gene expression and protein interactions
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: ornamental plants; flower color; germplasm; breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental plants have significant ornamental and economic value, and are the foundation of the development of the ornamental horticulture industry. In recent years, the breeding of ornamental plants has been driven by the development of molecular biology, molecular breeding and gene-editing technology. Strengthening the protection and utilization of germplasm resources and promoting breeding and genetics research are essential in the creation of high-quality and high-value ornamental horticultural varieties.

The aim of this Special Issue, entitled “Germplasm, Genetics and Breeding of Ornamental Plants”, is to present innovative studies, approaches, and techniques related to the research of ornamental plants; this includes research on the molecular mechanism implicated in the formation of ornamental traits (flower color, flower shape, floral aroma, leaf color, plant type, etc.), the stress response mechanism in ornamental plants, the formation of a secondary metabolism, plant hormones, breeding techniques, and the development and utilization of germplasm resources, etc. This Special Issue welcomes the submission of innovative research and review articles related to this topic.

Dr. Weixin Liu
Prof. Dr. Yamei Shen
Dr. Leifeng Xu
Guest Editors

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 special issue 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

  • ornamental plants
  • trait formation
  • molecular breeding
  • growth regulators
  • physiological response
  • molecular mechanism

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 4020 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and miRNA Reveal the Key Factor Regulating the Somatic Embryogenesis of Camellia oleifera
by Qinqin Xing, Kailiang Wang, Henfu Yin, Chaochen Yang and Minyan Wang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1291; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121291 - 4 Dec 2024
Viewed by 368
Abstract
The key genes involved in plant regeneration play a crucial role in enhancing reproductive capabilities, plant genetic transformation, and gene editing efficiency. Camellia oleifera, a vital woody oil crop, faces challenges in genetic improvement efficiency due to its slow growth and the [...] Read more.
The key genes involved in plant regeneration play a crucial role in enhancing reproductive capabilities, plant genetic transformation, and gene editing efficiency. Camellia oleifera, a vital woody oil crop, faces challenges in genetic improvement efficiency due to its slow growth and the difficulties it experiences during the regeneration process. This study focused on the expression levels of mRNA and miRNA during the somatic embryogenesis of C. oleifera, and the core genes of plant regeneration involved in the C. oleifera somatic embryogenesis process were identified, including WUSCHEL-related homeobox 4 (WOX4), WOX13, and DNA-Binding One Zinc Finger 5.6 (DOF5.6) during the somatic embryo callus induction phase; WOX11, PLETHORA2 (PLT2), and Growth-regulating factor (GRF) during the somatic embryogenesis and bud regeneration phase; and miRNAs such as miR156, miR319, and miR394. These key regulatory factors may participate in the regulation of plant auxin and cytokinin and play a core role in the regeneration process of C. oleifera. The research data elucidate the process of somatic embryogenesis in C. oleifera at the molecular level. The key regulatory genes identified provide potential targets for improving the regeneration efficiency of C. oleifera and other woody oilseed plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm, Genetics and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3852 KiB  
Article
Multi-Approach Unveils Potential Gene Introgression of Oil Camellias
by Menglong Fan, Zhixin Song, Ying Zhang, Xinlei Li and Zhenyuan Sun
Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121252 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 320
Abstract
The complex phylogenetic relationship of polyploid species provides an opportunity for a comprehensive study of gene introgression. Oil camellias refer to a class of important woody oil plant in the camellia genus, including octoploid, hexaploid, tetraploid, and diploid plants, but the phylogeny relationship [...] Read more.
The complex phylogenetic relationship of polyploid species provides an opportunity for a comprehensive study of gene introgression. Oil camellias refer to a class of important woody oil plant in the camellia genus, including octoploid, hexaploid, tetraploid, and diploid plants, but the phylogeny relationship of these species remains poorly investigated. Here, based on multiple types of evidence, including phylogenetic conflict, gene flow analysis, and representative metabolite, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship of oil camellias. Camellia shensiensis and C. grijsii formed a distinct branch. Phylogenetic conflict suggested that hexaploid C. oleifera probably originated from hybridization and clustered with diploid C. kissi and tetraploid C. meiocarpa. Tetraploid C. confusa probably originated from crossing the ancestor of C. kissi and C. brevistyla, and C. brevistyla probably was the maternal progenitor of hexaploid C. sasanqua. Furthermore, the composition of anthocyanin in tender leaves showed a strong correlation with phylogenetic distinctions. This study proves the feasibility of using iconic metabolic components to solve phylogenetic relationships and lays a foundation for analyzing genetic breeding and utilizing oil camellia resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm, Genetics and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 9113 KiB  
Article
A C2H2-Type Zinc Finger Protein from Mentha canadensis, McZFP1, Negatively Regulates Epidermal Cell Patterning and Salt Tolerance
by Xiaowei Zheng, Yichuan Xu, Li Li, Xiwu Qi, Xu Yu, Chun Qin, Dongmei Liu, Zequn Chen and Yang Bai
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111139 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 706
Abstract
C2H2-type zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factors play evident roles in regulating plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. However, the role of C2H2-ZFP from Mentha canadensis remains uncertain. We identified the multifunctional C2H2-ZFP gene McZFP1 from M. canadensis based on phylogenetic [...] Read more.
C2H2-type zinc finger protein (C2H2-ZFP) transcription factors play evident roles in regulating plant growth and development and abiotic stress responses. However, the role of C2H2-ZFP from Mentha canadensis remains uncertain. We identified the multifunctional C2H2-ZFP gene McZFP1 from M. canadensis based on phylogenetic analysis. The McZFP1 gene was highly expressed in stems, responding to abiotic stress and phytohormone treatments. McZFP1 localized in the nucleus and showed no transcriptional autoactivation activity in yeast. McZFP1 overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly reduced the number of trichomes and root hairs, root hair length, and salt stress tolerance. Further study revealed that McZFP1 overexpression increased the expression of negative regulator genes and decreased that of positive regulator genes to inhibit plant trichome and root hair development. Malondialdehyde accumulation was promoted, but the proline content and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities were reduced and the expression of stress response genes was inhibited in McZFP1 overexpression lines under salt treatment, thereby compromising plant salt tolerance. Overall, these results indicate that McZFP1 is a novel C2H2-ZFP transcription factor that plays negative roles in trichome and root hair development and salt stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm, Genetics and Breeding of Ornamental Plants)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop