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The Gene, Genomics, and Molecular Breeding in Cruciferae Plants (3rd Edition)

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 May 2026 | Viewed by 1649

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cruciferae plants include many important vegetables and oil crops, such as Brassica rapa, B. napus, and Raphanus sativus. Increasing production (e.g., seed oil production of B. napus and yield of Chinese Cabbage), improving quality (e.g., improving polyunsaturated fatty acid and phytosterol content in seeds), and strengthening resistance to both diseases (e.g., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Clubroot disease) and abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salinity, and cold) are among the most important tasks at present.

The aim of this Special Issue is mainly to focus on the following: (1) Innovation of new germplasm using both traditional and modern biotechnology; (2) genome sequencing and re-sequencing analysis of Cruciferae plants; (3) genetic dissection (e.g., QTL and GWAS analysis) and molecular mechanisms analysis of important agronomy characteristics; (4) candidate gene functional analysis (e.g., gene editing) and molecular breeding in Cruciferae plants. Research on other agronomic characteristics that are not mentioned above is also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Maoteng Li
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Cruciferae plants
  • genome analysis
  • genetic dissection
  • gene function
  • molecular breeding

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4553 KB  
Article
A High-Thousand-Seed-Weight Mutant of Brassica napus
by Zheng Fang, Xiang Lin, Yifei Zou, Jianhua Tong, Longbing Liang, Ruixiao Luo, Yan Zhang, Wen Luo, Hongshi Han, Langtao Xiao and Yang Xiang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(4), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27041852 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 414
Abstract
Thousand-seed weight (TSW) is a critical determinant of yield in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Developing germplasm with high TSW is therefore a key strategy in high-yield rapeseed breeding. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying TSW in rapeseed remain poorly understood. In [...] Read more.
Thousand-seed weight (TSW) is a critical determinant of yield in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Developing germplasm with high TSW is therefore a key strategy in high-yield rapeseed breeding. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying TSW in rapeseed remain poorly understood. In our earlier work, we identified a mutant, designated GRG177, which exhibits a remarkably high TSW exceeding 7 g. To unravel the mechanisms driving this elevated TSW, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of GRG177, integrating morphological, genetic, developmental, anatomical, and physiological approaches. Compared with the control germplasm GRD328 (TSW ≈ 3.5 g), GRG177 displayed a significant increase in seed weight and seed volume, larger silique surface area, and higher yield per plant. However, it also showed a notable reduction in both silique number per plant and seed number per silique. Genetic analysis of a segregating population revealed that the high-TSW trait in GRG177 is governed by two pairs of dominant epistatic major genes plus polygenes. Endogenous hormone analysis revealed significantly higher zeatin riboside (ZR) content in the early stage of seed development in GRG177, whereas indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) levels were significantly up-regulated in the late stage of seed development. Anatomical observation using paraffin sections further confirmed that enhanced cell division activity in the early stage and improved cell expansion capacity in the later stage underpin the formation of high TSW. Furthermore, BSA-seq was utilized to map four TSW-related Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) and screen 13 candidate genes involved in IAA, ZR, and ABA signaling pathways. In conclusion, these findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms governing high-TSW formation in rapeseed and present valuable genetic resources for high-yield breeding. Full article
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20 pages, 3616 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Association Study for Markers Related to Protein, Fiber (ADF and NDF) and Oil Content in Winter Oilseed Rape Seeds (Brassica napus L.)
by Agnieszka Łopatyńska, Joanna Wolko, Łukasz Wolko, Jan Bocianowski, Julia Spychała and Aleksandra Noweiska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 11931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262411931 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 716
Abstract
Seed biochemical composition critically influences the quality and industrial value of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Understanding the genetic basis of seed oil, protein, and fiber content is essential for breeding improved cultivars. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on [...] Read more.
Seed biochemical composition critically influences the quality and industrial value of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Understanding the genetic basis of seed oil, protein, and fiber content is essential for breeding improved cultivars. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 350 diverse winter oilseed rape lines over three years, using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure seed traits and SNP genotyping for association mapping. We identified numerous SNP markers significantly associated with seed oil, protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. From 18,566 detected SNPs, 3782 met stringent criteria and were used for association mapping, resulting in 3189 significant associations across three years. The highest number of associations was observed for protein (3480), followed by NDF (3662), ADF (3422), and oil (2046). Individual markers explained up to 35% of phenotypic variation, indicating strong genetic control of these traits. Gene ontology enrichment analyses linked candidate genes to key metabolic and regulatory pathways influencing these traits: protein biosynthesis and post-translational modification, lipid metabolism regulated by phosphorylation, and transcriptional control of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis. These findings provide valuable molecular markers that can be validated for further use in marker-assisted selection, supporting the development of rapeseed cultivars with optimized seed quality for food, feed, and industrial applications. Full article
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