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Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics

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 February 2025 | Viewed by 4521

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Bo Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: brassica vegetables; Chinese kale; mustard; carotenoids; glucosinolate; antioxidants; nutritional quality; postharvest
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Honghao Lv

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: vegetable crops; germplasm innovation; genetic breeding; molecular biology; genome editing; plant resistance; haploid induction; male sterility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brassicas are among the most economically valuable corps in the Cruciferae family, containing multiple important vegetables, oils and ornamental crops. Brassica includes three basic diploid species, namely Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa, AA, 2n=20), black mustard (B. nigra, BB, 2n=16) and cabbage (B. oleracea, CC, 2n=18), and three tetraploid hybrid species: oilseed rapes (B. napus, AACC, 2n=38), mustard (B. juncea, AABB, 2n=36), and Ethiopian mustard (B. carinata, BBCC, 2n=34). Several subspecies, varieties and different ecotypes of Brassica have been derived by interspecific hybridization within the genus, which greatly enriches the genetic resources of Brassica and provides an excellent model for the study of polyploid speciation, evolution and selection.

The Brassica genus boasts immense economic, ecological, and nutritional value. As staple crops, Brassica species contribute significantly to food security. Beyond their culinary uses, Brassicas offer various industrial applications, such as bioactive compound extraction from broccoli or mustard seeds. Moreover, these plants play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture, with some species exhibiting natural pest resistance and soil improvement properties. In recent years, genome sequencing and various omics technologies have gradually clarified the metabolic pathways and regulatory networks of secondary metabolites of Brassica, providing a way to improve the nutritional quality and flavor or the resistance of brassica crops to environmental stress through metabolic engineering methods.

For this Special Issue, we welcome any original research articles, reviews, short notes, or opinion articles that highlight metabolic regulation and genetic improvement of Brassica crops, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, signal regulation network and genome editing. This special issue welcomes contributions that explore various aspects of the Brassica genus, including but not limited to taxonomy, genetics, breeding, agronomy, phytochemistry, and biotechnology. Manuscripts elucidating phylogeny and taxonomy of Brassica crops, metabolite synthesis and regulation network, as well as physiological traits (nutritional quality, special flavor), and biotic/abiotic stress responses of Brassica species are particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Bo Sun
Dr. Honghao Lv
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • brassica crop
  • genomics
  • transcriptomics
  • proteomics
  • metabolomics
  • gene editing
  • metabolite synthesis and regulation
  • phylogeny and taxonomy
  • physiological traits
  • biotic/abiotic stresses
  • biotechnology

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 8769 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Rfo-Mediated Network in Regulating Fertility Restoration in Brassica oleracea
by Miaomiao Xing, Yuanyuan Xu, Yuyu Lu, Jiyong Yan and Aisong Zeng
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12026; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212026 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 362
Abstract
Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines play a crucial role in the utilization of heterosis. However, valuable traits, such as disease resistance genes from Ogura CMS hybrids, are challenging to incorporate for germplasm innovation, particularly in cabbage and broccoli. To date, the Rfo [...] Read more.
Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines play a crucial role in the utilization of heterosis. However, valuable traits, such as disease resistance genes from Ogura CMS hybrids, are challenging to incorporate for germplasm innovation, particularly in cabbage and broccoli. To date, the Rfo-mediated network regulating fertility restoration remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of broccoli flower buds from Ogura CMS SFB45 and its Rfo-transgenic fertility restoration line, pRfo, at different stages of pollen development. Gene Ontology (GO) terms such as “pollen exine formation”, “flavonoid metabolic and biosynthetic processes”, and “pollen wall assembly”, along with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways including “flavonoid biosynthesis”, “MAPK signaling pathway-plant”, and “ABC transporters”, were significantly enriched. We identified five differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in tapetum-mediated callose metabolism, thirty-four DEGs related to tapetum-mediated pollen wall formation, three DEGs regulating tapetum programmed cell death (PCD), five MPKs encoding DEGs, and twelve DEGs associated with oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays demonstrated that RFO directly interacts with ORF138 at the protein level. These findings provide valuable insights into the fertility recovery mechanisms regulated by Rfo in broccoli and offer important clues for breeders aiming to enhance Ogura CMS hybrids in Brassica oleracea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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14 pages, 5517 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and WGCNA Analyses Reveal Key Genes Regulating Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Purple Sprout of Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L. ssp. chinensis)
by Chaomin Xu, Hui Huang, Chen Tan, Liwei Gao, Shubei Wan, Bo Zhu, Daozong Chen and Bin Zhu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(21), 11736; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111736 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 518
Abstract
Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins, fibre, and nutrients and is one of the primary vegetables consumed in autumn and winter in South Asia. ‘Purple pak choi’ sprouts are particularly rich in anthocyanins and are favoured by consumers. However, reports on the regulation [...] Read more.
Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins, fibre, and nutrients and is one of the primary vegetables consumed in autumn and winter in South Asia. ‘Purple pak choi’ sprouts are particularly rich in anthocyanins and are favoured by consumers. However, reports on the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in purple pak choi sprouts do not exist. In this study, we examined the phenotypic development of purple pak choi sprouts after germination. The total anthocyanin content increased from 0.02 to 0.52 mg/g FW from days 0 to 6. RNA-seq data analysis revealed an increase in differentially expressed genes corresponding to the development of purple pak choi sprouts. Expression pattern analysis of genes associated with the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway revealed a significant upregulation of structural genes during the purple phase, suggesting that the transcription factors PAP2 and MYBL2 may play crucial regulatory roles. BraPAP2.A03, BraTT8.A09, and BraMYBL2.A07 exhibited strong interactions with key genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, specifically BraDFR.A09. Furthermore, the expression of BraPAP2.A03 aligned with the expression patterns of most anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes, whereas those of BraTT8.A09 and BraMYBL2.A07 corresponded with the expression pattern of BraDFR.A09. These results provide valuable insights into regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in purple pak choi sprouts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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17 pages, 15092 KiB  
Article
Roles of Germin-like Protein Family in Response to Seed Germination and Shoot Branching in Brassica napus
by Qian Zhang, Luman Wang, Xinfa Wang, Jiangwei Qiao and Hanzhong Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(21), 11518; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111518 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Germin-like proteins (GLPs) play important roles in the regulation of various plant development processes, such as seed vigor, root and leaf development and disease resistance, while the roles of GLPs on agronomic traits are rarely studied in Brassica napus. Here, we identified [...] Read more.
Germin-like proteins (GLPs) play important roles in the regulation of various plant development processes, such as seed vigor, root and leaf development and disease resistance, while the roles of GLPs on agronomic traits are rarely studied in Brassica napus. Here, we identified GLPs family genes in rapeseed and analyzed their potential functions. There are 77 GLPs family genes (BnGLPs) in the Zhongshuang11 rapeseed reference genome, divided into a, b, c, d, e, f six subfamilies. Tissue expression profile analysis of BnGLPs revealed the following: e subfamily genes were highly expressed in early stages of silique, cotyledon, vegetative rosette and leaf development; f subfamily genes were highly expressed in seed development; genes of a subfamily were mainly expressed in the root; and genes of b, c, d subfamily exhibited low-level or no expression in above mentioned tissues. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed that the transcripts of two f subfamily members decreased dramatically during seed germination, suggesting that f subfamily proteins may play vital roles in the early stage of seed germination. Transcriptome analysis of axillary buds in sequential developing stages revealed that the transcripts of eight e subfamily genes showed a rapid increase at the beginning of shoot branching, implying that the e subfamily members played vital roles in branch development. These results demonstrate that rapeseed BnGLPs likely play essential roles in seedling development, root development and plant architecture, indicating that harnessing certain BnGLPs may contribute to the improvement of rapeseed yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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18 pages, 5818 KiB  
Article
Integrated Analysis of Metabolome and Transcriptome Reveals the Effect of Burdock Fructooligosaccharide on the Quality of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. Pekinensis)
by Xin Fu, Lixia Wang, Chenwen Liu, Yuxiang Liu, Xiaolong Li, Tiantian Yao, Jian Jiao, Rui Shu, Jingjuan Li, Yihui Zhang, Fengde Wang and Jianwei Gao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(21), 11459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252111459 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 476
Abstract
Burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) is fructose with a low polymerization degree, which could improve the immunity to pathogens, quality, and stress resistance of vegetables. Still, there are no studies on applying BFO in Chinese cabbage. In this study, the effects of exogenous BFO sprayed [...] Read more.
Burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) is fructose with a low polymerization degree, which could improve the immunity to pathogens, quality, and stress resistance of vegetables. Still, there are no studies on applying BFO in Chinese cabbage. In this study, the effects of exogenous BFO sprayed with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 30 g·L−1) on the growth and soluble sugar content of Chinese cabbage seedlings were determined. The result showed that 10 g·L−1 was the appropriate spraying concentration. Based on metabolome analysis, a total of 220 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were found, among which flavonoid metabolites, glucosinolate metabolites, and soluble sugar-related metabolites were the key metabolites involved in improving the quality of Chinese cabbage caused by BFO. Further combination analysis with transcriptome, trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (CYP73A5), and chalcone synthase 1 (CHS1) were more closely associated with the DAMs of flavonoid biosynthesis. Sulfotransferases 18 (SOT18), Branched-chain amino acid amino transferases 6 (BCAT6), and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP83A1) were the key genes in glucosinolate biosynthesis. Hexokinase (HxK1), beta-glucosidase 8 (BGL08), invertase 3 (INV3), beta-glucosidase 3B (BGL3B), and sucrose phosphate synthase 1 (SPS1) were significantly upregulated, potentially playing crucial roles in the soluble sugar metabolism. In conclusion, these results provided an understanding of the effects of BFO on the expression of genes and the accumulation of metabolites related to quality formation in Chinese cabbage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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13 pages, 3999 KiB  
Article
Genetic Mapping and Characterization of the Clubroot Resistance Gene BraPb8.3 in Brassica rapa
by Liyan Kong, Yi Yang, Yufei Zhang, Zongxiang Zhan and Zhongyun Piao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10462; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910462 - 28 Sep 2024
Viewed by 586
Abstract
Clubroot, a significant soil-borne disease, severely impacts the productivity of cruciferous crops. The identification and development of clubroot resistance (CR) genes are crucial for mitigating this disease. This study investigated the genetic inheritance of clubroot resistance within an F2 progeny derived from [...] Read more.
Clubroot, a significant soil-borne disease, severely impacts the productivity of cruciferous crops. The identification and development of clubroot resistance (CR) genes are crucial for mitigating this disease. This study investigated the genetic inheritance of clubroot resistance within an F2 progeny derived from the cross of a resistant parent, designated “377”, and a susceptible parent, designated “12A”. Notably, “377” exhibited robust resistance to the “KEL-23” strain of Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causative agent of clubroot. Genetic analyses suggested that the observed resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene. Through Bulked Segregant Analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) and preliminary gene mapping, we localized the CR gene locus, designated as BraPb8.3, to a 1.30 Mb genomic segment on chromosome A08, flanked by the markers “333” and “sau332-1”. Further fine mapping precisely narrowed down the position of BraPb8.3 to a 173.8 kb region between the markers “srt8-65” and “srt8-25”, where we identified 22 genes, including Bra020861 with a TIR-NBS-LRR domain and Bra020876 with an LRR domain. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses confirmed that both Bra020861 and Bra020876 exhibit increased expression levels in the resistant parent “377” following inoculation with P. brassicae, thereby underscoring their potential as key genes implicated in BraPb8.3-mediated clubroot resistance. This study not only identifies molecular markers associated with BraPb8.3 but also enriches the genetic resources available for breeding programs aimed at enhancing resistance to clubroot. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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20 pages, 9434 KiB  
Article
Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Defense Mechanism of Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) against Plasmodiophora brassicae Infection
by Xiaochun Wei, Yingyi Du, Wenjing Zhang, Yanyan Zhao, Shuangjuan Yang, Henan Su, Zhiyong Wang, Fang Wei, Baoming Tian, Haohui Yang, Xiaowei Zhang and Yuxiang Yuan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910440 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 665
Abstract
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) ranks among the most cultivated and consumed vegetables in China. A major threat to its production is Plasmodiophora brassicae, which causes large root tumors, obstructing nutrient and water absorption and resulting in plant withering. [...] Read more.
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) ranks among the most cultivated and consumed vegetables in China. A major threat to its production is Plasmodiophora brassicae, which causes large root tumors, obstructing nutrient and water absorption and resulting in plant withering. This study used a widely targeted metabolome technique to identify resistance-related metabolites in resistant (DH40R) and susceptible (DH199S) Chinese cabbage varieties after inoculation with P. brassicae. This study analyzed disease-related metabolites during different periods, identifying 257 metabolites linked to resistance, enriched in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, and 248 metabolites linked to susceptibility, enriched in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway. Key metabolites and genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway were upregulated at 5 days post-inoculation (DPI), suggesting their role in disease resistance. In the arachidonic acid pathway, linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid were upregulated at 5 and 22 DPI in resistant plants, while arachidonic acid was upregulated at 22 DPI in susceptible plants, leading to the conclusion that arachidonic acid may be a response substance in susceptible plants after inoculation. Many genes enriched in these pathways were differentially expressed in DH40R and DH199S. The research provided insights into the defense mechanisms of Chinese cabbage against P. brassicae through combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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15 pages, 5930 KiB  
Article
Identification and Functional Exploration of BraGASA Genes Reveal Their Potential Roles in Drought Stress Tolerance and Sexual Reproduction in Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis
by Yanting Zhao, Xinjie Sun, Jingyuan Zhou, Lixuan Liu, Li Huang and Qizan Hu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9643; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179643 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 519
Abstract
Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis sequences (GASAs) are a subset of the gibberellin (GA)-regulated gene family and play crucial roles in various physiological processes. However, the GASA genes in Brassica rapa have not yet been documented. In this study, we identified and characterized [...] Read more.
Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis sequences (GASAs) are a subset of the gibberellin (GA)-regulated gene family and play crucial roles in various physiological processes. However, the GASA genes in Brassica rapa have not yet been documented. In this study, we identified and characterized 16 GASA genes in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis). Analysis of the conserved motifs revealed significant conservation within the activation segment of BraGASA genes. This gene family contains numerous promoter elements associated with abiotic stress tolerance, including those for abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Expression profiling revealed the presence of these genes in various tissues, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, siliques, and callus tissues. When plants were exposed to drought stress, the expression of BraGASA3 decreased notably in drought-sensitive genotypes compared to their wild-type counterparts, highlighting the potentially crucial role of BraGASA3 in drought stress. Additionally, BraGASAs exhibited various functions in sexual reproduction dynamics. The findings contribute to the understanding of the function of BraGASAs and provide valuable insights for further exploration of the GASA gene function of the BraGASA gene in Chinese cabbage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Brassica Crop Metabolism and Genetics)
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