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Horticulturae
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Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition
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Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 7950

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Caiyun Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: physiological; molecular biology; ornamental plant
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tuo Zeng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Sciences, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: horticulture crop germplasm and innovation; genomics; plant gene transcription and regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ornamental plants play an important role in human life and health and are widely used in agriculture, industry, and medicine, with great scientific interest and economic implications. However, although most flowers have difficulty breeding, and their excellent characters cannot be maintained, their regulatory mechanism has not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the study of the physiology and molecular biology of ornamental plants can not only provide assistance for the screening of candidate genes and targeted breeding but also help to study the regulatory mechanism of ornamental flowers through classical molecular biology. Based on these, we have decided to launch this Special Issue, titled “Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition”.

This Special Issue welcomes contributions from researchers working in the field of physiological and molecular biology of ornamental plants. Original research articles are encouraged to be submitted.

  • Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Biotechnology or physiological research of ornamental plants;
  • Gene editing of ornamental traits;
  • Molecular regulatory mechanism of ornamental traits;
  • Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in ornamental plants;
  • Biotic or abiotic stress-resistant gene function in ornamental plants;
  • Integrative analysis of multiomics.

Prof. Dr. Caiyun Wang
Dr. Tuo Zeng
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 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. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • ornamental traits
  • biotechnology
  • multiomics
  • gene regulatory
  • secondary metabolites
  • gene editing
  • stress tolerance

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3332 KiB  
Article
Identification of Key Candidate Genes Involved in Aluminum Accumulation in the Sepals of Hydrangea macrophylla
by Shuwen Luo, Ying Li, Yibing Wan, Youwei Fan, Chun Liu and Suxia Yuan
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111180 - 7 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 894
Abstract
Hydrangea macrophylla (H. macrophylla), a species in the genus Hydrangea in the family Hydrangeaceae, is widely valued for its ornamental qualities in both domestic and international markets. Notably, H. macrophylla is known for its ability to accumulate aluminum (Al). Moreover, aluminum [...] Read more.
Hydrangea macrophylla (H. macrophylla), a species in the genus Hydrangea in the family Hydrangeaceae, is widely valued for its ornamental qualities in both domestic and international markets. Notably, H. macrophylla is known for its ability to accumulate aluminum (Al). Moreover, aluminum ions (Al3+) participate in sepal bluing. However, the underlying mechanisms of Al accumulation in the sepals remain unclear. In this study, we utilized transcriptome data from two cultivars to identify genes associated with Al accumulation. In total, 154 differentially expressed isoforms between the CK and Tr groups in the sepals of both cultivars were screened. Through gene enrichment analysis and similarity identification in the CDS (coding sequence) region, 43 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 30 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes, in the sepals of the Al treatment group. Further analysis revealed that seven of these upregulated genes are related to Al accumulation in sepals. Among the seven, the gene HmALS3.1 was identified as a potential key player in Al transport within the sepals of H. macrophylla. This study lays the groundwork for further exploration into the mechanisms by which HmALS3.1 regulates Al accumulation in H. macrophylla. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 5746 KiB  
Article
Bioinformatics Analysis and Expression Features of Terpene Synthase Family in Cymbidium ensifolium
by Mengyao Wang, Baojun Liu, Jinjin Li, Ningzhen Huang, Yang Tian, Liting Guo, Caiyun Feng, Ye Ai and Chuanming Fu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101015 - 24 Sep 2024
Viewed by 816
Abstract
Terpene synthases (TPSs) are crucial for the diversification of terpenes, catalyzing the formation of a wide variety of terpenoid compounds. However, genome-wide systematic characterization of TPS genes in Cymbidium ensifolium has not been reported. Within the genomic database of C. ensifolium, we found 30 [...] Read more.
Terpene synthases (TPSs) are crucial for the diversification of terpenes, catalyzing the formation of a wide variety of terpenoid compounds. However, genome-wide systematic characterization of TPS genes in Cymbidium ensifolium has not been reported. Within the genomic database of C. ensifolium, we found 30 CeTPS genes for this investigation. CeTPS genes were irregularly distributed throughout the seven chromosomes and primarily expanded through tandem duplications. The CeTPS proteins were classified into three TPS subfamilies, including 17 TPS-b members, 8 TPS-a members, and 5 TPS-c members. Conserved motif analysis showed that most CeTPSs contained DDxxD and RRX8W motifs. Cis-element analysis of CeTPS gene promoters indicated regulation primarily by plant hormones and stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CeTPS1 and CeTPS18 had high expression in C. ensifolium flowers. qRT-PCR results showed that CeTPS1 and CeTPS18 were predominantly expressed during the flowering stage. Furthermore, CeTPS1 and CeTPS18 proteins were localized in the chloroplasts. These results lay the theoretical groundwork for future research on the functions of CeTPSs in terpenoid biosynthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2833 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Calcium and Ethylene Signaling Pathway Genes in Response to Cold Stress in Cinnamomum camphora
by Bo Bi, Lingmei Shao, Tong Xu, Hao Du and Danqing Li
Horticulturae 2024, 10(9), 995; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090995 - 20 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
Cinnamomum camphora is one of the most dominant broad-leaved evergreen trees in tropical and subtropical regions. Understanding its response to cold stress is crucial for enhancing its resilience to climate changes and expanding the cultivation range. Cold stress response is a vital strategy [...] Read more.
Cinnamomum camphora is one of the most dominant broad-leaved evergreen trees in tropical and subtropical regions. Understanding its response to cold stress is crucial for enhancing its resilience to climate changes and expanding the cultivation range. Cold stress response is a vital strategy for plants to withstand cold stress, typically involving transcriptional changes across various pathways. In this study, RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted on the leaves of C. camphora subjected to different cold stress treatments (0 h, 2 h, and 12 h). Transcriptome analyses revealed that short-term cold stress treatment rapidly induced the upregulation of genes associated with calcium and ethylene signaling pathways, including GLR2.7, CaM, CPK7, and ERF1/3/4/5/7. Subsequently, 12 h cold response treatment further activated genes related to the cold response, jasmonic acid signaling pathways, and the negative regulation of cellular biosynthetic processes, such as CBF2 and CBF4. Notably, ERFs emerged as the most differentially expressed transcription factors in this study. A total of 133 ERF family members from C. camphora were identified through phylogenetic analysis, and these ERFs were classified into 12 clusters. Many of these ERFs are likely to play pivotal roles in the cold response of C. camphora, especially ERF1/3/4/5/7. These findings offer novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the cold response and present valuable candidates for further research, advancing our understanding of plant responses to cold stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 3694 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Microbiomes and Metabolomics Reveals the Mechanism of Adaptation to Cadmium Stress in Rhizosphere Soil of Rhododendron decorum subsp. Diaprepes
by Ming Tang, Lanlan Chen, Li Wang, Yin Yi, Jianfeng Wang, Chao Wang, Xianlei Chen, Jie Liu, Yongsong Yang, Kamran Malik and Jiyi Gong
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080884 - 21 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
The toxicity of cadmium (Cd) not only affects the growth and development of plants but also has an impact on human health. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and LC-MS were conducted to analyze the effect of CdCl2 treatment on the microbial community [...] Read more.
The toxicity of cadmium (Cd) not only affects the growth and development of plants but also has an impact on human health. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and LC-MS were conducted to analyze the effect of CdCl2 treatment on the microbial community and soil metabolomics of rhizosphere soil in Rhododendron decorum subsp. diaprepes. The results showed that CdCl2 treatment reduced the quality of the rhizosphere soil by significantly decreasing the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, urease, and invertase activities, increasing the percentage of the exchangeable Cd fraction. CdCl2 treatment did not significantly change the Chao1 and Shannon indices of bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil. R. decorum was more likely to recruit Cd-resistant bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi) and increase the abundance of Cd-resistant fungi (e.g., Basidiomycota, Rozellomycota). Moreover, CdCl2 treatment decreased the content of secondary metabolites associated with plants’ resistance to Cd. Rhizosphere soil urease, invertase activities, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), SOC, total potassium (TK), Cd, and nitrate nitrogen (NN) were the main drivers of the composition of rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities. CdCl2 treatment weakened the relationships among bacterial/fungi, differential metabolites, and physicochemical properties in rhizosphere soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 3530 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Unique Floral Coloration in Osmanthus fragrans Cultivars
by Shenni Wei, Jiang Wu, Ping Yu, Yunfei Tan, Qiang He, Jie Yang, Xuan Cai, Jingjing Zou, Hongguo Chen and Xiangling Zeng
Horticulturae 2024, 10(8), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080801 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 851
Abstract
The floral color phenotypes of Osmanthus fragrans cultivars range from light yellow to orange yellow, with ‘Yanzhi Hong’ being the only reported cultivar with a red color. However, the underlying reason for this unique floral coloration remains unclear. The study conducted targeted metabolomics [...] Read more.
The floral color phenotypes of Osmanthus fragrans cultivars range from light yellow to orange yellow, with ‘Yanzhi Hong’ being the only reported cultivar with a red color. However, the underlying reason for this unique floral coloration remains unclear. The study conducted targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses on the petals of ‘Yanzhi Hong’ at both initial and peak flowering stages. Candidate gene expression was validated, and expression levels of the petals of three cultivars were compared using RT-qPCR. The results revealed the presence of 27 components in the petals of ‘Yanzhi Hong’, including 5 carotenoids, 8 xanthophylls, and 14 xanthophyll esters. Notably, lycopene was detected in abundance for the first time in O. fragrans cultivars. Carotenes accounted for 78.82 ± 3.17% and 91.19 ± 1.69% of the total carotenoid content in petals during the initial and peak flowering stages, respectively, with all carotene contents increasing during the peak flowering period. β-carotene, lycopene, and γ-carotene were identified as the top three carotene components in petals during both initial and full flowering stages. The unique blush red color of ‘Yanzhi Hong’ petals could be attributed to the low content of α-carotene and the rich accumulation of lycopene. Furthermore, a total of 1550 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in petals at the peak flowering stage relative to the initial flowering stage, with 1003 genes being downregulated and 547 genes being upregulated during the full flowering stage. There are 926 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) annotated in the Gene Ontology (GO) database. Among these DEGs, those that were downregulated and upregulated during the peak flowering period showed significant enrichment in carbohydrate metabolism and oxidation–reduction processes, respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified 14 structural genes associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and 7 structural genes linked to carotenoid biosynthesis. Expression levels of candidate genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were examined in the petals of three cultivars (‘Yanzhi Hong’, ‘Liuye Jingui’, and ‘Gecheng Dangui’) at both the initial and peak flowering stages. The results indicated that the decreased expression of LYG009054 (LYCE) and LYG018651 (LYCB) in ‘Yanzhi Hong’ resulted in higher lycopene accumulation and lower α-carotene content in the petals. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the unique flower color phenotype of O. fragrans, proving a basis for further research on carotenoid metabolism pathways and the breeding of new cultivars with a variety of flower colors in O. fragrans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 978 KiB  
Article
Resistances and Physiological Responses of Impatiens uliginosa to Copper Stress
by Jiapeng Zhu, Xinyi Li, Haiquan Huang and Meijuan Huang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(7), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10070751 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1265
Abstract
The phytoremediation of soil and water that has been significantly contaminated with metals has potential ecological and economical ramifications, as well as the advantages of high efficiency, and is an environmentally friendly method of ecological pollution control. This study aimed to examine the [...] Read more.
The phytoremediation of soil and water that has been significantly contaminated with metals has potential ecological and economical ramifications, as well as the advantages of high efficiency, and is an environmentally friendly method of ecological pollution control. This study aimed to examine the impact of varying concentrations of Copper (Cu2+) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg·L−1) on the growth, development, physiology, biochemistry, mineral elements, and features of Cu2+ enrichment of Impatiens uliginosa. This plant is endemic to Yunnan Province in China and is a wetland species. The results showed that the root lengths, stem diameters, plant height, and stem and leaf biomass of I. uliginosa showed a phenomenon of “low promotion and high inhibition,” while the root biomass showed a trend of gradual decreasing. At the early stage of Cu2+ stress (day 6), the activities of peroxidase and catalase and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) of I. uliginosa were directly proportional to the concentration of Cu2+. As the treatment time increased, the activation of a defense mechanism in vivo enabled I. uliginosa to adapt to the high Cu2+ environment, and the content of MDA gradually decreased. As the concentration of Cu2+ increased, its contents in the roots, stems, and leaves also gradually increased. In particular, when the concentration of Cu2+ reached 25 mg·L−1, its contents in the roots of I. uliginosa increased by 39.16-fold compared with that of the control group (CK). The concentration-dependent influence of the contents of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in the roots and leaves were observed. Low concentrations of Cu2+ promoted iron content in roots and leaves, and vice versa, while Zn content decreased with the increasing concentration of Cu2+. It was conclusively shown that I. uliginosa has the potential to remediate low concentrations of Cu2+ pollution in water and is a textbook ornamental plant to remediate bodies of water that are polluted with Cu2+. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 3206 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Transcriptome and Expression of C4H and FLS Genes on Four Flower Colors of Impatiens uliginosa
by Xiaoli Zhang, Yi Tan, Xinyi Li, Zengdong Liu, Fan Li, Haiquan Huang and Meijuan Huang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040415 - 19 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Flower color is a major feature of ornamental plants, and the rich flower color of plants is an important factor in determining their ornamental and economic values, so flower color is an important research target for gardening and horticulture breeders at home and [...] Read more.
Flower color is a major feature of ornamental plants, and the rich flower color of plants is an important factor in determining their ornamental and economic values, so flower color is an important research target for gardening and horticulture breeders at home and abroad. Our research group collected four colors of Impatiens uliginosa (white, pink, red, and deep red) during the collection of germplasm resources in the field. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomes of the four flower colors of I. uliginosa by using RNA-Seq technology. The transcriptomes were screened to identify candidate genes related to flower color, and the coloring mechanisms of four flower colors were revealed at the molecular level. The main findings were as follows: (1) The number of the four different transcripts ranged from 64,723 to 93,522 and contained a total of 100,705 unigenes. (2) The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed structural genes including C4H, FLS, PAL, and ANS and transcription factors including MYB, MYB-related, AP2-EREBP, and bHLH. (3) Among the four flower colors of I. uliginosa, the C4H1 gene had the highest expression in pink flowers, and the C4H2 gene had the highest expression in red flowers. This indicated that C4H genes positively regulated the red flower color of I. uliginosa. However, FLS expression was the highest in white flowers, and with deepening flower color, FLS gene expression gradually weakened, acting as a negative regulator. The results of this study could lay the theoretical foundation for investigating the mechanism of coloration and flower color variation in I. uliginosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Biology of Ornamental Plants—2nd Edition)
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