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Advances in Genetics and Breeding Research in Horticultural Crops

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: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 881

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hui Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhongguancun, Nandajie No. 12, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: disease resistantce; genetic breeding; gene mapping; map based clone; gene function; molecular markers; marker assisted slection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and medicinal herbs, play a vital role in global food security, human health, and economic development. With their rich genetic diversity and economic importance, horticultural crops are indispensable in agricultural production. In recent years, advancements in genomic sequencing, multi-omics technologies, molecular biology, and gene editing have greatly enhanced our understanding of the genetic basis of important traits in horticultural crops, providing new tools and insights for germplasm innovation and efficient breeding.

This Special Issue, "Advances in Genetics and Breeding Research in Horticultural Crops", aims to highlight the latest research progress in the field of horticultural crop genetics and breeding, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying key agronomic traits and their applications in genetic improvement. We warmly invite researchers to contribute original research articles or reviews on topics including, but not limited to:

Development and application of high-efficiency breeding technologies

Innovation and evaluation of horticultural crop germplasm resources

Gene cloning and functional analysis

Molecular mechanisms of key traits (e.g., quality, yield, resistance)

Multi-omics approaches for trait discovery and genetic improvement

We particularly welcome studies that explore novel insights into the genetic improvement of horticultural crops and their application in breeding practices. Review articles synthesizing recent advances in horticultural crop genetics and breeding, and presenting forward-looking perspectives, are also highly encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue, which aims to advance the field of horticultural crop genetics and breeding.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Hui Zhang and assisted by the Guest Editor Assistant Dr. Yun Dai  <daiyun1210@126.com> (Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China).

Dr. Hui Zhang
Guest 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 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

  • horticultural crops
  • genomic sequencing
  • multi-omics technologies
  • molecular biology
  • gene editing
  • plant breeding
  • function of genes
  • molecular marker

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2329 KiB  
Article
Ibα-XYL1 Interfered Expression Decreases Starch Granule Size and Increases Soluble Sugar Content to Improve Steamed Sweetpotato Storage Root Taste
by Chen Li, Meng Kou, Chang You, Meng Ma, Weihan Song, Wei Tang, Hui Yan, Runfei Gao, Xin Wang, Yungang Zhang and Qiang Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5015; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115015 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 113
Abstract
As an important characteristic and horticultural crop in China, sweetpotato can be used as food, industrial raw material, vegetable, and ornamental material. Purple sweetpotato for table use is rich in anthocyanin, which leads to some bitter taste, so it needs further quality improvement. [...] Read more.
As an important characteristic and horticultural crop in China, sweetpotato can be used as food, industrial raw material, vegetable, and ornamental material. Purple sweetpotato for table use is rich in anthocyanin, which leads to some bitter taste, so it needs further quality improvement. Genetic engineering technology is an effective method to improve crop traits, but there are few reports on genes that can improve sweetpotato sweetness and taste. A xylosidase gene (Ibα-XYL1) was cloned from sweetpotato variety ‘Yanshu 25’ with a fragment size of 2796 bp and encoding 932 amino acid sequences. It has a typical transmembrane domain and three functional domains, which are localized at cell membrane. Reduction in Ibα-XYL1 gene expression had no significant effect on the expansion characteristics and anthocyanin content of sweetpotato storage root (SPSR), but it could up-regulate the expression of sucrose synthesis related genes (SuS, SuPS) and promote the accumulation of soluble sugar in fresh transgenic SPSR. At the same time, it could up-regulate the expression of genes related to starch synthesis modifications (GASS, SBE) and starch decomposition (AMY and BAM), reduce the starch granule size and the starch pasting temperature, promote the conversion of starch to maltose, increase the soluble sugar content, and improve the sweetness and taste of steamed transgenic SPSR. The results are of great significance for quality improvement of sweetpotato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genetics and Breeding Research in Horticultural Crops)
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16 pages, 3133 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Synthase (ACS) Gene Family in Myrica rubra
by Huanhui Huang, Xintong Liu, Yiqing Liu, Fangli Wu and Weibo Jin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4580; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104580 - 10 May 2025
Viewed by 253
Abstract
Ethylene plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress responses, with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) being a key enzyme in its biosynthetic pathway. However, the ACS gene family of Myrica rubra has not yet been systematically identified and characterized. In this study, [...] Read more.
Ethylene plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress responses, with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) being a key enzyme in its biosynthetic pathway. However, the ACS gene family of Myrica rubra has not yet been systematically identified and characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized seven ACS genes (MrACS) in Myrica rubra through genome-wide analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these genes belong to three major subfamilies, with certain members clustering closely with ACS genes from Rosaceae species, suggesting a conserved evolutionary relationship. Gene structure and the conserved motif analyses confirmed functional conservation, while chromosomal localization indicated an uneven distribution across the genome. Collinearity analysis revealed strong homologous relationships between Myrica rubra and other plant species, particularly Solanum lycopersicum, Vitis vinifera, and Prunus persica. Furthermore, the transcriptome data demonstrated distinct temporal and tissue-specific expression patterns, with MrACS5 showing fruit-specific expression, suggesting its potential role in fruit ripening. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the ACS gene family in Myrica rubra, offering a valuable foundation for further functional studies on ethylene biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms in fruit development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genetics and Breeding Research in Horticultural Crops)
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24 pages, 6231 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic and Structural Insights into Leaf Variegation Development in Ilex × ‘Solar Flare’
by Yiping Zou, Tao Zhuo, Yan Duan, Hong Chen, Peng Zhou, Mingzhuo Hao, Yunlong Yin and Donglin Zhang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 3999; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26093999 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 280
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying leaf variegation in the ornamental Ilex × ‘Solar Flare’ remain poorly understood. To investigate this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive characterization of its variegated leaves. Compared to green sectors, yellow sectors exhibited severe chloroplast structural abnormalities, including swollen chloroplasts, damaged [...] Read more.
The mechanisms underlying leaf variegation in the ornamental Ilex × ‘Solar Flare’ remain poorly understood. To investigate this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive characterization of its variegated leaves. Compared to green sectors, yellow sectors exhibited severe chloroplast structural abnormalities, including swollen chloroplasts, damaged thylakoid membranes, and reduced chloroplast numbers. These yellow sectors also showed significantly lower chlorophyll and carotenoid levels, along with a depletion of key chlorophyll precursors—protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX), magnesium protoporphyrin IX (Mg-Proto IX), and protochlorophyllide (Pchlide). Photosynthetic efficiency was significantly impaired. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified 3510 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between yellow and green sectors. Key disruptions in chlorophyll biosynthesis included upregulated CHLD expression and downregulated CHLH and CHLG expression, leading to impaired chlorophyll synthesis. Additionally, chlorophyll degradation was accelerated by PAO upregulation. Defective chloroplast development in yellow sectors was associated with the downregulation of GLK1, GLK2, and thylakoid membrane-related genes (PsbC, PsbO, PsbR, PsaD, and PsaH). These molecular alterations likely drive the variegated phenotype of I. × ‘Solar Flare’. These observations advance our understanding of the genetic and physiological mechanisms regulating leaf variegation in this cultivar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genetics and Breeding Research in Horticultural Crops)
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