Genetics and Physiology of Tuber and Root Crops

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Physiology and Crop Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1460

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: genetic improvement of potato; molecular biology of potato major traits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: genetic and molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying potato major traits

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tuber and root crops encompass a diverse array of species, such as Solanum tuberosum, Ipomoea batatas, Manihot esculenta, Dioscorea spp., and Colocasia esculenta. These crops are of global significance, serving dual functions as principal staple food sources and critical economic commodities. Moreover, certain species within this group exhibit the distinctive property of having both medicinal and edible applications.​ The yield, quality, disease resistance, and stress tolerance, among other crucial traits, of tuber and root crops have long been the central foci of attention for plant geneticists and breeders. In-depth investigations into the genetic and physiological aspects of these crops, along with comprehensive dissections of the genetic and molecular regulatory networks that govern their growth, development, yield establishment, and quality formation, are essential to establish a theoretical framework conducive to creating high-yield, high-quality, stress-resilient new cultivars.​ This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the genetic diversity, genetic regulation, growth and development, and environmental adaptability of tuber and root crops.

Prof. Dr. Jianfei Xu
Guest Editor

Dr. Ming He
Guest Editor Assistant

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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • tuber and root crops
  • genetic diversity
  • genetic regulation
  • growth and development
  • yield
  • quality
  • disease resistance
  • stress tolerance

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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

Research

16 pages, 1611 KB  
Article
Dynamic Field Assessment of Canopy Development and Periderm Maturation in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
by Connor L. Buckley, Fransico Gonzalez-Tapia, Duroy A. Navarre and Jacob M. Blauer
Plants 2025, 14(17), 2780; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172780 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Background: Periderm development in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is critical for protecting tubers from biotic and abiotic stress, yet the relationship between periderm maturation, canopy development, and tuber growth during the active growing season remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that cultivar-specific differences [...] Read more.
Background: Periderm development in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is critical for protecting tubers from biotic and abiotic stress, yet the relationship between periderm maturation, canopy development, and tuber growth during the active growing season remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that cultivar-specific differences in canopy growth and biomass partitioning would influence the timing and extent of periderm structural development and tuber growth in field conditions. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining how periderm maturation aligns with canopy development and tuber growth in field conditions. Methods: Three commercial cultivars: Alturas, Clearwater Russet, and Russet Burbank, were evaluated in replicated field trials. Canopy biomass, tuber yield, and total biomass were measured at multiple stages, while periderm anatomy was assessed using histological imaging, and strength was quantified through shear force resistance from tuber initiation to vine kill. Results: Alturas exhibited the highest canopy biomass, tuber yield, and periderm strength. Phellem structure, measured by cell layer number and thickness, stabilized by approximately 100 days after planting, yet shear strength continued to increase until vine kill. Cultivar-specific differences were observed in the timing and extent of periderm maturation. Conclusions: Periderm strength at 50% harvest index provided a meaningful benchmark for evaluating skin set in early-harvest systems. These findings support more informed decisions for cultivar selection, harvest timing, and postharvest handling to reduce skinning damage and improve tuber quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Physiology of Tuber and Root Crops)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 5446 KB  
Article
Transcriptome Profiling Identifies Key Regulators of Tuber Skin Color in Potato
by Boshu Li, Shuo Wang, Jun Hu, Liping Jin and Jianfei Xu
Plants 2025, 14(10), 1544; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14101544 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 627
Abstract
The color of tuber skin exhibits remarkable diversity in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and is intricately associated with variance in anthocyanin accumulation across different varieties. The regulatory mechanisms governing this phenomenon are poorly understood. In this study, we identified a natural, yellow-skinned [...] Read more.
The color of tuber skin exhibits remarkable diversity in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and is intricately associated with variance in anthocyanin accumulation across different varieties. The regulatory mechanisms governing this phenomenon are poorly understood. In this study, we identified a natural, yellow-skinned variant (Z28M) from the red-skinned tetraploid variety, Zhongshu 28 (Z28W), using simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular marker amplification and trait observation. The transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying tuber skin color variation were investigated by analyzing anthocyanin profiles and transcriptomic data at the developmental and maturation stages. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-QTOF-MS) analysis indicated markedly reduced levels of pelargonidin and peonidin in Z28M compared with those in Z28W. Transcriptome profiling identified 1858 differentially expressed genes between Z28W and Z28M, with significant enrichment in the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis indicated a red-skinned associated module, MEred, encompassing key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes co-expressed with the transcription factor, StMYB3, which exhibited substantially higher expression in Z28W than in Z28M. K-means clustering indicated coordinated expression patterns among StCHS, StDFR, and StMYB3, suggesting transcriptional co-regulation. Collectively, these results highlight StMYB3 as a pivotal regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis and a contributor to the tuber skin color divergence observed between Z28W and Z28M. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Physiology of Tuber and Root Crops)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop