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Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology
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Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 7842

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Shengjun Feng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China
Interests: Cucurbitaceae crops; molecular breeding; agronomic traits; epigenetic regulation; epigenetic mechanisms; heavy metal tolerance; metal ion absorption and distribution; cadmium
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticulture, inexorably tied to biology, studies the theories and techniques of breeding and cultivation and the physiology of fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental plants, and tea, serving both the horticultural industry and researchers. However, with the continuous development and upgrading of the horticultural industry and research in this field, higher requirements have been put forward for the development of the horticulture profession.

In the past few decades, research directions dominated by plant physiology have promoted the development of basic research and applied science of horticultural crops. However, after entering the new century, molecular biology has flourished, and biotechnology has been widely used in horticultural industry and research. Both for the industry and for horticultural research, higher requirements have been put forward for the development of horticulture, which requires a certain theoretical basis of molecular biology on the basis of traditional plant physiology to explore the unique molecular biology and frontier development of horticultural plants.

This Special Issue aims to gather together research articles and reviews on the physiology and molecular biology of important traits of horticultural crops, summarize the research progress of the formation of unique agronomic traits of horticultural crops, and present the latest progress on the extensive role of plant physiology and molecular biology in the growth, development, comprehensive metabolism, and environmental interaction of horticultural crops.

Dr. Shengjun Feng
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. 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

  • plant molecular biology
  • plant physiology
  • environmental response
  • secondary metabolism
  • growth and development
  • signal pathway

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 16534 KiB  
Article
Identification of the GST Gene Family and Functional Analysis of RcGSTF2 Related to Anthocyanin in Rosa chinensis ‘Old Blush’
by Ting Zhang, Han Wu, Yujia Sun, Peiheng Zhang, Lixia Li, Dan Luo and Zhe Wu
Plants 2025, 14(6), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060932 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
The rose (Rosa chinensis), with its rich color variations and elegant form, holds a significant position in the global floriculture industry, where the color of its petals and the content of anthocyanins are crucial for enhancing the plant’s ornamental value and [...] Read more.
The rose (Rosa chinensis), with its rich color variations and elegant form, holds a significant position in the global floriculture industry, where the color of its petals and the content of anthocyanins are crucial for enhancing the plant’s ornamental value and market competitiveness. Nevertheless, the precise roles of the GST gene family in roses, especially regarding their participation in anthocyanin transport and the modulation of petal color, remain poorly elucidated. In the present investigation, we identified 83 rose glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes through whole-genome analysis. The identification and functional analysis of RcGSTF2 were conducted exclusively in the ‘Old Blush’ cultivar of Rosa chinensis. We employed bioinformatics, tissue expression analysis, subcellular localization, and transient expression validation to explore the function of the RcGSTF2 gene in anthocyanin transport and accumulation. We found that RcGSTF2 is closely related to anthocyanin-associated GSTs and demonstrated a conserved domain with high sequence similarity. Molecular docking analysis revealed potential binding modes between RcGSTF2 and cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, suggesting a role in anthocyanin transport. Subcellular localization indicated that RcGSTF2 is associated with the cell membrane. Overexpression of RcGSTF2 in rose plants significantly increased anthocyanin accumulation, while silencing RcGSTF2 reduced anthocyanin content, highlighting its crucial role in regulating anthocyanin accumulation. This research investigates the functions of the GST gene family in roses, laying the groundwork for developing more colorful and resilient rose cultivars, with the functional analysis of RcGSTF2 being a key contribution to the floriculture industry’s genetic enhancement efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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14 pages, 5415 KiB  
Article
Tetraploidization Altered Phenotypic Traits and Metabolite Profile of Java Ginseng (Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.)
by Yingying Liu, Xiao Huang, Xinsheng Gao, Xiaofei Zhang, Huasun Huang, Weiguo Li and Yuanyuan Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(3), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030480 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 773
Abstract
Polyploidization is a beneficial technique for enhancing the biomass of and secondary metabolite concentrations in plants. Java ginseng (Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.) can be used as an alternative source of nutrition and has both ornamental and medicinal value. To improve the biomass [...] Read more.
Polyploidization is a beneficial technique for enhancing the biomass of and secondary metabolite concentrations in plants. Java ginseng (Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.) can be used as an alternative source of nutrition and has both ornamental and medicinal value. To improve the biomass and content of medicinal ingredients, this study established an in vitro system that was used to induce polyploidy of java ginseng. Tetraploids were successfully produced by exposing the axillary buds to colchicine. The most favorable medium for inducing polyploidy was Murashige and Skoog medium devoid of hormonal substances, while immersing stem segments in a solution of 1–3 mg/mL colchicine for 48 h could achieve tetraploidy induction with a maximum rate of 18.03%. Tetraploids were distinguished from diploids by flow cytometry, with the tetraploids exhibiting darker and thicker leaves, bigger fruit and pollen, and larger stomata but lower stomatal density, while the aboveground biomass yield was reduced significantly compared with that of the diploids. Tetraploidization also altered the metabolite profile, with 22 metabolite concentrations being significantly increased (p < 0.05) and 74 metabolite concentrations being significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the leaves of the tetraploids. The autotetraploid produced in this study could provide novel insights into artificial polyploid breeding and could be utilized as a germplasm to generate new polyploids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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22 pages, 6199 KiB  
Article
Integrative Omics Analysis Reveals Mechanisms of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Djulis Spikes
by Chunmei Zheng, Wenxuan Ge, Xueying Li, Xiuzhang Wang, Yanxia Sun and Xiaoyong Wu
Plants 2025, 14(2), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020197 - 12 Jan 2025
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.), a member of the Amaranthaceae family plant, is noted for its vibrant appearance and significant ornamental value. However, the mechanisms underlying color variation in its spikes remain unexplored. This research initially detected the anthocyanin content at different developmental [...] Read more.
Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.), a member of the Amaranthaceae family plant, is noted for its vibrant appearance and significant ornamental value. However, the mechanisms underlying color variation in its spikes remain unexplored. This research initially detected the anthocyanin content at different developmental stages of the spike and subsequently utilized an integrative approach, combining targeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and untargeted metabolomics analyses, to elucidate the mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the spikes of djulis. The results of the combined multi-omics analysis showed that the metabolites associated with anthocyanin synthesis were mainly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00941) and the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942). With the maturation of djulis spikes, a total of 28 differentially expressed genes and 17 differentially expressed metabolites were screened during the transition of spike color from green (G) to red (R) or orange (O). Twenty differentially expressed genes were selected for qRT-PCR validation, and the results are consistent with transcriptome sequencing. The upregulation of seven genes, including chalcone synthase (CfCHS3_1, CfCHS3_2, CfCHS3_3), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (CfF3H_3), flavonoid 3′5′-hydroxylase (CfCYP75A6_1), dihydroflavonol reductase (CfDFRA), and glucosyltransferase (Cf3GGT), promotes the formation and accumulation of delphinidin 3-sambubioside and peonidin 3-galactoside. The research results also showed that anthocyanins and betalains can coexist in the spike of djulis, and the reason for the change in spike color during development may be the result of the combined action of the two pigments. A possible regulatory pathway for anthocyanin biosynthesis during the spike maturation was constructed based on the analysis results. The results provide a reference and theoretical basis for further studying the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin regulation of color changes in Amaranthaceae plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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19 pages, 7334 KiB  
Article
Novel Insights into Pigment Composition and Molecular Mechanisms Governing Flower Coloration in Rose Cultivars Exhibiting Diverse Petal Hues
by Yingxia Cheng, Yanling Tian, Pengyu Guo, Junjie Luo, Chan Xu, Yang Zhang, Guoping Chen, Qiaoli Xie and Zongli Hu
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3353; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233353 - 29 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1165
Abstract
The pigmentation of various components leads to different colors of roses. However, the intricate molecular machinery and metabolic pathways underlying rose pigmentation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we determined that pink and black-red petals contain abundant anthocyanins, reaching concentrations of 800 μg/g [...] Read more.
The pigmentation of various components leads to different colors of roses. However, the intricate molecular machinery and metabolic pathways underlying rose pigmentation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we determined that pink and black-red petals contain abundant anthocyanins, reaching concentrations of 800 μg/g and 1400 μg/g, respectively, significantly surpassing those in white and yellow petals. We identified 22 key anthocyanin components, predominantly cyanidin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, peonidin, and petunidin, which were preferentially enriched in pink and black-red petals. Additionally, we confirmed the presence of five carotenoid species—lutein, zeaxanthin, ζ-carotene, α-carotene, and β-carotene—with zeaxanthin and carotenoids notably accumulating in yellow petals at significantly higher levels compared with other colors. Furthermore, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed the association between pigment accumulation and the expression patterns of genes involved in anthocyanin and carotenoid biosynthesis pathways. Through promoter core element prediction and transcriptional metabolic co-expression analyses, we found that the MYB transcription factor likely positively modulates the expressions of key biosynthetic genes such as CHS, F3′H, and DFR, while the NAC transcription factor enhances the transcriptional activities of PSY, ZISO, and LYCB. Overall, this study explores the components of flower color, unravels the synthesis of anthocyanins and carotenoids, identifies regulatory factors, and highlights the prospects of rose breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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24 pages, 9624 KiB  
Article
Expression Profiling Analysis of the SWEET Gene Family in In Vitro Pitaya Under Low-Temperature Stress and Study of Its Cold Resistance Mechanism
by Youjie Liu, Hanyao Zhang, Ke Zhao, Xiuqing Wei, Liang Li, Yajun Tang, Yueming Xiong and Jiahui Xu
Plants 2024, 13(21), 3092; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213092 - 2 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1508
Abstract
Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) fruit is an attractive, nutrient-rich tropical fruit with commercial value. However, low-temperature stress severely affects the yield and quality of pitaya. The relevant mechanisms involved in the response of pitaya to low-temperature stress remain unclear. To study whether [...] Read more.
Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) fruit is an attractive, nutrient-rich tropical fruit with commercial value. However, low-temperature stress severely affects the yield and quality of pitaya. The relevant mechanisms involved in the response of pitaya to low-temperature stress remain unclear. To study whether the SWEET gene family mediates the response of H. undatus to low-temperature stress and the related mechanisms, we performed genome-wide identification of the SWEET gene family in pitaya, and we used ‘Baiyulong’ tissue-cultured plantlets as material in the present study. We identified 28 members of the SWEET gene family from the H. undatus genome and divided these family members into four groups. Members of this gene family presented some differences in the sequences of introns and exons, but the gene structure, especially the motifs, presented relatively conserved characteristics. The promoter regions of most HuSWEETs have multiple stress- or hormone-related cis-elements. Three duplicated gene pairs were identified, including one tandem duplication gene and two fragment duplication gene pairs. The results revealed that the SWEET genes may regulate the transport and distribution of soluble sugars in plants; indirectly regulate the enzyme activities of CAT, POD, and T-SOD through its expression products; and are involved in the response of pitaya to low-temperature stress and play vital roles in this process. After ABA and MeJA treatment, the expression of HuSWEETs changed significantly, and the cold stress was also alleviated. This study elucidated the molecular mechanism and physiological changes in the SWEET gene in sugar metabolism and distribution of pitaya when it experiences low-temperature stress and provided a theoretical basis for cold-resistant pitaya variety breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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17 pages, 4949 KiB  
Article
Effects of Different LED Spectra on the Antioxidant Capacity and Nitrogen Metabolism of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Pekinensis)
by Jie Li, Yubing Liu, Junwei Wang, Mingyue Liu, Yanling Li and Jingyuan Zheng
Plants 2024, 13(21), 2958; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13212958 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1354
Abstract
Light quality optimization is a cost-effective method for increasing leafy vegetable quality in plant factories. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that enable the precise modulation of light quality were used in this study to examine the effects of red-blue (RB), red-blue-green (RBG), red-blue-purple (RBP), and [...] Read more.
Light quality optimization is a cost-effective method for increasing leafy vegetable quality in plant factories. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that enable the precise modulation of light quality were used in this study to examine the effects of red-blue (RB), red-blue-green (RBG), red-blue-purple (RBP), and red-blue-far-red (RBF) lights on the growth, antioxidant capacity, and nitrogen metabolism of Chinese cabbage leaves, while white light served as the control (CK). Results showed that the chlorophyll, carotenoid, vitamin C, amino acid, total flavonoid, and antioxidant levels of Chinese cabbage were all significantly increased under RBP combined light treatment. Meanwhile, RBG combined light treatment significantly increased the levels of amino acids but decreased the nitrite content of Chinese cabbage. In addition, RBF combined light treatment remarkably increased the amino acid levels but decreased the antioxidant capacity of Chinese cabbage. In conclusion, the addition of purple light to red-blue light was effective in improving the nutritional value and antioxidant capacity of Chinese cabbage. This light condition can be used as a model for a supplemental lighting strategy for leafy vegetables in plant factory production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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19 pages, 9212 KiB  
Article
Knockdown of SlYTHDF2 Accelerates Dark–Induced Tomato Leaf Senescence by Affecting the ABA Pathway
by Xinru Chen, Zihan Gao, Yangyang Li, Xiaoqian Nie, Qiaoli Xie, Guoping Chen and Zongli Hu
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2800; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192800 - 6 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1128
Abstract
N6–methyladenosine (m6A) is a widespread post–transcriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. Proteins with the YTH structural domain act as m6A–binding proteins by recognizing the m6A modification and regulating mRNA through this recognition. In this study, SlYTHDF2, a [...] Read more.
N6–methyladenosine (m6A) is a widespread post–transcriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. Proteins with the YTH structural domain act as m6A–binding proteins by recognizing the m6A modification and regulating mRNA through this recognition. In this study, SlYTHDF2, a prototypical m6A –binding protein gene in the YTH family was expressed in various tissues, and subcellular localization analyses indicated that the SlYTHDF2 protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. SlYTHDF2 knockout lines were obtained using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and showed the senesced leaves prematurely increased endogenous ABA accumulation compared with the wild type. Moreover, we found that dark promoted leaf senescence in SlYTHDF2 knockout lines and exogenous ABA further accelerated leaf senescence under dark conditions. The qRT–PCR analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with the ABA pathway. Relative to the wild type, the CR–slythdf2 plants exhibited reduced levels of photosynthetic pigments, higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased damage to cell membranes. Additionally, we discovered that SlYTHDF2 interacts with the chloroplast–binding protein SlRBCS3 through yeast two–hybrid and BiFC experiments. Overall, our data suggest the important role of SlYTHDF2 in regulating tomato leaf senescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Horticultural Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology)
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