Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.6
4.1
Journals
Plants
Special Issues
Solanaceae Plants Genetics
share announcement

Solanaceae Plants Genetics

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 (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 5388

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gustavo Rubén Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Campo Experimental Villarino, National University of Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Argentina
2. Institute for Agricultural Research of Rosario (IICAR-CONICET-UNR), Campo Experimental Villarino, National University of Rosario, Zavalla S2125ZAA, Argentina
Interests: tomato breeding; plant genetics; vegetables genetic resources; fruit quality; metabolite composition
Prof. Dr. Jaime Prohens

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for the Conservation and Improvement of Valencian Agrodiversity (COMAV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: Solanaceae breeding; vegetable genetic resources; plant genomics; tolerance to abiotic stresses; adaptation to climate change; introgression breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Solanaceae family, encompassing approximately 2700 species, plays a central role in our agricultural and cultural landscape. Among its economically significant crops are tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), peppers (genus Capsicum), and eggplants (Solanum melongena). Beyond their culinary use, certain Solanaceae species—such as petunias and tobacco—have deep historical and cultural roots.

This Special Issue focuses on Solanaceae genetics. Since the early 20th century, these species were models for studying traits like fruit shape and fruit color and disease resistance. Notably, the discovery of self-incompatibility mechanisms in tomatoes and peppers shed light on intricate reproductive processes. However, it is the genomics era that has revolutionized our understanding.

Genomic sequencing projects have unveiled gene families orchestrating fruit and tuber development, disease resistance pathways, and flavor profiles. Comparative genomics has revealed shared features across Solanaceae members, transcending species boundaries. Transcriptomics provided snapshots of gene network regulation under allele changes or differential environmental experimental conditions. Recent developments in biotechnological tools, exemplified by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, promise precise modifications.

This Special Issue invites research articles that showcase cutting-edge advancements in Solanaceae genetics. By delving into the uncharted diversity and unraveling the genetic underpinnings of complex traits—such as soil salinity tolerance, nutritional composition, flavor enhancement, and resistance to emerging pathogens—breeders can develop more productive, nutritional, and resilient varieties.

Dr. Gustavo Rubén Rodríguez
Prof. Dr. Jaime Prohens
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-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

  • breeding
  • eggplant
  • genetic resources
  • genomics
  • petunia
  • potato
  • tobacco
  • tomato

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 (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 1440 KB  
Article
Genetic Variability of Gene Expression in Tomato Fruits Ripened on and off the Vine: Cis-Regulatory Elements Associated with Differential Transcription Patterns in the Most Discrepant Variety
by Javier Hernán Pereira da Costa, Eduardo Daniel Souza Canada, Ana Claudia Ochogavía, Gustavo Rubén Rodríguez and Guillermo Raúl Pratta
Plants 2026, 15(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15010053 - 24 Dec 2025
Viewed by 592
Abstract
The cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a self-pollinating species whose fruit ripening is crucial for commercial quality, as many attributes are established during this stage. Fruits ripened on the plant usually have better quality than those ripened off the plant. This [...] Read more.
The cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a self-pollinating species whose fruit ripening is crucial for commercial quality, as many attributes are established during this stage. Fruits ripened on the plant usually have better quality than those ripened off the plant. This study combines traditional molecular techniques (cDNA-AFLP) with bioinformatics tools (PlantCARE and PLACE) to analyze gene expression in fruits ripened on the plant and off the plant from both cultivated and wild genotypes, which differ in shelf life. The goal is to analyze genetic variability in ripening-related transcripts at both ripening conditions and, once identified, the most discrepant variety, to characterize its cis-regulatory elements in the 5′ DNA regions inducing differentially expressed genes. Results revealed wide genetic variability in gene expression according to differentially cDNA-AFLP amplicons detected in both ripening conditions. A strong association among the expressed genes under both ripening conditions and the phenotypic fruit traits related to post-harvest life was found. Though wild genotypes showed the greatest number of amplicons, the most discrepant genotype was the cultivated variety of standard shelf life. The analysis of the promoter in this genotype showed differences in cis-elements between conditions. In shelf-ripened fruits, stress-related elements were predominant and located near the transcription start site, whereas in on-plant ripening fruits, cis-motifs were more abundant farther from the start site. This research provides initial insights into the transcriptional networks regulating ripening and stress responses, offering valuable information for future genetic improvements and post-harvest strategies in tomato cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solanaceae Plants Genetics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 7970 KB  
Article
Time-Series Comparative Transcriptome Analyses of Two Potato Cultivars with Different Verticillium Wilt Resistance
by Guoquan Fan, Zhiguo Ren, Yanling Gao, Guili Di, Peng Wang, Shu Zhang, Wei Zhang, Min Tu, Yin Li and Shuxin Han
Plants 2026, 15(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15010026 - 21 Dec 2025
Viewed by 603
Abstract
Comparative omics analysis offers one of the most direct and effective approaches to gain novel insights into crop traits, facilitating candidate gene identification and crop improvement. Verticillium dahliae causes one of the most globally devastating crop diseases, the Verticillium wilt (VW). However, comparative [...] Read more.
Comparative omics analysis offers one of the most direct and effective approaches to gain novel insights into crop traits, facilitating candidate gene identification and crop improvement. Verticillium dahliae causes one of the most globally devastating crop diseases, the Verticillium wilt (VW). However, comparative transcriptome resources regarding VW resistance remain scarce in a major host species potato. To address this knowledge gap, we provide a comprehensive comparative RNA-seq analysis of VW resistance between a VW-resistant and -susceptible potato cultivar (LS8 and SP, respectively). VW inoculation induced dramatic transcriptomic changes, resulting in 14,310 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LS8 and 21,739 DEGs in SP. With the time-series analysis, we disentangled the VW-associated transcriptomic responses from those reflected LS8-SP cultivar differences. Particularly, LS8 featured a rapid response of phytohormone salicylic acid and defense-related specialized metabolites at 1 day post inoculation (dpi), followed by large-scale metabolic reprogramming, including carbohydrate and choline metabolism and enhanced biosynthesis of secondary cell wall components (e.g., hemicellulose, xylan, cuticle, suberin, and wax). Furthermore, we identified highly expressed VW-responsive potato phenylalanine ammonia-lyase genes (StPALs) and revealed the higher PAL activities in LS8 associated with VW resistance. Overall, our results provide the first transcriptomic insights into VW resistance in potato and new candidate genes regarding VW resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solanaceae Plants Genetics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 9049 KB  
Article
Physiological, Biochemical, and Transcriptomic Responses to Iron Deficiency in Two Potato Varieties
by Xiangying Ma, Yanping Zhang, Shenglong Yang, Miaomiao He, Yun Zhou, Guangji Ye and Jian Wang
Plants 2025, 14(18), 2934; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14182934 - 21 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1235
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional regulatory responses of potato plants to iron deficiency stress. Two potato varieties were selected for analysis: 05P (high tuber iron content) and CI5 (low tuber iron content). Tissue culture seedlings of both varieties [...] Read more.
This study aimed to elucidate the physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional regulatory responses of potato plants to iron deficiency stress. Two potato varieties were selected for analysis: 05P (high tuber iron content) and CI5 (low tuber iron content). Tissue culture seedlings of both varieties were subjected to iron deficiency, and the effects on stem length, root length, fresh weight, soluble sugar and protein contents, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) values were evaluated. Additionally, the impact of iron deficiency on zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) concentrations in different tissues were analyzed. Transcriptomic sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed on various seedling tissues. The results showed that iron deficiency significantly inhibited seedling growth and development, resulting in reduced plant height and fresh weight, increased root length, decreased leaf SPAD content, and elevated soluble sugar and protein concentration. SOD, POD, and MDA activities were also significantly increased. Elemental analysis revealed that iron deficiency enhanced the uptake and accumulation of Zn, Mg, Ca, Mn, and Cu across different tissues. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) significantly enriched in pathways related to photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and ribosome function in roots, stems, and leaves. Iron deficiency induced the upregulation of H+-ATPase genes in roots (PGSC0003DMG400004101, PGSC0003DMG400033034), acidifying the rhizosphere to increase active iron availability. Subsequently, this was followed by the upregulation of FRO genes (PGSC0003DMG400000184, PGSC0003DMG400010125, PGSC0003DMG401009494, PGSC0003DMG401018223), which reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, and activation of IRT genes, facilitating Fe2+ transport to various tissues. Iron deficiency also reduced SPAD content in leaves, negatively impacting photosynthesis and overall plant growth. In response, the osmotic regulation and antioxidant defense systems were activated, enabling the plant to mitigate iron deficiency stress. Additionally, the absorption and accumulation of other metal ions were enhanced, likely as a compensatory mechanism for iron scarcity. At the transcriptional level, iron deficiency induced the expression of genes involved in metal absorption and transport, as well as those related to photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and ribosomal function, thereby supporting iron homeostasis and maintaining metabolic balance under stress conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solanaceae Plants Genetics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5146 KB  
Article
Overexpression of StTCP10 Alters Tuber Number and Size in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
by Tingting Wang, Xinyue Chen, Shuangshuang Li, Ping Wang, Yongbin Wang and Binquan Huang
Plants 2025, 14(9), 1403; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14091403 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 2151
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivated worldwide for its nutrient-rich underground tubers, represents a crucial staple crop whose yield is primarily determined by both tuber number and tuber size. TCP transcription factors, especially TCP containing miR319 binding sites, play pivotal roles in plant [...] Read more.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivated worldwide for its nutrient-rich underground tubers, represents a crucial staple crop whose yield is primarily determined by both tuber number and tuber size. TCP transcription factors, especially TCP containing miR319 binding sites, play pivotal roles in plant growth and development, yet their functions in potato tuber number and size remain largely unexplored. In this study, we systematically identified 32 TCP genes in potato harboring the conserved TCP domain, among which six were predicted to contain binding sites for Stu-miR319. Semi-quantitative experiments revealed that StTCP10 exhibited the highest expression levels in stolons, swollen stolons, and tuber tissues compared to other StTCP genes containing miR319 binding sites. To elucidate its biological function, we generated StTCP10-overexpressing transgenic potato lines through Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Phenotypic analysis demonstrated that overexpression of StTCP10 reduced tuber number per plant while enhancing tuber size, with no significant change in total yield. These findings reveal that StTCP10 with Stu-miR319 binding sites plays a critical role in tuber size and mediates the trade-off between tuber size and number, providing novel insights into the molecular breeding aimed at improving tuber size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solanaceae Plants Genetics)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop