Wildtype fruit of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) are typically soft and highly perishable when fully ripe. The development of firm-fruited cultivars by phenotypic selection has greatly increased shelf life, decreased post-harvest perishability, and driven the expansion of strawberry production worldwide. Hypotheses for the firm-fruited phenotype include mutations affecting the expression

Potassium (K) availability in plant cells is critical for maintaining plant productivity across many terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, there is no comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms by which plants respond to potassium application in such conditions, despite the global challenge of escalating osmotic stress. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis using data from 2381 paired observations to investigate

Theanine is a crucial indicator of tea quality, its significance is closely tied to the economic value of tea. There were many reports on the regulation mechanism of theanine synthesis and accumulation, but the mechanism of gibberellin regulates theanine synthesis in tea plants is poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that the content of theanine experiences significant changed in the growth

Peach is one of the most economically valuable fruit trees. Haploid peach trees occur spontaneously at very low frequencies and they are usually highly sterile. Therefore, the haploid with partial fertility is extremely rare germplasm, which is highly valuable to genetic research and breeding programmes. In this study, we investigated the cytological mechanism underlying the fertility of a peach haploid

The fruit softening directly impacts its storage life, transportability, and customer acceptance. Auxin plays a key role during fruit ripening, but the underlying mechanisms of how auxin regulates fruit softening remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory roles of auxin on berry cell wall degradation during grape (Vitis vinifera L.) softening. During grape berry development, berry

Leaf trichome formation is a very important agronomic trait as it confers resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, but the causal genes involved in this process in B. juncea remain largely unexplored. In this study, we first characterized the haplotypes of BjB02.GL1 among different inbred lines with leaf trichomes or glabrous leaves. A comparative analysis of the number and density of leaf trichomes

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L., family Grossulariaceae) is a perennial shrub that is widely cultivated for its edible berries. These are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and anthocyanins, making them a valuable ingredient in the food and beverage industry. However, prolonged periods of drought during the fruiting season lead to drought stress, which has serious ecological and agricultural implications

Golden Camellia refers to a group of species in the genus Camellia that display yellow petals. The secondary metabolites in these petals hold ornamental significance and potential health benefits. However, the biosynthetic mechanisms governing the synthesis of these metabolites in golden petals remain elusive, and the exploitation of their bioactive components is not fully realized. This research involved

Sweet cherry is very appreciated by consumers because of its attractive appearance and taste, which is determined by the balanced sweet-sour flavor. In this work, the genetics of soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), sugars and organic acids was investigated in sweet cherry to facilitate breeding improvement for fruit quality. The fruits of five sweet cherry populations (N = 372), three

Banana breeding is hampered by the very low fertility of domesticated bananas and the lack of knowledge about the genetic determinism of agronomic traits. We analysed a breeding population of 2 723 triploid hybrids resulting from crosses between diploid and tetraploid M. acuminata parents, which was evaluated over three successive crop-cycles for 24 traits relating to yield components and plant, bunch

Grape is an important fruit crop, and its production faces significant threat from diseases, resulting in substantial economic loss. Wild grape relatives are valuable resources for the restoration of disease-resistance loci. However, available resistance loci in wild grape genomes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we assembled two phased genomes, including a high resistant Chinese wild grape

The vector-borne disease Huanglongbing (HLB) causes severe economic losses to citrus production worldwide with no available cure. Herein, we applied virus-induced gene silencing technology to engineer citrus that preferentially attracted and specifically killed Diaphorina citri, the vector associated with HLB. We engineered the infectious citrus tristeza virus (CTV-T36) clone to carry three truncated

Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) is a globally important fruit crop which shows promise as a candidate for various methods of controlled environment production. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms of the regulation of flowering is needed, as more frequent or consistent flowering would be advantageous in controlled production. It is well understood that flowering in F. x ananassa

Tuber dormancy and sprouting are significant for potato cultivation, storage, and processing. Although the substantial role of miRNAs in some biological processes has been recognized, the critical role of miRNA in breaking potato tuber dormancy is not well understood to date. In this investigation, we expand research on miRNA-mediated gene regulation in tuber dormancy release. In this work, 204 known

The genus Brassica includes six species and over 15 types of vegetables that are widely cultivated and consumed globally. This group of vegetables is rich in bioactive compounds, including glucosinolates, vitamins (such as vitamin C, folate, tocopherol, and phylloquinone), carotenoids, phenols, and minerals, which are crucial for enriching diets and maintaining human health. However, the full extent

Next-generation sequencing has fueled significant advancement in plant breeding tools, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. In this dynamic landscape, plant databases housing SNP markers have evolved into hubs facilitating breeding initiatives and genomic research. PrunusMap, accessible at https://prunusmap.eead.csic.es is an open-source

The large diversity of grapevine cultivars includes genotypes more tolerant to water deficit than others. Widely distributed cultivars, like Merlot, are more sensitive to water deprivation than local cultivars like Callet, which are more adapted to water deficit due to their Mediterranean origin. Despite their tolerance, adaptation to water deficit influenced by grafting in rootstocks like 110 Richter

Pre-fertilization hybridization barriers are the main causes of inter-subgeneric hybridization challenges in water lily. However, the mechanism underlying low compatibility between pollen and stigma of water lily remains unclear. This study demonstrates that CBL-interacting protein kinase 6 (CIPK6) responded to the signaling exchange between incompatible pollen and stigma through interactions with

Cold stress seriously affects the plant growth and development. The ubiquitination system plays an important role by degrading and modifying substrates at the protein level. In this study, the U-box type ubiquitin ligase VviPUB19 gene was induced by low temperature (4°C) in grapevine. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the pub19 mutant, a homologous mutation of VviPUB19, exhibited enhanced cold tolerance, and

Black wolfberry (Lycium ruthenicum Murr.) is an important plant for ecological preservation. In addition, its fruits are rich in anthocyanins and have important edible and medicinal value. However, a high quality chromosome-level genome for this species is not yet available, and the regulatory mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins are unclear. In this study, haploid material was used

GRAS, termed after GAI (gibberellic acid insensitive), RGA (repressor of GA1), and SCR (scarecrow), is a plant-specific transcription factor crucial for plant development and stress response. However, understanding of the functions played by the GRAS members and their target genes in citrus is limited. In this study, we identified a cold stress-responsive GRAS gene from Poncirus trifoliate, designated

The CRISPR-Cas-based gene targeting (GT) method has enabled precise modifications of genomic DNA ranging from single base to several kilobase scales through homologous recombination (HR). In plant somatic cells, canonical nonhomologous end-joining (cNHEJ) is the predominant mechanism for repairing double-stranded breaks (DSBs), thus limiting the HR-mediated GT. In this study, we implemented an approach

Skin color is one of the major traits of fruit appearance quality in pear (Pyrus), which affects the fruit commodity value. Russet skin protects pear fruits from environmental stresses and its formation process is closely linked to lignin accumulation. However, the molecular regulatory networks underlying russet skin formation in pear fruits involve complex secondary metabolic pathways and remain elusive

Flowering Chinese cabbage is a type of leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica genus. Originally native to South China, it is now widely cultivated and consumed across the globe, particularly in Asian countries. The recent cultivation and regional expansion of flowering Chinese cabbage provides a valuable opportunity to elucidate the genomic basis underlying environmental adaptation and desired

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is pivotal in plant breeding and widely employed in various crop hybrids, including pepper. However, the functional validation of the restorer of fertility (Rf) gene in pepper has been lacking until now. This study identifies and characterizes CaRf, a single dominant locus crucial for restoring CMS in the pepper strong recovery inbred line Zhangshugang. The CaRf gene

Coevolution within the plant holobiont extends the capacity of host plants for nutrient acquisition and stress resistance. However, the role of the rhizospheric microbiota in maintaining multinutrient utilization (i.e., multinutrient traits) in the host remains to be elucidated. Multinutrient cycling index (MNC), analogous to the widely used multifunctionality index, provides a straightforward and

Grasses, including turf and forage, cover most of the earth’s surface; predominantly important for land, water, livestock feed, soil and water conservation, as well as carbon sequestration. Improved production and quality of grasses by modern molecular breeding is gaining more research attention. Recent advances in genome-editing technologies are helping to revolutionize plant breeding and also offering

Despite the transformative power of gene editing for crop improvement, its widespread application across species and varieties is limited by the transformation bottleneck that exists for many crops. The genetic transformation of plants is hindered by a general reliance on in vitro regeneration through plant tissue culture. Tissue culture requires empirically-determined conditions and aseptic techniques

The pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causes anthracnose, a serious threat to tea trees around the world, particularly in warm and humid regions. RNA-Seq data have previously indicated NAC transcription factors are involved in anthracnose resistance, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The BiFC, Split-LUC, and Co-IP assays validated the interaction between CsbHLH62 and CsNAC17 identified

DNA methylation is a stable epigenetic mark that plays a crucial role in plant life processes. However, the specific functions of DNA methylation in grape berry development remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing on “Kyoho” grape and its early-ripening bud mutant “Fengzao” at different developmental stages. Our results revealed that transposons (TEs) and

Glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 1 (GDPD1) plays an important function in the abiotic stress responses and participates in the accumulation of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) in plants, which is key to plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR). However, the role of GDPD1 in plant responses to biotic stress remains poorly understood. This study characterized the antivirus function of the GDPD1 gene

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are essential amino acids in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) required for protein synthesis, which also modulate growth and abiotic stress responses. To date, little is known about their uptake and transport in tomato especially under abiotic stress. Here, the tomato amino acid permease 6 (SlAAP6) gene was identified as an amino acid transporter that restored mutant

The circadian clock mediates metabolic functions of plants and rhythmically shapes structure and function of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. However, it is unclear how the circadian rhythm of plant hosts regulates changes in rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities and nutrient cycles. In the present study, we measured diel changes in the rhizosphere of bacterial and fungal communities

Resveratrol is an important phytoalexin that adapts to and responds to stressful conditions, plays various roles in health and medical therapies. However, it is only found in a limited number of plant species in low concentrations, which hinders its development and utilization. Chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS) catalyze the same substrates to produce flavonoids and resveratrol, respectively

Triterpene (C30 isoprene compounds) represents the most structurally diverse class of natural products and has been extensively exploited in the food, medicine and industrial sectors. Decades of research on medicinal triterpene biosynthetic pathways have revealed their roles in stress tolerance and shaping microbiota. However, the biological function and mechanism of triterpenes are not fully identified

Fruit firmness is an important trait for characterizing the quality and value of apple. It is also serves as an indicator of fruit maturity, as it is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes. Re-sequencing techniques can be employed to elucidate variations in such complex fruit traits. Here, the whole genomes of 294 F1 hybrids of ‘Fuji’ and ‘Cripp's Pink’ were re-sequenced, and a high-density bin-map

Drought stress and lateral branch are both important factors affecting crop yield. Cucumber is a widely planted vegetable crop that requires a large amount of water during its production and prefers varieties with few lateral branches. However, the mechanism regulating cucumber drought tolerance and lateral branch development remain largely unclear. The MADS-box transcription factor AGAMOUS-LIKE 16

Sugars act as signaling molecules to modulate various growth processes and enhance plant tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Moreover, sugars contribute to the post-harvest flavor in fleshy fruit crops. To date, the regulation of sugar metabolism and its effect in plant growth, fruit ripening, postharvest quality and stress resistance remains not fully understood. In this study, we investigated

SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY 1 (STOP1) is a core transcription factor that regulates the expression of aluminum (Al)-resistance genes to manage Al toxicity in plants. However, the genome-wide roles of SlSTOP1 in the Al stress response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) remain largely unknown. Here, we report that SlSTOP1 is crucial for Al tolerance in tomato, as loss-of-function mutants of SlSTOP1

In the context of organic farming, the introduction of a local product to wider markets and an evaluation of storage effects, metabolic and transcriptomic variations in two broccoli rabe genotypes from production cycles of two different years were studied by comparing florets of stored fresh (SF) and packaged (P) for 4 days with those harvested fresh from the field (H). Twenty-five hydrosoluble compounds

Flowering date in perennial fruit trees is an important trait for fruit production. Depending on the winter and spring temperatures, flowering of olive may be advanced, delayed, or even suppressed. Deciphering the genetic control of flowering date is thus key to help selecting cultivars better adapted to the current climate context. Here, we investigated the genetic determinism of full flowering date

Sugar limitation has dramatic consequences on plant cells, which include cell metabolism and transcriptional reprogramming, and the recycling of cellular components to maintain fundamental cell functions. There is however no description of the contribution of epigenetic regulations to the adaptation of plant cells to limited carbon availability. We investigated this question using non-photosynthetic

Increasing agricultural losses caused by insect infestations are a significant problem, so it is important to generate pest-resistant crop varieties to address this issue. Several reviews have examined aphid–plant interactions from an entomological perspective. However, few have specifically focused on plant resistance mechanisms to aphids and their applications in breeding for aphid resistance. In

Root development is a complex process involving phytohormones and transcription factors. Our previous research has demonstrated that BcWRKY33A is significantly expressed in Bok Choy roots under salt stress, and heterologous expression of BcWRKY33A increases salt tolerance and promotes root development in transgenic Arabidopsis. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which BcWRKY33A governs root

Fresh-cut fruit browning severely affects the appearance of fruit. Light treatment can effectively inhibit fresh-cut apple fruit browning, but the regulatory mechanism remains unknown. Here, we discovered that violet LED light treatment significantly reduced fresh-cut apple fruit browning. Metabolomic analysis revealed that violet LED light treatment enhanced the phenolic accumulation of fresh-cut

Oligonucleotide (Oligo)-based fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) represents a highly effective methodology for identifying plant chromosomes. Longan is a commercially significant fruit species, yet lacking basic chromosomal markers has hindered its cytogenetic research. In this study, we developed a cost-effective oligo-based system for distinguishing chromosomes of longan (Dimocarpus longan

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) have emerged as key regulators of herbivory perception and subsequent defense initiation. While their functions in grass plants have been gradually elucidated, the roles of herbivory-related LRR-RLKs in woody plants remain largely unknown. In this study, we mined the genomic and transcriptomic data of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and identified

The recessive genic male sterility (RGMS) method has several benefits in hybrid seed production; yet, it is seldom employed in industrial hybrid seed production owing to the difficulties of producing an ample number of pure male sterile seeds. In this study, we present an efficient methodology for developing a two-line strategy to produce hybrid seed through targeted mutation of BnaMS1 and BnaMS2 in

Angiosperms are prolific producers of structurally diverse terpenes, which are essential for plant defense responses, as well as the formation of floral scents, fruit flavors, and medicinal constituents. Terpene synthase genes (TPSs) play crucial roles in the biosynthesis of terpenes. This study specifically focuses on the catalytic products of 222 functionally characterized TPSs in 24 angiosperms

Cherries are one of the economically important fruit crops in the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus. As the first fruits of the spring season in the northern hemisphere, their attractive appearance, intensely desirable tastes, high nutrients content and consumer-friendly size captivate consumers worldwide. In the past 30 years, although cherry geneticists and breeders have greatly progressed in understanding

Ambient temperature is a pivotal factor in the regulation of the flowering process in plants. In this study, we found that high ambient temperature exerts an inhibitory effect on the flowering of Osmanthus fragrans “Sjigui”. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain not fully understood. Through transcriptome analysis, a differently expressed C3H gene OfC3H49 was identified, which is induced

Alfalfa is one of the most economically valuable forage crops in the world. However, molecular cytogenetic studies in alfalfa lag far behind other cash crops and have reached a bottleneck. Here, we developed a novel chromosome identification system by designing 21 oligo probes in specific regions of each chromosome, which can be used as a barcode to simultaneously distinguish all chromosomes in a cell

Gene transcription is governed by a complex regulatory system involving changes in chromatin structure, action of transcription factors, and activation of cis-regulatory elements. Postharvest fruits are threatened by Penicillium expansum, a leading causal agent of blue mold disease and one of the most economically significant postharvest pathogens worldwide. However, the information on its transcription

Graft compatibility is the capacity of two plants to form cohesive vascular connections. Tomato and pepper are incompatible graft partners; however, the underlying cause of graft rejection between these two species remains unknown. We diagnosed graft incompatibility between tomato and diverse pepper varieties based on weakened biophysical stability, decreased growth, and persistent cell death using

Illuminating the phenotype–genotype black box under complex traits is an ambitious goal for researchers. The generation of temporally or spatially phenotypic data today has far outpaced its interpretation, due to their highly dynamic nature depending on the environment and developmental stages. Here we propose an integrated enviro-pheno-geno functional approach to pinpoint the major challenges of decomposing

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) renowned as the king of medicinal plants. Ginseng grows slowly under shade conditions, requiring at least four years to produce a limited number of seeds. Molecular breeding of ginseng faces challenges due to its the tetraploid genome and the absence of an efficient molecular marker system. To overcome these obstacles, we adopted genotyping-by-sequencing to delve into genetic

Soluble sugars contribute to the taste and flavor of citrus fruit. Potassium (K), known as a quality element, plays key roles in improving sugar accumulation and fruit quality, but the mechanism is largely unknown. This study aims to elucidate how K improves sugar accumulation by regulating carbon flow from source leaves to fruit in Newhall navel orange. We found that optimal fruit K concentrations

Camelina (Camelina sativa), an allohexaploid species, is an emerging aviation biofuel crop that has been the focus of resurgent interest in recent decades. To guide future breeding and crop improvement efforts, the community requires a deeper comprehension of subgenome dominance, often noted in allopolyploid species, alongside and understanding of the genetic diversity and population structure of material

Woody bamboo (Bambusoideae) is renowned for its polyploidy and rare flowering. Bambusa odashimae is one of the bamboo species with the highest chromosome count (104) in the subfamily and has the highest heterozygosity of all sequenced bamboo genomes so far. Compared with other bamboo species, it can efficiently utilize exogenous hormones to regulate in vitro flowering, providing valuable insights into

De novo genes can evolve 'from scratch' from non-coding sequences, acquiring novel functions in organisms and integrating into regulatory networks during evolution to drive innovations in important phenotypes and traits. However, identifying de novo genes is challenging, as it requires high-quality genomes from closely related species. According to the comparison with nine closely related Prunus genomes