Genetic Engineering and Quality Improvement in Vegetable Crops

A topical collection in Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This collection belongs to the section "Vegetable Production Systems".

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Editors

Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: carotenoids in tomato; glucosinolates in Brassica vegetables; quality and safety of vegetable products; chemical regulation; metabolic engineering
College of Horticulture, Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: vegetable quality formation and regulation
Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: carotenoids in tomato; quality of vegetable products; metabolic engineering
Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: glucosinolates in Brassica vegetables; chemical regulation; metabolic engineering

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Driven by industry demand, traditional fresh produce breeding has primarily focused on yield, shelf life, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Today, the demand for high-quality vegetables arises from increasingly curious, discerning, and health-conscious consumers. Vegetable quality constitutes organoleptic and nutritional aspects tightly related to dynamic biochemical compositions and structures. The quality of vegetable crops is seriously affected by diverse factors along the whole supply chain, covering the selection of suitable varieties, pre-harvest management, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and marketing. Phytochemicals (or secondary metabolites) such as glucosinolates and carotenoids from vegetable products make a significant contribution to vegetable quality and human health, and are therefore rapidly gaining attention. Along with the dissection of metabolic pathways and advancements in multi-omic technology, significant progress has been made in enhancing genetic gain in the era of genetic/metabolic engineering, and molecular breeding for quality improvement in vegetable crops.

For this Topical Collection, we invite research and review articles on recent advances in quality improvement in vegetable crops, including, but not limited to, the formation and regulatory mechanisms of quality traits in vegetable products (regarding organoleptic and functional aspects), quality improvement by classical/molecular breeding methods and genetic/metabolic engineering, biofortification through targeted vegetable nutrition for human health, optimization of primary and secondary metabolites (metabolic pathways) for improved quality, quality control along the whole production chain from field to fork, and quality determination methods and standards (nondestructive, fast, digital, and multi-omic). Contributions to this Topical Collection will shed light on value-added sustainable agriculture in the near future.

Prof. Dr. Qiaomei Wang
Dr. Rongfang Guo
Dr. Lihong Liu
Dr. Mengyu Wang
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • vegetable
  • nutrient quality
  • metabolism
  • flavor
  • epigenetics
  • biofortification
  • genetic improvement
  • phytochemicals
  • quality standards
  • sensory quality

Published Papers (7 papers)

2023

Jump to: 2022

14 pages, 15649 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization and Expression of CmobHLH Genes in Pumpkin
by Wenhong Ao, Weirong Luo, Wenchen Xu, Xudong Wang, Junjun Liu and Yongdong Sun
Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060648 - 31 May 2023
Viewed by 798
Abstract
The transcription factor bHLH gene family plays fundamental roles in plant development and mitigating diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the information of bHLH genes in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is still unknown. In this current study, 222 CmobHLH genes were identified [...] Read more.
The transcription factor bHLH gene family plays fundamental roles in plant development and mitigating diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the information of bHLH genes in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is still unknown. In this current study, 222 CmobHLH genes were identified and mapped onto different chromosomes through bioinformatics analysis in pumpkin. CmobHLH and AtbHLH proteins could be classified into 19 subfamilies according to the phylogenetic tree. CmobHLH proteins within the same subfamily had similar motif composition and gene structures. Gene ontology (GO), cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and protein–protein interaction analyses suggested the potential regulatory roles of CmobHLH genes during the plant development process and abiotic stresses response in pumpkin. Tissue expression patterns based on transcriptome data demonstrated that CmobHLH genes were involved in pumpkin development process, and they had unique functions in different tissues. The expression patterns of five selected CmobHLH genes after exposure to abiotic stresses showed that the CmobHLH genes played varied roles in the stress responses of pumpkin to NaCl, waterlogging, cold, ABA and drought. In brief, these findings offer important information for further functional research of CmobHLH genes and resistance breeding in pumpkin. Full article
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11 pages, 1490 KiB  
Article
Quality Improvement of Tomato Fruits by Preharvest Application of Chitosan Oligosaccharide
by Jirong Zheng, Hao Chen, Tonglin Wang, Ghazala Mustafa, Lihong Liu, Qiaomei Wang and Zhiyong Shao
Horticulturae 2023, 9(3), 300; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9030300 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), a degradation product of chitosan, is easily accessible, highly bioactive, non-toxic, and well-soluble in water. The effects of COS on the qualitative attributes of tomato fruits were investigated in the current study. COS was administered to tomato plants (Solanum [...] Read more.
Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), a degradation product of chitosan, is easily accessible, highly bioactive, non-toxic, and well-soluble in water. The effects of COS on the qualitative attributes of tomato fruits were investigated in the current study. COS was administered to tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Ruixinghongniu) by foliar spray and root irrigation in alternate cycles at concentrations of 0.5 g·L−1 and 0.16 g·L−1, respectively. The experimental outcomes revealed that COS treatment promoted the coloring and softening of tomato fruits. Lycopene, vitamin C, fructose, and glucose levels increased by 49.0%, 25.4%, 30.2%, and 33.4%, respectively, in COS-treated ripe fruits compared to controls. The volatile metabolome showed that COS application also increased the release of ten volatiles correlated with consumer preference (1-penten-3-one, (E)-2-pentenal, (E)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-heptenal, 2-isobutylthiazole, phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol, and β-ionone), contributing to an improved tomato flavor. Moreover, increased transcript levels of genes participating in ethylene biosynthesis, perception, and response along with enhanced ethylene production were observed in COS-treated fruits, suggesting that COS may regulate tomato fruit quality via the ethylene pathway. Taken together, our results indicated that the pre-harvest application of COS could improve tomato fruit quality attributes. Full article
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11 pages, 1156 KiB  
Review
Genetic Components of Self-Incompatibility in Brassica Vegetables
by Fenghua Wang, Yufei Li, Guangyuan Li and Shuangchen Chen
Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020265 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1844
Abstract
Brassica vegetables are very important to human beings. Self-incompatibility (SI) is a common phenomenon in Brassica. Breeding by SI lines is an important way to utilize heterosis of Brassica vegetables. It is believed that the SI inheritance in Brassica species is controlled by [...] Read more.
Brassica vegetables are very important to human beings. Self-incompatibility (SI) is a common phenomenon in Brassica. Breeding by SI lines is an important way to utilize heterosis of Brassica vegetables. It is believed that the SI inheritance in Brassica species is controlled by three linkage genes on the S-locus, including SRK (S-locus receptor kinase), SCR (S-locus cystine-rich protein)/SP11 (S-locus protein 11), and SLG (S-locus glycoprotein). SRK is the female determinant and SCR/SP11 is the pollen S gene. The expression of SLG is necessary for SRK, and it enhances the SRK-mediated SI reaction. In addition to these three S-locus genes, some other functional molecules also have significant regulatory effects on SI, such as ARC1 (arm repeat containing 1), MLPK (M-locus protein kinase), Exo70A1 (exocyst compounds), THLl/THL2 (thioredoxin H-like), MOD (aquaporin), SLR (S-locus-related glycoprotein), BPCI (pollen calcium-binding protein I), etc. SI is also associated with the dominant/recessive relationship between S alleles. Here, the genetic elements and molecular mechanisms of SI, mainly in Brassica vegetables, are reviewed. Full article
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19 pages, 3465 KiB  
Article
Mutual Effects of Zinc Concentration and Ratio of Red-Blue Light on Growth and Nutritional Quality of Flowering Chinese Cabbage Sprouts
by Xiaopeng Li, Kaizhe Liu, Xinyang He, Yongkang Chen, Jiehui Tan, Haozhao Jiang, Rui He, Yamin Li and Houcheng Liu
Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020226 - 08 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1141
Abstract
The nutritional quality and biomass of various sprouts can be enhanced by Zn and red-blue light, especially the Brassica sprouts. However, the combined effects of this two on sprouts are rarely reported. In this study, different Zn concentrations (0, 1.74, 3.48, 10.43 and [...] Read more.
The nutritional quality and biomass of various sprouts can be enhanced by Zn and red-blue light, especially the Brassica sprouts. However, the combined effects of this two on sprouts are rarely reported. In this study, different Zn concentrations (0, 1.74, 3.48, 10.43 and 17.39 mM) were combined with two ratios of red-blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (R: B = 1:2, 1R2B; R: B = 2:1, 2R1B, at 70 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD, 14 h/10 h, light/dark) to investigate their mutual effects on the growth, mineral elements, and nutritional quality in flowering Chinese cabbage sprouts (FCCS). Fresh weight, dry weight, contents of organic Zn, soluble sugar, vitamin C, total flavonoids, total polyphenol, FRAP (ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power) and DPPH (radical inhibition percentage of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) were significantly increased by Zn supplement (10.43 and 17.39 mM) and 2R1B, while hypocotyl length and moisture content were decreased remarkably by Zn supplement. Total glucosinolates contents in the sprouts increased dramatically under 2R1B compared with 1R2B, while photosynthetic pigments contents decreased. Heat map and principal component analysis showed that 2R1B + 17.39 mM Zn was the optimal treatment for the accumulation of biomass and health-promoting compound in FCCS, suggesting that a suitable combination of light quality and Zn supplement might be beneficial to zinc-biofortified FCCS production. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2023

18 pages, 4050 KiB  
Article
Generating Novel Tomato Germplasm Using the Ancestral Wild Relative of Solanum pimpinellifolium
by Wenzhen Li, Yuhang Li, Yingnuan Liang, Linlin Ni, Huofeng Huang, Yushuang Wei, Mingcui Wang, Lida Zhang and Lingxia Zhao
Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010034 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1961
Abstract
To create novel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) germplasm, a wild tomato relative, S. pimpinellifolium (a red-fruited LA1585 accession), was used as the male parent to cross with the yellow-fruited tomato mutant, e9292 (S. lycopersicum). Forty-four morphological characteristics were examined in [...] Read more.
To create novel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) germplasm, a wild tomato relative, S. pimpinellifolium (a red-fruited LA1585 accession), was used as the male parent to cross with the yellow-fruited tomato mutant, e9292 (S. lycopersicum). Forty-four morphological characteristics were examined in the present study; 22 S. pimpinellifolium (LA1585) traits and six S. lycopersicum (e9292) traits were dominant in the hybrids (first generation, F1); 10 were intermediate types, and the remaining six resulted in a nonmorphological difference. Ten representative lines were chosen from 1338 line of the second generation of the hybrid (e9292 × LA1585). The ascorbic acid content was higher in three F2 hybrids than in LA1585, which had higher parental levels, as well as the lycopene content in two of the hybrid lines. The fructose and glucose contents were higher in five F2 hybrids compared to e9292, and the sugar/acid value was higher in three hybrid lines. The broad-sense heritability values ranged from 75.06% for total soluble solids to 99.92% for ascorbic acid, and the average value was 92.66% for 15 quality traits. When seedlings were exposed to NaCl and mannitol, the tolerance of high salt concentrations and drought was enhanced in two hybrid lines (F2-266 and F2-299) compared with else tomatoes (e9292, LA1585, F1 hybrids, and F2-332). We created novel tomato germplasm resources with horticulturally desirable quality traits and abiotic stress tolerance, thus offering a methodology for novel tomato germplasm creation and evaluation. Full article
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14 pages, 12900 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Reference Genes Suitable for Gene Expression during Root Enlargement in Cherry Radish Based on Transcriptomic Data
by Yao Yao, Xiaoqian Wang, Bingxing Chen, Shurui Zheng, Gefu Wang-Pruski, Xiaodong Chen and Rongfang Guo
Horticulturae 2023, 9(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9010020 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1551
Abstract
Reliable reference genes (RGs) are of great significance for the normalization of quantitative data. RGs are often used as a reference to ensure the accuracy of experimental results to detect gene expression levels by reverse transcription–quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). To evaluate the normalized [...] Read more.
Reliable reference genes (RGs) are of great significance for the normalization of quantitative data. RGs are often used as a reference to ensure the accuracy of experimental results to detect gene expression levels by reverse transcription–quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). To evaluate the normalized RGs that are suitable for studying the expression of genes during the process of radish stele enlargement, based on the functional annotations and fragment per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM) values in the transcriptome data, three traditional RGs (GAPDH, 18SrRNA, and ACTIN7) and seven commonly used RGs (UBQ11, TUA6, TUB6, EF-1b1, EF-1a2, PP2A11, and SAND) were obtained. In the study, the results of geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper from RefFinder comprehensively analyzed the stability ranking of candidate RGs. The results showed that compared with the traditional RGs, the common RGs show higher and more stable expression. Among the seven commonly used RGs, PP2A11 is recommended as the optimal RG for studying cherry radish stele enlargement. This research provides a useful and reliable RG resource for the accurate study of gene expression during root enlargement in cherry radishes and facilitates the functional genomics research on root enlargement. Full article
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11 pages, 21150 KiB  
Article
Protein Extract of Tobacco Expressing Solanum torvum PP5-Encoding Gene Inhibits Verticillium dahliae Proliferation
by Min Chen, Chao Xie, Qing Yang, Wenjiao Zhu and Man Wang
Horticulturae 2022, 8(3), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030252 - 16 Mar 2022
Viewed by 2400
Abstract
Verticillium wilt, a soilborne disease caused by Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae), can severely affect the yields of Solanaceae crops. In a previous study, it was observed in Solanum torvum (S. torvum) that protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) was induced by [...] Read more.
Verticillium wilt, a soilborne disease caused by Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae), can severely affect the yields of Solanaceae crops. In a previous study, it was observed in Solanum torvum (S. torvum) that protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) was induced by V. dahliae infection. To elucidate the function of PP5 more clearly, this study cloned an StPP5 cDNA from S. torvum by PCR. The cDNA contained an ORF of 1458 bp long encoding a putative protein of 485 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 54.63 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 5.66. StPP5 protein contained a conserved PP domain and showed high similarity to other homologous members of the PP5 family from various plant species. The expression of StPP5 gene was upregulated after V. infection and reached its maximum value at 24 h in leaves. In order to clarify the role of StPP5, four transgenic tobacco plants expressing StPP5 were generated through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and identified by PCR. In vitro culture assay showed that the growth of V. dahliae in PDA medium containing proteins extracted from the leaves of transgenic tobacco line P6 was inhibited, whose inhibition rate was 55.1%, higher than the non-transgenic control. These results indicated that StPP5 might be involved in plant defense against V. dahliae infection. Full article
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