Plant Functional Genomics and Breeding

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2025 | Viewed by 2358

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The main goals of breeders are improving plant yield, resistance, and quality. The study of plant functional genomics is a crucial approach in biological breeding. Understanding plant functional genomics sheds insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms regulating crucial traits, such as yield, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, such as diseases, pests, and environmental stresses. This knowledge is instrumental in developing enhanced quantity and quality of elite plant varieties, guaranteeing an adequate and stable food supply. The goal of this Special Issue, “Plant Functional Genomics and Breeding” in Life, is to provide an overview of the latest research and discoveries in the functional genomics of plants, including cloning novel genes involved in yield, resistance, and quality. The study encompasses the functional analysis of these genes and investigates their applications in biological breeding. We welcome all types of submissions, including original research, reviews, and methodologies in this field, including (but not limited to) research covering:

  • Mining genes involved in plant development;
  • Uncovering the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant development;
  • Genetic improvement plant growth via biotechnologies.

Dr. Yifeng Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional genomics
  • biological breeding
  • gene cloning
  • molecular network
  • genetic improvement

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 5610 KiB  
Article
Reproductive Performance of the Alpine Plant Species Ranunculus kuepferi in a Climatic Elevation Gradient: Apomictic Tetraploids Do Not Show a General Fitness Advantage over Sexual Diploids
by Ursula Ladinig, Elvira Hörandl, Simone Klatt and Johanna Wagner
Life 2024, 14(9), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091202 - 22 Sep 2024
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Abstract
Previous studies on the mountain plant Ranunculus kuepferi concluded that apomictic self-compatible tetraploids have experienced a niche shift toward a colder climate during the Holocene, which suggests a fitness advantage over the sexual, self-sterile diploid parents under cold and stressful high-mountain conditions. However, [...] Read more.
Previous studies on the mountain plant Ranunculus kuepferi concluded that apomictic self-compatible tetraploids have experienced a niche shift toward a colder climate during the Holocene, which suggests a fitness advantage over the sexual, self-sterile diploid parents under cold and stressful high-mountain conditions. However, there is still a lack of information on whether reproductive development would be advantageous for tetraploids. Here, we report on microsporogenesis, megagametogenesis, the dynamics of flower and seed development, and the consequences for reproductive success in a common garden experiment along a 1000 m climatic elevation gradient and in natural populations. Flower buds were initiated in the year preceding anthesis and passed winter in a pre-meiotic stage. Flower morphology differed in the known cytotype-specific way in that tetraploid flowers produced about twice as many carpels and fewer petals, stamens, and pollen grains than diploid flowers. Tetraploids developed precociously aposporous embryo sacs and showed a high rate of developmental disturbances. Sexual seed formation prevailed in diploids and pseudogamous apomixis in tetraploids. Along the elevation gradient, stigma pollen load, pollen performance, and seed output decreased. Combinations of reproductive traits, namely, bypass of meiosis irregularities and uniparental reproduction, might have promoted the vast expansion of apomictic R. kuepferi lines across the European Alps. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Functional Genomics and Breeding)
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14 pages, 3400 KiB  
Article
Detection of Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Alkaline Tolerance Using Recombinant Inbred Line Population Derived from Longdao5 × Zhongyouzao8 at Seedling Stage
by Xijuan Zhang, Kai Liu, Chuanming Yang, Benfu Hou, Xianli Yang, Lizhi Wang, Shize Cui, Yongcai Lai, Zhugang Li and Shukun Jiang
Life 2024, 14(9), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14091151 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 636
Abstract
Salt–alkaline stress is one of the most stressful occurrences, causing negative effects on plant development and agricultural yield. Identifying and utilizing genes that affect alkaline tolerance is an excellent approach to accelerate breeding processes and meet the needs for remediating saline–alkaline soil. Here, [...] Read more.
Salt–alkaline stress is one of the most stressful occurrences, causing negative effects on plant development and agricultural yield. Identifying and utilizing genes that affect alkaline tolerance is an excellent approach to accelerate breeding processes and meet the needs for remediating saline–alkaline soil. Here, we employed a mapping population of 176 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) produced from a cross between alkali-tolerant Longdao5 and alkali-sensitive Zhongyouzao8 to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) determining alkali tolerance at the seedling stage. For the evaluation of alkali tolerance, the recovered seedling’s average alkali tolerance index (ATI), root number (RN), root length (RL), seedling dry weight (SW), root dry weight (RW), and seedling height (SH) were assessed, together with their relative alkaline damage rate. Under alkaline stress, the ATI was substantially negative connected with the root number, seedling height, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight; however, it was considerably positive correlated with the relative alkaline damage rate of the root number and root dry weight. A total of 13 QTLs for the root number, root length, seedling height, seedling dry weight, root dry weight, and alkali tolerance index under alkaline stress were identified, which were distributed across chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8. All of these QTLs formed two QTL clusters for alkali tolerance on chromosome 5 and chromosome 7, designated AT5 and AT7, respectively. Nine QTLs were identified for the relative alkaline damage rate of the root number, root length, seedling height, seedling dry weight, and root dry weight under alkali stress. These QTLs were located on chromosome 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12. In conclusion, these findings further strengthen our knowledge about rice’s genetic mechanisms for alkaline tolerance. This research offers clues to accelerate breeding programs for new alkaline-tolerance rice varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Functional Genomics and Breeding)
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15 pages, 2520 KiB  
Article
Cataloging the Genetic Response: Unveiling Drought-Responsive Gene Expression in Oil Tea Camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) through Transcriptomics
by Zhen Zhang, Yanming Xu, Caixia Liu, Longsheng Chen, Ying Zhang, Zhilong He, Rui Wang, Chengfeng Xun, Yushen Ma, Xiaokang Yuan, Xiangnan Wang, Yongzhong Chen and Xiaohu Yang
Life 2024, 14(8), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14080989 - 8 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Drought stress is a critical environmental factor that significantly impacts plant growth and productivity. However, the transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes in response to drought stress in Camellia oleifera Abel. is still unclear. This study analyzed the transcriptome sequencing data of C. [...] Read more.
Drought stress is a critical environmental factor that significantly impacts plant growth and productivity. However, the transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes in response to drought stress in Camellia oleifera Abel. is still unclear. This study analyzed the transcriptome sequencing data of C. oleifera under drought treatments. A total of 20,674 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under drought stress, with the number of DEGs increasing with the duration of drought. Specifically, 11,793 and 18,046 DEGs were detected after 8 and 15 days of drought treatment, respectively, including numerous upregulated and downregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily involved in various biological processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that carbon metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, proteasome, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism were the main affected pathways. Among the DEGs, 376 protein kinases, 42 proteases, 168 transcription factor (TF) genes, and 152 other potential functional genes were identified, which may play significant roles in the drought response of C. oleifera. The expression of relevant functional genes was further validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These findings contribute to the comprehension of drought tolerance mechanisms in C. oleifera and bolster the identification of drought-resistant genes for molecular breeding purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Functional Genomics and Breeding)
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