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Quality Improvement of Fruit Trees: Integrating Omics and Cultivation Techniques
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Quality Improvement of Fruit Trees: Integrating Omics and Cultivation Techniques

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2026) | Viewed by 3678

Editors

Prof. Dr. Dongliang Qiu

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Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Interests: fruit trees; fruit quality; protected horticulture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chunzhen Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China
Interests: anthocyanin biosynthesis; genetic engineering; plant–microbe interaction
Prof. Dr. Jianjun Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida, 2725 S. Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703, USA
Interests: environmental plant physiology; plant biotechnology; plant breeding; plant genetics, specialty crops
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Production practices can significantly affect fruit crop quality, including size, shape, color, texture, taste, flavor, and nutritional value. Multi-omic analyses such as epigenomics, genomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics can unravel metabolic networks governing flavor, texture, and nutritional content. Integrating the omic technologies with advanced cultivation practices has emerged as a transformative strategy for improving fruit quality. This approach can decode the molecular bases of fruit quality traits, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how different factors interact to influence fruit quality. Such science-based information can, in turn, optimize production systems and further improve fruit quality traits. With the increasing use of omics for investigating fruit crops, our understanding of how production practices influence fruit quality will continuously improve. Correspondingly, more advanced cultivation practices will be implemented for quality improvement. Since many fruit crops are cultivated and their production practices vary, much to be discovered. This Special Issue of Plants will highlight the integration of omics and cultivation techniques, enabling predictive modeling of quality traits under varying conditions. By bridging laboratory discoveries with agronomic practices, this integrated framework promises to accelerate the development of resilient, high-quality fruit varieties, paving the way for improving fruit quality through fruit tree cultivation.

Prof. Dr. Dongliang Qiu
Dr. Chunzhen Cheng
Prof. Dr. Jianjun Chen
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. 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

  • fruit tree
  • cultivation technique and methods
  • fruit
  • quality
  • molecular mechanism
  • omics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 9382 KB  
Article
Interaction of Soil Texture and Irrigation Level Improves Mesophyll Conductance Estimation
by Lu Lin, Pengpeng Wang, Zhenxu Liang, Mingde Sun, Yang Zhao, Hongning Wang, Kai Zhu, Lu Yu, Songzhong Liu and Zhiqiang Li
Plants 2025, 14(24), 3784; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14243784 - 12 Dec 2025
Viewed by 735
Abstract
Combining leaf gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence, this study quantified the effects of soil water content (SWC) on mesophyll conductance (gm) and biochemical parameters in 8-year-old pear trees across three soil textures [clay (CS), sandy (SS), loam (LS)], [...] Read more.
Combining leaf gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence, this study quantified the effects of soil water content (SWC) on mesophyll conductance (gm) and biochemical parameters in 8-year-old pear trees across three soil textures [clay (CS), sandy (SS), loam (LS)], each subjected to three irrigation levels (100%FI, 75%FI, 50%FI). Results showed that SWC differed significantly, with CS > LS > SS, and that the difference in SWC in loam soil was the most obvious among different irrigation levels. The leaf water content (LWC) of SS was higher than that of LS and CS, and SS50%FI showed 7.53% and 13.30% greater LWC compared to LS50%FI and CS50%FI, respectively. Specific leaf area (SLA) peaked at CS75%FI and SS100%FI. Soil texture and irrigation level had significant interactive effects on gm, the product of light absorption coefficient and light energy partitioning ratio (α·β), leaf apparent CO2 compensation point, dark respiration rate under light, and photosynthetic biochemical parameters. Differences in the values of α·β among the nine treatments were significant and the maximum values in the three soil textures were 0.660 (LS75%FI), 0.366 (SS100%FI) and 0.462 (CS50%FI), respectively. The most sensitive treatment of gm, responding to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), was SS100%FI and the maximal gm under saturated PAR reached 0.271 molCO2·m−2·s−1, increasing 2.2-fold and 8.8-fold compared to that of SS75%FI and SS50%FI, respectively. An underestimation of 26.4% to an overestimation of 30.3% for gm and an underestimation of 28.8% to an overestimation of 15.5% were observed for biochemical parameters if the empirical value (0.425) of α·β was adopted. Our findings indicated that the maximum leaf gm could be obtained at 75%FI for loam soil, 100% FI for sandy soil, and 50% FI for clay soil, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Improvement of Fruit Trees: Integrating Omics and Cultivation Techniques)
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19 pages, 8279 KB  
Article
Integrated Transcriptomic and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Root Development-Promoting Mechanism of Piriformospora indica on Blueberry Under Tap Water Irrigation
by Sijian Guo, Pengyan Qu, Shitao Du, Rui Liu, Yongyan Zhang and Chunzhen Cheng
Plants 2025, 14(23), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14233646 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Piriformospora indica, a broad-spectrum plant growth-promoting fungus, has been successfully applied in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In this study, through an integrated transcriptomic and biochemical analyses, we investigated the effects of P. indica colonization on blueberry root growth under long-term tap [...] Read more.
Piriformospora indica, a broad-spectrum plant growth-promoting fungus, has been successfully applied in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In this study, through an integrated transcriptomic and biochemical analyses, we investigated the effects of P. indica colonization on blueberry root growth under long-term tap water (EC ≈ 1500 μs/cm) irrigation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that P. indica colonization greatly influenced the expression of genes involved in RNA biosynthesis, solute transport, response to external stimuli, phytohormone action, carbohydrate metabolism, cell wall organization, and secondary metabolism pathways. Consistently, the fungal colonization significantly improved the nutrient absorption ability, and increased the contents of sucrose, starch, trehalose, total phenolic, total flavonoids, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), while suppressing the accumulations of jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and strigolactone (SL) in blueberry roots. Quantitative real-time PCR verification also confirmed the fungal influences on genes associated with these pathways/parameters, such as auxin homoeostasis-associated WAT1, cell wall metabolism-related EXP, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related PAL and CHS, carotenoid degradation-related CCD8, transportation-related CNGC, trehalose metabolism-related TPP, and so on. Our study demonstrated that P. indica improved blueberry adaptability to mild salt stress by synergistically regulating cell wall metabolism, secondary metabolism, stress responses, hormone homeostasis, sugar and mineral element transportation, and so on. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Improvement of Fruit Trees: Integrating Omics and Cultivation Techniques)
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23 pages, 18619 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Identification and Expression Analysis of the SWEET Gene Family in Actinidia eriantha Reveals That Two AeSWEET11 Genes Function in Sucrose and Hexose Transport
by Xin Feng, Qingqing Huang, Minxia Gao, Ruilian Lai and Yiting Chen
Plants 2025, 14(20), 3140; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14203140 - 11 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Sugars are key metabolites influencing the flavor and quality of kiwifruit, with their accumulation in fruit relying on sugar transporters. Recently identified sugar transporters known as SWEETs play significant roles in modulating plant growth, development, and fruit ripening. However, the characteristics of SWEET [...] Read more.
Sugars are key metabolites influencing the flavor and quality of kiwifruit, with their accumulation in fruit relying on sugar transporters. Recently identified sugar transporters known as SWEETs play significant roles in modulating plant growth, development, and fruit ripening. However, the characteristics of SWEET genes in Actinidia eriantha remain poorly understood. In this study, a total of 26 AeSWEET genes were identified across 17 chromosomes. These genes encoded proteins ranging from 198 to 305 amino acids in length and contained 5 to 7 transmembrane helices. Both interspecific and intraspecific phylogenetic trees categorized AeSWEET proteins into four distinct clades. The motif and domain structures were conserved within each clade, although variations were observed in exon-intron organizations. One tandem and fourteen segmental duplication events were identified as primary drivers of the AeSWEET family expansion. Comparative syntenic mapping showed a closer homology of the AeSWEET family with that of dicotyledons compared to monocotyledons. Promoter cis-element analysis indicated the potential responses of AeSWEET genes to five phytohormones and seven environmental stressors. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed tissue-specific expression profiles of AeSWEET genes, with two AeSWEET11 genes (AeSWEET11a and AeSWEET11b) showing significantly higher expression levels in fruit tissues. Their expressions were positively correlated with sucrose, fructose, and glucose contents throughout fruit development and ripening. Transient transformation tests in tobacco leaves verified the predominant localization of AeSWEET11a and AeSWEET11b to the plasma membrane. Functional assays in yeast mutants revealed that AeSWEET11a and AeSWEET11b both possessed sucrose and hexose transport activities. These findings highlight the potential of targeting AeSWEET11a and AeSWEET11b to enhance sugar accumulation in the fruit of A. eriantha, thereby providing a foundation for improving the flavor profile of commercial cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Improvement of Fruit Trees: Integrating Omics and Cultivation Techniques)
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