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Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 31575

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Salvador Rosello

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Guest Editor

Joint Research Unit UJI/UPV—Improvement of Agri-Food Quality, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castellón, Spain
Interests: plant breeding; food analysis; flavour; functional quality; vegetable production

Dr. Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo

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Guest Editor

Joint Research Unit UJI-UPV Improvement of Agri-food Quality, COMAV, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno. de Vera, s.n, 46022, València, Spain
Interests: plant breeding; food analysis; flavour; functional quality; vegetable production

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant breeding has definitely contributed to increase food availability through the development of new varieties and rootstocks with enhanced productivity and reduced losses caused by biotic and abiotic stresses. In the process, flavour has often received lower attention resulting in consumer complains on food quality. On the other hand, consumers are increasingly aware of the role of food in the prevention of diseases and demand healthier food with increased levels of bioactive compounds. This special issue is focused on the strategies followed to obtain next generation crops thorough the development of breeding programs targeted to obtain new varieties with improved contents of compounds related to organoleptic and functional quality and rootstocks that minimize their impact on their accumulation.

This special issue will welcome papers dealing with the following specific topics:

Analysis of metabolic pathways related to the production of flavour-related and bioactive compounds
Identification of sources of variation with increased accumulation of bioactive compounds, sugars, acids, volatiles and other compounds related to quality traits
Improved accumulation of bioactive compounds, sugars, acids, volatiles and other compounds related to quality traits, via conventional breeding and genetic engineering
Metabolic fortification of vegetables using alternative systems such as the use of viral vectors
Development of new rootstocks and their effect on metabolic pathways and accumulation of bioactive compounds, sugars, acids, volatiles and other compounds related to quality traits

Dr. Salvador Rosello
Dr. Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

plant breeding
genetic engineering
functional food
organoleptic quality
rootstock
bioactive compounds

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 7383 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spanish Melon Landraces: Revealing Useful Diversity by Genomic, Morphological, and Metabolomic Analysis

by Alejandro Flores-León, Clara Peréz Moro, Raul Martí, Joaquin Beltran, Salvador Roselló, Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo and Belen Picó

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23137162 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1702

Abstract

Spain is a secondary centre of the diversification of the melon (Cucumis melo L.), with high diversity represented in highly appreciated landraces belonging to the Flexuosus and Ibericus groups. A collection of 47 accessions of Flexuosus, Chate, Piel de Sapo, Tendral, Amarillo, Blanco, and Rochet was analysed using a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach. A total of 66,971 quality SNPs were identified. Genetic analysis differentiated Ibericus accessions and exotic materials (Ameri, Momordica, Kachri, and Agrestis), while Flexuous accessions shared ancestry between them. Within the Ibericus group, no clear genomic distinction could be identified for the different landraces evaluated, with accessions of different landraces showing high genetic similarity. The morphological characterization confirmed that the external colour and fruit shape had been used as recognition patterns for Spanish melon landraces, but variability within a landrace exists. Differences were found in the sugars and acid and volatile profiles of the materials. Flexuosus and Chate melons at the immature commercial stage accumulated malic acid and low levels of hexoses, while Ibericus melons accumulated high contents of sucrose and citric acid. Specific trends could be identified in the Ibericus landraces. Tendral accumulated low levels of sugars and citric acid and high of malic acid, maintaining higher firmness, Rochet reached higher levels of sugars, and Amarillo tended to lower malic acid contents. Interestingly, high variability was found within landraces for the acidic profile, offering possibilities to alter taste tinges. The main volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Flexuosus and Chate were aldehydes and alcohols, with clear differences between both groups. In the Ibericus landraces, general trends for VOC accumulation could be identified, but, again, a high level of variation exists. This situation highlights the necessity to develop depuration programs to promote on-farm in situ conservation and, at the same time, offers opportunities to establish new breeding program targets and to take advantage of these sources of variation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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16 pages, 1572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical, Sensory, and Molecular Evaluation of Flavour and Consumer Acceptability in Australian Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Varieties

by Ziwei Zhou, Ido Bar, Rebecca Ford, Heather Smyth and Chutchamas Kanchana-udomkan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 6313; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116313 - 05 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2546

Abstract

Inconsistency in flavour is one of the major challenges to the Australian papaya industry. However, objectively measurable standards of the compound profiles that provide preferable taste and aroma, together with consumer acceptability, have not been set. In this study, three red-flesh papayas (i.e., ‘RB1’, ‘RB4’, and ‘Skybury’) and two yellow-flesh papayas (i.e., ‘1B’ and ‘H13’) were presented to a trained sensory panel and a consumer panel to assess sensory profiles and liking. The papaya samples were also examined for sugar components, total soluble solids, and 14 selected volatile compounds. Additionally, the expression patterns of 10 genes related to sweetness and volatile metabolism were assessed. In general, red papaya varieties had higher sugar content and tasted sweeter than yellow varieties, while yellow varieties had higher concentrations of citrus floral aroma volatiles and higher aroma intensity. Higher concentrations of glucose, linalool oxide, and terpinolene were significantly associated with decreased consumer liking. Significant differences were observed in the expression profiles of all the genes assessed among the selected papaya varieties. Of these, cpGPT2 and cpBGLU31 were positively correlated to glucose production and were expressed significantly higher in ‘1B’ than in ‘RB1’ or ‘Skybury’. These findings will assist in the strategic selective breeding for papaya to better match consumer and, hence, market demand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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19 pages, 2285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inheritance of Secondary Metabolites and Gene Expression Related to Tomato Fruit Quality

by Estelle Bineau, José Luis Rambla, Renaud Duboscq, Marie-Noëlle Corre, Frédérique Bitton, Raphaël Lugan, Antonio Granell, Clémence Plissonneau and Mathilde Causse

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 6163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116163 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1935

Abstract

Flavour and nutritional quality are important goals for tomato breeders. This study aimed to shed light upon transgressive behaviors for fruit metabolic content. We studied the metabolic contents of 44 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 18 polyphenolics, together with transcriptome profiles in a factorial design comprising six parental lines and their 14 F1 hybrids (HF1) among which were five pairs of reciprocal HF1. After cluster analyses of the metabolome dataset and co-expression network construction of the transcriptome dataset, we characterized the mode of inheritance of each component. Both overall and per-cross mode of inheritance analyses revealed as many additive and non-additive modes of inheritance with few reciprocal effects. Up to 66% of metabolites displayed transgressions in a HF1 relative to parental values. Analysis of the modes of inheritance of metabolites revealed that: (i) transgressions were mostly of a single type whichever the cross and poorly correlated to the genetic distance between parental lines; (ii) modes of inheritance were scarcely consistent between the 14 crosses but metabolites belonging to the same cluster displayed similar modes of inheritance for a given cross. Integrating metabolome, transcriptome and modes of inheritance analyses suggested a few candidate genes that may drive important changes in fruit VOC contents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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17 pages, 3420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of Two High-Yield and High-Quality Functional Rice Cultivars Using Marker-Assisted Selection and Conventional Breeding Methods

by Yong-Pei Wu, Yu-Chi Chang, Hsin-I Kuo, Bing-Nan Lin, Shu-Mei Wang and Yu-Chien Tseng

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(9), 4678; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094678 - 23 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1954

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important crop worldwide. Functional rice has exhibited health benefits. The aim of this study was to use marker-assisted selection (MAS) to introgress two genes, GE (giant embryo) and OsALDH7 (aldehyde dehydrogenase, golden-like endosperm) into colored rice and obtain high yield functional rice. CNY103108 and CNY103107 are two rice lines with golden-like endosperms and giant embryos. They were used as the donor parents. CNY922401, an elite purple waxy rice line, and TNGSW26, an indica red waxy rice cultivar were used as the recurrent parents. Foreground selection of the progenies was completed using functional markers for GE and OsALDH7, and background selection was completed using molecular markers to recover the background of the recurrent parents. MAS results showed a purple functional rice population (PFR) (CNY922401/CNY103108), with the recovery rate of the recurrent parental genome as 91.3%, and a red functional rice population (RFR) (TNGSW26/CNY103107) with the recovery as 89.8%. After five-season yield trials and several antioxidant activities analyses, PFR32 and RFR13 lines, which have similar yields and antioxidant activities, were selected as the recurrent parents with a golden-like endosperm and a giant embryo. For a biofortification purpose, they can become valuable products and be adapted to the current agricultural community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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17 pages, 6494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Starch Degradation and Sucrose Accumulation of Lily Bulbs after Cold Storage

by Junpeng Yu, Sujuan Xu, Xinyue Liu, Ting Li, Dehua Zhang, Nianjun Teng and Ze Wu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(8), 4366; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23084366 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2759

Abstract

Functional lilies are a group of edible lily cultivars with great potential for landscape application. Low-temperature storage can significantly improve their taste, but the knowledge of this process is largely unknown. In this study, we used the functional lilies ‘Fly Shaohua’ and ‘Fly Tiancheng’ as materials. Through physiological observation and transcriptome analysis during the bulbs’ cold storage, it was found that the starch degradation and sucrose accumulation in bulbs contributed to taste improvement. After 60 d of cold storage, the sucrose accumulation was highest and the starch content was lower in the bulbs, suggesting this time-point was optimal for consumption. Accompanying the fluctuation of sucrose content during cold storage, the enzyme activities of sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase for sucrose synthesis were increased. Transcriptome analysis showed that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, which might promote the conversion of starch to sucrose in bulbs. In addition, the DEGs involved in dormancy and stress response were also determined during cold storage, which might explain the decreased sucrose accumulation with extended storage time over 60 d due to the energy consumption for dormancy release. Taken together, our results indicated sucrose accumulation was a main factor in the taste improvement of lily bulbs after cold storage, which is attributable to the different gene expression of starch and sucrose metabolism pathways in this process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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15 pages, 2638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GC-MS Metabolite and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Differences of Volatile Synthesis and Gene Expression Profiling between Two Apple Varieties

by Shunbo Yang, Dongmei Li, Shanshan Li, Huijuan Yang and Zhengyang Zhao

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(6), 2939; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23062939 - 09 Mar 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2722

Abstract

Aroma is a key quality attribute of apples, making major contributions to commercial value and consumer choice. However, the mechanism underlying molecular regulation of aroma formation genes and transcription factors remains poorly understood in apples. Here, we investigated the aroma volatile profiles of two apple varieties with distinctive flavors using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 35 volatile compounds were identified in Granny Smith and Jonagold apples. Aldehydes were the most abundant volatiles contributing to the aroma in Granny Smith apple while esters were the dominant volatile compounds in Jonagold apple. In order to know more about the expression levels of aroma-related genes involved in the metabolic pathways, transcriptome sequencing of these two different apple varieties was conducted utilizing the Illumina platform. In total, 94 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found in the fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, the mevalonate pathway and phenylpropanoid pathway. Furthermore, compared to the Granny Smith apple, the expression of multiple genes and transcription factors were upregulated in the Jonagold apple, which might play important roles in the synthesis of aroma volatile compounds. Our study contributes toward better understanding on the molecular mechanism of aroma synthesis in apples and provides a valuable reference for metabolic engineering and flavor improvement in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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24 pages, 6614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consumer Acceptability and Sensory Profile of Three New Celery (Apium graveolens) Hybrids and Their Parental Genotypes

by Lucy Turner, Carol Wagstaff, Frances Gawthrop and Stella Lignou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(24), 13561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413561 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2243

Abstract

Celery is a stalky green vegetable that is grown and consumed globally and used in many cuisines for its distinctive taste and flavour. Previous investigations identified the aroma composition of celery and profiled its sensory characteristics using a trained panel; however, evaluation of the sensory characteristics of celery combined with a consumer panel, where consumer preferences and acceptability are determined, is novel. In this study, three parental genotypes (12, 22 and 25) and three new hybrids (12x22, 22x12 and 25x12) were presented to a trained sensory panel (n = 12) for profiling and a consumer panel (n = 118), where liking and preference were assessed. Celery samples were analysed by SPME GC–MS and significant differences in aroma composition between all samples were identified, causing significant differences in the sensory profile. Furthermore, significant differences in attributes assessed for liking (appearance, aroma, texture and overall) were identified. Consumer segmentation identified three groups of consumers exhibiting differences in the hedonic reaction to the samples. Sweet and bitter taste along with overall flavour were identified as drivers of liking. Hybrid 25x12 was found to be the hybrid that exhibited high intensities for most of the attributes assessed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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27 pages, 2492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality Traits, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Expression of Key Flavor Genes in Strawberry Genotypes over Harvest Period

by Varvara K. Leonardou, Evangelos Doudoumis, Evangelos Tsormpatsidis, Eleni Vysini, Theofanis Papanikolopoulos, Vasileios Papasotiropoulos and Fotini N. Lamari

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(24), 13499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413499 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3215

Abstract

Six strawberry genotypes were examined for fruit yield and size, important chemical traits (sugars, phenolics, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, volatiles) and antioxidant properties (ferric reducing power). In addition, we determined the expression of genes and transcription factors (SAAT, FaNES1, FaFAD1, FaEGS2, FaEOBII and FaMYB10) controlling the main flavor and aroma traits, and finally evaluated the effect of the genotype and harvest time on the examined chemical and genetic factors, as well as their intercorrelations. The commercial varieties ‘Fortuna’, ‘Victory’, ‘Calderon’, ‘Rociera’, and two advanced selections Ber22/6 and Ber23/3 were cultivated under the same conditions at Berryplasma World Ltd. plantations (Varda, Ilia, Region of Western Greece). Strawberries were harvested at three different time points over the main harvest period in Greece, i.e., early March (T1), late March (T2) and late April (T3). ‘Fortuna’ exhibited the highest early and total yield, while ‘Calderon’, the highest average berry weight. General Linear Model repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that the interaction of the genotype and harvest time was significant (p < 0.001) on all tested quality attributes and gene expression levels, showing that each genotype behaves differently throughout the harvest period. Exceptions were observed for: (a) the volatile anhydrides, fatty acids, aromatics and phenylpropanoids (all were greatly affected by the harvest time), and (b) lactones, furaneol and FaEGS2 that were affected only by the genotype. We observed significant intercorrelations among those factors, e.g., the positive correlation of FaFAD1 expression with decalactone and nerolidol, of SAAT with furaneol, trans-cinnamic acid and phenylpropanoids, and of FaEGS2 with decalactone and FaFAD1. Moreover, a strong positive correlation between SAAT and FaMYB10 and a moderate negative one between SAAT and glucose were also detected. Those correlations can be further investigated to reveal potential markers for strawberry breeding. Overall, our study contributes to a better understanding of strawberry physiology, which would facilitate breeding efforts for the development of new strawberry varieties with superior qualitative traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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26 pages, 1090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Relationship of Genotype and Geographical Location on Volatile Composition and Sensory Profile of Celery (Apium graveolens)

by Lucy Turner, Stella Lignou, Frances Gawthrop and Carol Wagstaff

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 12016; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222112016 - 06 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1766

Abstract

Numerous varieties of celery are grown in multiple countries to maintain supply, demand and availability for all seasons; thus, there is an expectation for a consistent product in terms of taste, flavour, and overall quality. Differences in climate, agronomy and soil composition will all contribute to inconsistencies. This study investigated the volatile and sensory profile of eight celery genotypes grown in the UK (2018) and Spain (2019). Headspace analysis determined the volatile composition of eight genotypes, followed by assessment of the sensory profile using a trained panel. Significant differences in the volatile composition and sensory profile were observed; genotype and geographical location both exerted influences. Two genotypes exhibited similar aroma composition and sensory profile in both locations, making them good candidates to drive breeding programmes aimed at producing varieties that consistently display these distinctive sensory properties. Celery samples harvested in the UK exhibited a higher proportion of sesquiterpenes and phthalides, whereas samples harvested in Spain expressed a higher aldehyde and ketone content. Studying the relationship between growing environment and genotype will provide information to guide growers in how to consistently produce a high-quality crop. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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Review

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27 pages, 3753 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ensuring Global Food Security by Improving Protein Content in Major Grain Legumes Using Breeding and ‘Omics’ Tools

by Uday C. Jha, Harsh Nayyar, Swarup K. Parida, Rupesh Deshmukh, Eric J. B. von Wettberg and Kadambot H. M. Siddique

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7710; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23147710 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3843

Abstract

Grain legumes are a rich source of dietary protein for millions of people globally and thus a key driver for securing global food security. Legume plant-based ‘dietary protein’ biofortification is an economic strategy for alleviating the menace of rising malnutrition-related problems and hidden hunger. Malnutrition from protein deficiency is predominant in human populations with an insufficient daily intake of animal protein/dietary protein due to economic limitations, especially in developing countries. Therefore, enhancing grain legume protein content will help eradicate protein-related malnutrition problems in low-income and underprivileged countries. Here, we review the exploitable genetic variability for grain protein content in various major grain legumes for improving the protein content of high-yielding, low-protein genotypes. We highlight classical genetics-based inheritance of protein content in various legumes and discuss advances in molecular marker technology that have enabled us to underpin various quantitative trait loci controlling seed protein content (SPC) in biparental-based mapping populations and genome-wide association studies. We also review the progress of functional genomics in deciphering the underlying candidate gene(s) controlling SPC in various grain legumes and the role of proteomics and metabolomics in shedding light on the accumulation of various novel proteins and metabolites in high-protein legume genotypes. Lastly, we detail the scope of genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, emerging genome editing tools, and speed breeding protocols for enhancing SPC in grain legumes to achieve legume-based dietary protein security and thus reduce the global hunger risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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19 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessReview

Anthocyanin-Rich Vegetables for Human Consumption—Focus on Potato, Sweetpotato and Tomato

by Autar K. Mattoo, Sangam L. Dwivedi, Som Dutt, Brajesh Singh, Monika Garg and Rodomiro Ortiz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052634 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5281

Abstract

Malnutrition, unhealthy diets, and lifestyle changes have become major risk factors for non-communicable diseases while adversely impacting economic growth and sustainable development. Anthocyanins, a group of flavonoids that are rich in fruits and vegetables, contribute positively to human health. This review focuses on genetic variation harnessed through crossbreeding and biotechnology-led approaches for developing anthocyanins-rich fruit and vegetable crops. Significant progress has been made in identifying genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis in various crops. Thus, the use of genetics has led to the development and release of anthocyanin-rich potato and sweet potato cultivars in Europe and the USA. The purple potato ’Kufri Neelkanth’ has been released for cultivation in northern India. In Europe, the anthocyanin-rich tomato cultivar ‘Sun Black’ developed via the introgression of Aft and atv genes has been released. The development of anthocyanin-rich food crops without any significant yield penalty has been due to the use of genetic engineering involving specific transcription factors or gene editing. Anthocyanin-rich food ingredients have the potential of being more nutritious than those devoid of anthocyanins. The inclusion of anthocyanins as a target characteristic in breeding programs can ensure the development of cultivars to meet the nutritional needs for human consumption in the developing world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding Next Generation Crops: Improving Flavour and Functional Quality)

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