Molecular Regulation and Maintaining of Fruit Quality

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2024 | Viewed by 1349

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China
Interests: fruit size; secondary metabolite; triterpene; anthocyanin; carotenoid

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fruit Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China
Interests: epigenetics; fruit development; secondary metabolite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit quality encompasses sensory quality (fruit size, fruit shape, fruit color, fragrance, etc.) and edible quality (sugar, organic acid, amino acids, flavonoid, triterpene, anthocyanin, carotenoid, capsaicin, etc.) and greatly influences both farmer income and consumer acceptability. The fruit quality of all horticultural crops is more sensitive to changes in internal and external factors; however, gene-manipulating techniques have been widely used to improve or to maintain cereal crop products. Nevertheless, most enzyme genes and regulators that are essential in developing or maintaining the high quality of fruits are less well known, as is gene regulation of their quality. The aim of this Special Issue is to gather pioneering research on the regulation of gene manipulation in enhancing fruit quality. This covers gene regulation research on improving or maintaining fruit quality during fruit growth, ripening, and postharvest using new gene identification, mechanisms, skills such as quality-related enzyme-encoding gene identification, resistance genes related to fruit quality, key transcriptions underpinning mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, VIGS, transgenes, RNAi, and gene editing. Works on fruit trees, fruit-producing vegetables, and fruit-bearing forest plants are welcome.

Dr. Wenbing Su
Dr. Zhongqi Fan
Dr. Weilin Wei
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fruit growth
  • fruit quality development
  • postharvest quality maintaining
  • gene regulation mechanism
  • secondary metabolite
  • gene-manipulating skill

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4808 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of Heat Shock Transcription Factor Family and Key Members Response Analysis to Heat Stress in Loquat
by Chaojun Deng, Yongping Chen, Weilin Wei, Xiuping Chen and Jimou Jiang
Horticulturae 2024, 10(11), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111195 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 353
Abstract
Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) is an evergreen fruit tree of the apple tribe in Rosaceae with high edible and medicinal value. The yield and quality of loquat fruits are significantly influenced by environmental stress, particularly heat stress during fruit ripening. In this study, thirty [...] Read more.
Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) is an evergreen fruit tree of the apple tribe in Rosaceae with high edible and medicinal value. The yield and quality of loquat fruits are significantly influenced by environmental stress, particularly heat stress during fruit ripening. In this study, thirty EjHSFs were identified in the loquat genome. Twenty-nine EjHSFs were unevenly distributed across sixteen chromosomes, except Chr-6. A synteny analysis revealed that twenty-six EjHSF genes had undergone duplication events. Twenty-nine EjHSF genes were found to be in sync with HSF in apples while also diverging with other Rosaceae species. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that EjHSFs could be divided into three categories, including eighteen EjHSF-A, ten EjHSF-B, and two EjHSF-C. Twenty-nine members of the EjHSF family showed high homology to those of Malus domestica and Gillenia trifoliate. A promoter analysis retrieved thirty-three CAREs that were functionally relevant and connected to the expression of HSFs. Among these, the promoters of twenty-three EjHSF genes possessed at least one STRE element that could be activated by heat shock. Eleven of these EjHSFs were highly expressed in loquat tissues, namely EjHSF-B4a, EjHSF-A4a, EjHSF-A4d, and EjHSF-C1a in roots; EjHSF-B4b in roots and inflorescence; EjHSF-C1b in stems and roots; EjHSF-A2a in three tissues; EjHSF-A8b in four tissues; and EjHSF-A4c, EjHSF-B1a, and EjHSF-B2b in six tissues. Moreover, fifteen EjHSFs were differentially expressed (eleven upregulated and four downregulated) in fruits under heat stress treatment in the color-changing period. Among them, EjHSF-A2a and EjHSF-A2b upregulated transcriptional abundance over 300 times after heat treatment; EjHSF-B2b consistently displayed an increasing trend over time; and EjHSF-B1a was significantly downregulated. Hence, these results suggest that EjHSFs take part in loquat tissue development and may be involved in the fruit’s heat stress response. These findings enhance the understanding of EjHSFs’ role within loquats and the heat stress response of its fruit and provide target genes for heat stress improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation and Maintaining of Fruit Quality)
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12 pages, 7237 KiB  
Article
CmSN Regulates Fruit Skin Netting Formation in Melon
by Xiaoxue Liang, Panqiao Wang, Chen Luo, Xiang Li, Wenwen Mao, Juan Hou, Junlong Fan, Yan Guo, Zhiqiang Cheng, Qiong Li and Jianbin Hu
Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101115 - 19 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Melon (Cucumis melo) includes more than ten botanical groups, many of which feature netting ornamentation on the surface of mature fruit. Ripe melons display a netted skin that signifies their ripeness and readiness for consumption. Previously, we identified SKIN NETTING ( [...] Read more.
Melon (Cucumis melo) includes more than ten botanical groups, many of which feature netting ornamentation on the surface of mature fruit. Ripe melons display a netted skin that signifies their ripeness and readiness for consumption. Previously, we identified SKIN NETTING (CmSN), which encodes an EamA-like transporter family protein, as the candidate gene controlling fruit skin netting formation in melon, while its biological functions remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of the CmSN gene was considerably lower in netted melons compared to smooth-skinned melons, indicating a negative correlation between CmSN expression and netting formation. Subsequently, we employed transient overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) experiments to explore the role of CmSN gene during fruit development. Overexpression of the CmSN gene inhibited netting development, whereas silencing it promoted netting formation. Using heterologous transformation in tomato, we further confirmed the effect of the CmSN gene on rind texture and toughness, as these tomatoes exhibited rougher and tougher skins. Analysis with near-isogenic lines (NILs) revealed that CmSN gene-bearing fruits (NIL_CmSN) possessed significantly harder rinds than the control smooth-skinned variety HB42, underscoring the role of CmSN in enhancing rind protection. Together, our research offers essential insights into the netting formation and genetic improvement of melon fruits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation and Maintaining of Fruit Quality)
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