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Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources

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A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Fruit Production Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2027 | Viewed by 3910

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Editors

Dr. Lihu Wang

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Guest Editor

School of Landscape and Ecological Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
Interests: ploidy breeding; omics data mining; the formation of fruit quality

Prof. Dr. Bowen Liang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China
Interests: apple; abiotic stress tolerance; nutrient use efficiency; germplasm; genetic; microbiome
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit germplasm resources represent the genetic foundation for sustainable horticultural development, providing essential material for breeding programs aimed at improving yield, quality, resistance, and adaptability. Advances in molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology have greatly expanded our ability to explore genetic diversity, uncover evolutionary relationships, and utilize key genes in fruit improvement.

This Special Issue welcomes studies on the collection, characterization, and conservation of fruit germplasm, as well as novel breeding approaches that integrate traditional methods with modern techniques such as genome editing, marker-assisted selection, and multi-omics analysis. Contributions may cover a wide range of species, including tomato, pear, apple, strawberry, and Phyllanthus emblica, with an emphasis on discovering valuable traits for improved fruit quality, yield, and resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. The Issue also addresses challenges such as germplasm conservation, core collection development, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Overall, this collection will explore innovative breeding strategies, resource utilization, and the preservation of genetic diversity to support future crop improvement

Dr. Lihu Wang
Prof. Dr. Bowen Liang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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.

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Keywords

genetic diversity
germplasm resources
fruit crops
molecular markers
phenotypic traits
breeding
core collections
genome-wide association study (GWAS)
gene editing
sustainable agriculture

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4536 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Omics Analysis of High-, Medium-, and Low-Ascorbic-Acid Jujube Cultivars Identifies Potential Key Regulatory Genes in Ascorbic Acid Metabolism

by Haixia Tang, Caihua Xing, Shoule Wang, Enshun Jiang, Qiong Zhang and Zhongtang Wang

Horticulturae 2026, 12(8), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12080948 - 1 Aug 2026

Viewed by 137

Abstract

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a critical antioxidant influencing the nutritional quality of fruits. This study integrates metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate high-ascorbic-acid (HAA), medium-ascorbic-acid (MAA), and low-ascorbic-acid (LAA) jujube cultivars. Metabolomic profiling revealed significant enrichment of ascorbic acid and its precursors in HAA cultivars, whereas MAA and LAA cultivars showed lower levels. Transcriptomic analysis identified 107 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across the three groups. Compared with LAA, 139 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified in HAA, with more down-accumulated (77) than up-accumulated (62); compared with MAA, 235 DAMs were found in HAA, with significantly more up-accumulated (180) than down-accumulated (55); 250 DAMs with different accumulation patterns between LAA and MAA included 199 up-accumulated and 51 down-accumulated; and 16 DAMs were common in all three comparison combinations. Potential key regulatory genes such as GDP-mannose-3′,5′-epimerase (GME) and L-galactose-1-phosphate phosphatase (GPP) were highlighted. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) detected possible core genes participating in ascorbic acid biosynthesis pathways. This study provides novel insights into the genetic and metabolic basis of ascorbic acid accumulation, potentially providing valuable targets for molecular breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources)

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16 pages, 2883 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Evaluation of Phenotypic Diversity and Nutritional Properties of Mango Leaves

by Jing Zhang, Changli Mao, Ni Liu, Ziyan Liu, Xiaoran Qian, Xiaoping Zhu, Jin Liu and Yingfeng Niu

Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070881 - 18 Jul 2026

Viewed by 457

Abstract

Mango is a globally vital tropical commercial fruit crop boasting a sizable industry and remarkable economic benefits. Nevertheless, mango leaves, abundant in carbohydrates, polyphenols and other nutrients, remain underdeveloped in comprehensive resource exploitation. First, comparative analysis of leaf phenotypic traits and nutritional quality at different developmental stages of the Guifei cultivar showed that mature leaves possessed significantly higher contents of soluble sugar, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids, as well as better comprehensive traits, indicating that the mature leaf stage is optimal for deep processing. Subsequent assays of 70 mango germplasms detected obvious differences in leaf phenotypic characteristics and nutritional quality among materials, with the coefficient of variation values ranging from 2.35% to 50.38%. Correlation analysis revealed significant intra-group correlations for leaf phenotypic indicators and antioxidant indicators, whereas the five basic nutritional indices were mutually independent. Cluster analysis classified the tested germplasms into four distinct groups with clear trait divergence and unique functional features. Five principal components were extracted from 11 leaf quantitative indices to construct a comprehensive evaluation system, which pinpointed elite accessions including Sri Lanka No.811, Nam Dok Mai, and Shuoshuai Mango, with Sri Lanka No.811 exhibiting the highest total polyphenol content. This study determines the optimal harvest period and elite germplasms for high-value utilization of mango leaves, facilitating special-purpose germplasm screening and targeted breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources)

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16 pages, 9271 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the ZjBBX Gene Family and Its Potential Role in Response to Fruit Coloring, Salt Stress Response, and Jujube Witches’ Broom in Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)

by Yujia Luo, Liqin Tu, Qi Zhang, Jiawen Xu, Zixuan Ma, Yuxi Zhang, Yuyang Feng, Jingting Zhang, Zhiguo Liu, Lihu Wang and Zhi Luo

Horticulturae 2026, 12(7), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12070816 - 3 Jul 2026

Viewed by 618

Abstract

BBX transcription factors are key regulators of plant growth, development, and stress responses, yet their functions in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an economically important fruit tree, remain largely unexplored. Here, we systematically identified 26 ZjBBX genes and comprehensively analyzed their phylogenetic relationships, structural features, and expression dynamics. Our integrative approach revealed three major findings. First, nine ZjBBX genes exhibited distinct expression patterns during fruit coloration, with ZjBBX9 and ZjBBX25 emerging as persistent up-regulated candidates. Second, under salt stress, ZjBBX members displayed three contrasting response modes, sustained down-regulation, rapid induction, or sharp repression, suggesting functional diversification in salinity adaptation. Third, under jujube witches’ broom, ZjBBX8, ZjBBX11, and ZjBBX13 showed differential expression between healthy and infected materials, implicating them in biotic stress defense. Collectively, this study provides the first multidimensional expression atlas of the ZjBBX family linked to fruit quality, salt tolerance, and pathogen resistance in jujube. Our findings open new avenues for marker-assisted breeding and genetic improvement of stress-resilient jujube cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources)

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24 pages, 6211 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Diversity, Oil Quality Evaluation, and Elite Germplasm Screening of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Germplasm Resources

by Shenghu Liu, Peidan Wen, Yuying Bai, Yanfen Liu, Shijie Wang and Lihui Zuo

Horticulturae 2026, 12(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12050624 - 18 May 2026

Viewed by 1136

Abstract

To enrich the breeding resources of Xanthoceras sorbifolium and provide support for its industrialization, we conducted multi-trait comparisons and comprehensive evaluations of 48 elite X. sorbifolium clones with high oil contents and high comprehensive utilization values, based on germplasms preserved at Qiuxian Forest Farm, Handan, Hebei Province, China. The coefficients of variation for quantitative traits were 7.04–74.16%, with variability being greatest in shell and fruit weights. Cluster analysis categorized the 48 germplasms into four distinct groups, with marked inter-group trait differences. Soluble protein, soluble sugar, and starch contents varied significantly among accessions. The average kernel oil content was 60.30%, differences in oil content were validated at the cellular level through microscopic oil body observations. Correlation analysis demonstrated that comprehensive oil content was strongly significantly positively correlated with fruit- and seed-related traits, whereas oil content was strongly significantly negatively correlated with fruit shell thickness and seed coat thickness. Principal component analysis extracted five principal components with a cumulative contribution rate of 72.747%, encapsulating four core information dimensions: fruit and seed size, oil content, protein quality, and energy substances. Membership function analysis, selected germplasms G10, G2, G4, G7, G20, G24, G17, G1, G34, and G5 as optimal accessions. These clones are suitable core breeding materials due to their outstanding performance in terms of nutrient content, geometric characteristics, and fruit and seed weights. Notably, G24, G5, and G17 demonstrated significant advantages in oil quality with high linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), and nervonic acid (C24:1) contents, respectively, indicating the excellent potential of X. sorbifolium development for oil production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources)

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14 pages, 3098 KB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction of BPC1 and ALDH2 Affects Natural De-Astringency in Chinese PCNA Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

by Junchi Xu, Xia Li, Li Zhang, Fei Zhang and Shiping Wang

Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121435 - 27 Nov 2025

Viewed by 793

Abstract

Pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) persimmons have significant commercial value due to their natural de-astringency trait. The Chinese PCNA (C-PCNA) type is particularly valuable for genetic improvement because this trait is controlled by dominant genes. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying this trait remains unclear. Our previous research identified ALDH2 (acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2, a key gene downstream of acetaldehyde metabolism) as being negatively correlated with natural de-astringency in C-PCNA persimmon, and revealed its interaction with DkBPC1, a transcription factor from the BBR/BPC (BARLEY B RECOMBINANT/BASIC PENTA CYSTEINE, abbreviated as the BPC protein family) family whose function had not been experimentally validated. The full-length cDNA of DkBPC1 was isolated from ‘Luotian Tianshi’ (C-PCNA type). A dual-luciferase assay demonstrated that DkBPC1 significantly enhances the promoter activity of DkALDH2b. Subcellular localization conducted in tobacco confirmed that DkBPC1 is localized in the nucleus. Transient overexpression of DkBPC1 in C-PCNA leaves and fruit discs resulted in a significant increase in soluble tannin content, a significant decrease in insoluble tannin content, and a notable upregulation of DkALDH2b gene expression. Conversely, transient knockdown of DkBPC1 expression in C-PCNA leaves led to a dramatic drop in soluble tannin content and a significant increase in insoluble tannin content. These results indicate that BPC1 can increase the conversion of soluble tannins to insoluble tannins by downregulating the expression of the DkALDH2 gene, thereby promoting natural de-astringency in C-PCNA persimmon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Breeding and Diversity of Fruit Germplasm Resources)

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