Bee pollination enhances crop productivity and food security globally. However, its impact on pollen performance within pistil tissues and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, artificial self-pollination yielded the highest pollen deposition on stigmas (119879.33 ± 43037.92 grains), followed by bee pollination (95464.60 ± 3985.01 grains). Conversely, bee pollination achieved the highest seed set rate (55.21% ± 1.84%), significantly exceeding the artificial self-pollination rate (7.27% ± 1.87%). A positive correlation was observed between pollen load on the stigmatic pollination band and seed set rate. Bee pollination delivers ample high-quality pollen to the stigmas of oil tree peony, enhancing seed production. Moreover, a trend high correlation was observed between pollen deposition on the stigmatic pollination band and seed set rate. Fluorescence microscopy and endogenous hormone analyses revealed that bee pollination stimulated a rapid increase in ZR, IAA, and GA3 levels in the pistil tissues, promoting pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Transcriptome analysis identified PoFAR2, a key candidate gene involved in pollen development, in the pistil tissues after bee pollination. This gene exhibits high homology with genes found in other crops. The PoFAR2 gene localizes to the cell membrane, validating earlier predictions, and exhibits strong transcriptional activity. Silencing PoFAR2 disrupts pollen development in Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' manifesting as structural defects in pollen walls and significantly reduces pollen viability. In conclusion, bees enhance fertilization in oil tree peony by delivering high-quality pollen that promotes germination and pollen tube growth. Crucially, we identified PoFAR2, a membrane-localized key gene regulating pollen development. This study establishes a crucial foundation for deciphering the molecular mechanisms by which bee pollination and phytohormone signaling mediate pollen development.
{"title":"Bee-mediated pollination enhances fruit set and seed yield in Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan': insights into physiological and molecular mechanisms.","authors":"Kai-Yue Zhang,Yu-Ying Li,Jun-Yi Bao,Xiang-Nan He,Lin-Feng Chen,Li-Li Guo,Da-Long Guo,Cheng-Wei Song,Chun-Ling He,Xiao-Gai Hou","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf224","url":null,"abstract":"Bee pollination enhances crop productivity and food security globally. However, its impact on pollen performance within pistil tissues and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, artificial self-pollination yielded the highest pollen deposition on stigmas (119879.33 ± 43037.92 grains), followed by bee pollination (95464.60 ± 3985.01 grains). Conversely, bee pollination achieved the highest seed set rate (55.21% ± 1.84%), significantly exceeding the artificial self-pollination rate (7.27% ± 1.87%). A positive correlation was observed between pollen load on the stigmatic pollination band and seed set rate. Bee pollination delivers ample high-quality pollen to the stigmas of oil tree peony, enhancing seed production. Moreover, a trend high correlation was observed between pollen deposition on the stigmatic pollination band and seed set rate. Fluorescence microscopy and endogenous hormone analyses revealed that bee pollination stimulated a rapid increase in ZR, IAA, and GA3 levels in the pistil tissues, promoting pollen germination and pollen tube growth. Transcriptome analysis identified PoFAR2, a key candidate gene involved in pollen development, in the pistil tissues after bee pollination. This gene exhibits high homology with genes found in other crops. The PoFAR2 gene localizes to the cell membrane, validating earlier predictions, and exhibits strong transcriptional activity. Silencing PoFAR2 disrupts pollen development in Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' manifesting as structural defects in pollen walls and significantly reduces pollen viability. In conclusion, bees enhance fertilization in oil tree peony by delivering high-quality pollen that promotes germination and pollen tube growth. Crucially, we identified PoFAR2, a membrane-localized key gene regulating pollen development. This study establishes a crucial foundation for deciphering the molecular mechanisms by which bee pollination and phytohormone signaling mediate pollen development.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"152 1","pages":"uhaf224"},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In most fleshy fruit, malate and citrate represent the predominant organic acids, serving as key determinants of flavor and nutritional quality. Their concentrations undergo dynamic changes driven by complex biosynthetic pathways and multilayered genetic regulation. Beyond their impact on taste, these organic acids have pleiotropic effects, influencing secondary metabolism and postharvest performance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanism governing malate and citrate metabolism, including genes responsible for biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport, as well as regulatory networks orchestrated by transcription factors, environmental factors, and phytohormones such as ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA), auxin, gibberellin (GA), and salicylic acid (SA) during fruit development and ripening. We also explored how the dynamics of citrate and malate interact with critical quality attributes, including starch metabolism, textural properties, and postharvest performance, while highlighting domestication-selected genes that influence acidity. Finally, we propose an integrative model delineates the multifactorial regulation of organic acid metabolism in fleshy fruits.
{"title":"Molecular orchestration of malate and citrate metabolism: regulatory networks governing organic acid dynamics and fruit quality attributes","authors":"Bei-Ling Fu, Li-Yu Chen","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf292","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf292","url":null,"abstract":"In most fleshy fruit, malate and citrate represent the predominant organic acids, serving as key determinants of flavor and nutritional quality. Their concentrations undergo dynamic changes driven by complex biosynthetic pathways and multilayered genetic regulation. Beyond their impact on taste, these organic acids have pleiotropic effects, influencing secondary metabolism and postharvest performance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanism governing malate and citrate metabolism, including genes responsible for biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport, as well as regulatory networks orchestrated by transcription factors, environmental factors, and phytohormones such as ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA), auxin, gibberellin (GA), and salicylic acid (SA) during fruit development and ripening. We also explored how the dynamics of citrate and malate interact with critical quality attributes, including starch metabolism, textural properties, and postharvest performance, while highlighting domestication-selected genes that influence acidity. Finally, we propose an integrative model delineates the multifactorial regulation of organic acid metabolism in fleshy fruits.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chunmei He, Danqi Zeng, Mingze Zhang, Can Si, Shoujie Li, Jing Chen, Hongyu Shi, Guangyi Dai, Zhong-Jian Liu, Jun Duan
Dendrobium officinale, a valuable medicinal plant, contains bioactive mannan polysaccharides that contribute to human health and serve as key quality markers for D. officinale products. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying bioactive polysaccharide biosynthesis in plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified an anthocyanin-specific regulator, DoMYB75, as a key transcriptional activator of mannan polysaccharide biosynthesis in D. officinale. We demonstrated that DoMYB75 directly binds to the promoters of CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE A genes (DoCSLAs) and activate their expression. Genetic evidence showed that DoMYB75 silencing reduced mannose and glucose content of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPs) and downregulated DoCSLAs expression, whereas DoMYB75 overexpression significantly increased these monosaccharide levels and upregulated DoCSLAs expression. Interestingly, Ubi:DoMYB75 transgenic transformants exhibited enhanced anthocyanin accumulation. Further investigation revealed that DoMYB75 promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis by directly binding to and activating the DoANS promoter. Additionally, DoMYB75 overexpression markedly improved total antioxidant capacity and drought tolerance. Our findings provide novel insights into the dual regulatory role of MYB transcription factors in coordinating polysaccharide and anthocyanin biosynthesis, as well as the adaptive mechanisms of Dendrobium orchids under drought stress.
{"title":"DoMYB75 coordinately regulates polysaccharide and anthocyanin biosynthesis in Dendrobium officinale","authors":"Chunmei He, Danqi Zeng, Mingze Zhang, Can Si, Shoujie Li, Jing Chen, Hongyu Shi, Guangyi Dai, Zhong-Jian Liu, Jun Duan","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf291","url":null,"abstract":"Dendrobium officinale, a valuable medicinal plant, contains bioactive mannan polysaccharides that contribute to human health and serve as key quality markers for D. officinale products. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying bioactive polysaccharide biosynthesis in plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified an anthocyanin-specific regulator, DoMYB75, as a key transcriptional activator of mannan polysaccharide biosynthesis in D. officinale. We demonstrated that DoMYB75 directly binds to the promoters of CELLULOSE SYNTHASE-LIKE A genes (DoCSLAs) and activate their expression. Genetic evidence showed that DoMYB75 silencing reduced mannose and glucose content of water-soluble polysaccharides (WSPs) and downregulated DoCSLAs expression, whereas DoMYB75 overexpression significantly increased these monosaccharide levels and upregulated DoCSLAs expression. Interestingly, Ubi:DoMYB75 transgenic transformants exhibited enhanced anthocyanin accumulation. Further investigation revealed that DoMYB75 promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis by directly binding to and activating the DoANS promoter. Additionally, DoMYB75 overexpression markedly improved total antioxidant capacity and drought tolerance. Our findings provide novel insights into the dual regulatory role of MYB transcription factors in coordinating polysaccharide and anthocyanin biosynthesis, as well as the adaptive mechanisms of Dendrobium orchids under drought stress.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yehia Abouseif, Akebaierjiang Kadeer, Cao Haishun, Muhammad Mohsin Kaleem, Michitaka Notaguchi, Xie Qifan, Qing Jun, Zhilong Bie, Yuan Huang
Grafting in watermelon using traditional methods often causes rootstock regrowth, increasing labor demand and production costs. Although cotyledon-less splice grafting eliminates regrowth by excising meristem tissue, its success rate has consistently been lower. Here, we developed a novel cotyledon-less splice grafting methodology that achieved high survival rates by modulating pre-grafting light intensities from 100 to 300 μmol·m-2·s-1 for scion and rootstock, generating four experimental groups: HS/HR (high-light intensity scion/high-light intensity rootstock), HS/LR (high-light intensity scion/low-light intensity rootstock), LS/HR (low-light intensity scion/high-light intensity rootstock), and LS/LR (low-light intensity scion/low-light intensity rootstock). The results demonstrated that HS/HR and LS/HR exhibited the highest survival rates, nearly 98%, and displayed high seedling quality, markedly enhanced graft-union adhesion, and accelerated vascular reconnection. Pretreatment of high light intensity increased starch accumulation in rootstock hypocotyls, enhancing tolerance to carbon starvation after grafting especially in the cotyledon-less grafts. Metabolomic analysis identified elevated levels of key metabolites, including auxins, cytokinins, D-galactose, galactinol, starch, cinnamic acid, M-coumaric acid, and vanilloloside. Transcriptomic profiling revealed significant enrichment of plant hormone signal, starch and sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways in scion and rootstock tissues underpinning hormonal regulation, carbohydrate metabolism and lignin biosynthesis under high-light conditions. WGCNA identified key co-expression modules associated with graft healing traits and key metabolites. Furthermore, graft healing related genes (PXY, NAC086, CALS7, and TMO6) were upregulated. In conclusion, our findings underscore the critical role of light intensity in orchestrating transcriptional and metabolic networks to optimize graft healing, providing a physiological and molecular foundation for improving cotyledon-less grafting efficiency.
{"title":"Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals the molecular mechanism of light intensity-enhanced healing in cotyledon-less splice grafted watermelon","authors":"Yehia Abouseif, Akebaierjiang Kadeer, Cao Haishun, Muhammad Mohsin Kaleem, Michitaka Notaguchi, Xie Qifan, Qing Jun, Zhilong Bie, Yuan Huang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf293","url":null,"abstract":"Grafting in watermelon using traditional methods often causes rootstock regrowth, increasing labor demand and production costs. Although cotyledon-less splice grafting eliminates regrowth by excising meristem tissue, its success rate has consistently been lower. Here, we developed a novel cotyledon-less splice grafting methodology that achieved high survival rates by modulating pre-grafting light intensities from 100 to 300 μmol·m-2·s-1 for scion and rootstock, generating four experimental groups: HS/HR (high-light intensity scion/high-light intensity rootstock), HS/LR (high-light intensity scion/low-light intensity rootstock), LS/HR (low-light intensity scion/high-light intensity rootstock), and LS/LR (low-light intensity scion/low-light intensity rootstock). The results demonstrated that HS/HR and LS/HR exhibited the highest survival rates, nearly 98%, and displayed high seedling quality, markedly enhanced graft-union adhesion, and accelerated vascular reconnection. Pretreatment of high light intensity increased starch accumulation in rootstock hypocotyls, enhancing tolerance to carbon starvation after grafting especially in the cotyledon-less grafts. Metabolomic analysis identified elevated levels of key metabolites, including auxins, cytokinins, D-galactose, galactinol, starch, cinnamic acid, M-coumaric acid, and vanilloloside. Transcriptomic profiling revealed significant enrichment of plant hormone signal, starch and sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways in scion and rootstock tissues underpinning hormonal regulation, carbohydrate metabolism and lignin biosynthesis under high-light conditions. WGCNA identified key co-expression modules associated with graft healing traits and key metabolites. Furthermore, graft healing related genes (PXY, NAC086, CALS7, and TMO6) were upregulated. In conclusion, our findings underscore the critical role of light intensity in orchestrating transcriptional and metabolic networks to optimize graft healing, providing a physiological and molecular foundation for improving cotyledon-less grafting efficiency.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145397431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Summary Chrysanthemum, a globally renowned economic crop, primarily relies on vegetative propagation methods such as cutting for commercial cultivation. However, certain varieties with exceptional ornamental qualities often encounter difficulties in widespread adoption due to poor rooting ability and suboptimal root quality. The genetic underpinnings of rooting ability in chrysanthemum cuttings have remained largely unexplored. This study marks a significant advancement in this field. By evaluating 11 rooting traits across a diverse panel of 188 chrysanthemum genotypes, we found that spray cut chrysanthemums (SCC) exhibit superior rooting ability compared to other cultivated types and wild species. Selective sweep analysis identified 534 selected genomic regions potentially linked to rooting traits during the domestication and improvement of chrysanthemums. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on four key rooting traits - total root length (TL), root surface area (SA), average root diameter (AD), and number of roots (NR) - using multiple models discovered 71 significant SNPs and 98 candidate genes, including 21 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified via transcriptomic sequencing. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further revealed two key modules (yellow and lightyellow) related to rooting traits. By integrating GWAS, transcriptomic data, and functional verification, we pinpointed the candidate gene CmNRAMP3 as a negative regulator of rooting ability. These findings substantially enrich our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying rooting ability in chrysanthemum cuttings and provide a promising gene pool for improving rooting traits in future breeding programs.
{"title":"Elucidation of the genetic basis underlying rooting ability in vegetatively propagated chrysanthemum","authors":"Xuefeng Zhang, Wei Sun, Jiangshuo Su, Ying Li, Jiafu Jiang, Zhiyong Guan, Fadi Chen, Weimin Fang, Fei Zhang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf289","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Chrysanthemum, a globally renowned economic crop, primarily relies on vegetative propagation methods such as cutting for commercial cultivation. However, certain varieties with exceptional ornamental qualities often encounter difficulties in widespread adoption due to poor rooting ability and suboptimal root quality. The genetic underpinnings of rooting ability in chrysanthemum cuttings have remained largely unexplored. This study marks a significant advancement in this field. By evaluating 11 rooting traits across a diverse panel of 188 chrysanthemum genotypes, we found that spray cut chrysanthemums (SCC) exhibit superior rooting ability compared to other cultivated types and wild species. Selective sweep analysis identified 534 selected genomic regions potentially linked to rooting traits during the domestication and improvement of chrysanthemums. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted on four key rooting traits - total root length (TL), root surface area (SA), average root diameter (AD), and number of roots (NR) - using multiple models discovered 71 significant SNPs and 98 candidate genes, including 21 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified via transcriptomic sequencing. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further revealed two key modules (yellow and lightyellow) related to rooting traits. By integrating GWAS, transcriptomic data, and functional verification, we pinpointed the candidate gene CmNRAMP3 as a negative regulator of rooting ability. These findings substantially enrich our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying rooting ability in chrysanthemum cuttings and provide a promising gene pool for improving rooting traits in future breeding programs.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qian Wang, Yanhao Yu, Di Mei, Yibo Yang, Yanmeng Huang, Xia Mao, Xulan Shang, Yinquan Qu, Xiangxiang Fu
Cyclocarya paliurus is a medicinal plant traditionally used in China to treat hypertension and diabetes. It exhibits heterodichogamy, a dimorphic mating system with protogynous and protandrous morphs, which are based on the maturation sequence of female and male flowers within the same plant. DNA methylation, a crucial epigenetic modification in regulating plant flowering, is poorly characterized in heterodichogamous species. Here, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and transcriptome analyses were performed on female and male flower buds from two morphs during inflorescence elongation in diploid C. paliurus. Single-base methylation maps revealed higher DNA methylation levels in early-flowering samples, particularly in CHH contexts, which may be dynamically regulated by the interplay between CpDRM-D2 and CpDME-D1. Candidate genes involved in the photoperiod, gibberellin (GA), and trehalose-6-phosphate (Tre6P) signaling pathways were identified based on their transcriptional and methylation dynamics across floral buds. Heterologous overexpression of CpHd16, CpTPPD, and CpFTIP3 in Arabidopsis delayed flowering. Furthermore, field application of the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) to diploid C. paliurus delayed the flowering of both male and female flowers and altered methylation levels within the CpTPPD promoter and CpFTIP3 gene body. These epigenetic changes, accompanied by downregulated CpTPPD and upregulated CpFTIP3 expression, suggest that these genes may mediate C. paliurus flowering via methylation-dependent regulation. This study provides novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of heterodichogamous flowering and lays a theoretical foundation for epigenetic research in C. paliurus.
{"title":"Differential methylation analysis of floral buds between two morphs unravels the contributions of key genes to flowering time in heterodichogamous Cyclocarya paliurus","authors":"Qian Wang, Yanhao Yu, Di Mei, Yibo Yang, Yanmeng Huang, Xia Mao, Xulan Shang, Yinquan Qu, Xiangxiang Fu","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf296","url":null,"abstract":"Cyclocarya paliurus is a medicinal plant traditionally used in China to treat hypertension and diabetes. It exhibits heterodichogamy, a dimorphic mating system with protogynous and protandrous morphs, which are based on the maturation sequence of female and male flowers within the same plant. DNA methylation, a crucial epigenetic modification in regulating plant flowering, is poorly characterized in heterodichogamous species. Here, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and transcriptome analyses were performed on female and male flower buds from two morphs during inflorescence elongation in diploid C. paliurus. Single-base methylation maps revealed higher DNA methylation levels in early-flowering samples, particularly in CHH contexts, which may be dynamically regulated by the interplay between CpDRM-D2 and CpDME-D1. Candidate genes involved in the photoperiod, gibberellin (GA), and trehalose-6-phosphate (Tre6P) signaling pathways were identified based on their transcriptional and methylation dynamics across floral buds. Heterologous overexpression of CpHd16, CpTPPD, and CpFTIP3 in Arabidopsis delayed flowering. Furthermore, field application of the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) to diploid C. paliurus delayed the flowering of both male and female flowers and altered methylation levels within the CpTPPD promoter and CpFTIP3 gene body. These epigenetic changes, accompanied by downregulated CpTPPD and upregulated CpFTIP3 expression, suggest that these genes may mediate C. paliurus flowering via methylation-dependent regulation. This study provides novel insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of heterodichogamous flowering and lays a theoretical foundation for epigenetic research in C. paliurus.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lu Rui, Zhujiang Cong, Xinghuang Zhou, Qing Yang, Zhanchun Wang, Wei Wang
The interaction between plants and pathogens represents a complex evolutionary arms race. Plants employ a sophisticated innate immune system to combat pathogen invasion. However, pathogens inhibit plant immunity by secreting effectors into the host cell. The chloroplast is an indispensable organelle for photosynthesis and metabolism in plants. Notably, increasing evidence has recently revealed the pivotal role of chloroplasts in plant immunity, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phytohormone biosynthesis, and signal transduction. Accordingly, chloroplasts have emerged as key targets for pathogen effectors. In this review, we summarize the role of chloroplasts in plant immunity and update the identification of pathogen effectors that enhance pathogenicity by targeting chloroplasts. We also discuss the diverse mechanisms by which pathogen effectors hijack chloroplasts to manipulate plant immunity, shedding light on the functional complexity and importance of chloroplasts in plant–pathogen interactions.
{"title":"To win the battle: The chloroplast is a key battleground in plant–pathogen interactions","authors":"Lu Rui, Zhujiang Cong, Xinghuang Zhou, Qing Yang, Zhanchun Wang, Wei Wang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf294","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf294","url":null,"abstract":"The interaction between plants and pathogens represents a complex evolutionary arms race. Plants employ a sophisticated innate immune system to combat pathogen invasion. However, pathogens inhibit plant immunity by secreting effectors into the host cell. The chloroplast is an indispensable organelle for photosynthesis and metabolism in plants. Notably, increasing evidence has recently revealed the pivotal role of chloroplasts in plant immunity, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, phytohormone biosynthesis, and signal transduction. Accordingly, chloroplasts have emerged as key targets for pathogen effectors. In this review, we summarize the role of chloroplasts in plant immunity and update the identification of pathogen effectors that enhance pathogenicity by targeting chloroplasts. We also discuss the diverse mechanisms by which pathogen effectors hijack chloroplasts to manipulate plant immunity, shedding light on the functional complexity and importance of chloroplasts in plant–pathogen interactions.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has emerged as a promising agent for mitigating chilling injury (CI) in peach fruit (Prunus persica); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of MYC2, a key transcriptional regulator of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, in mediating cold adaptation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that MeJA treatment effectively alleviated CI in peach fruit, accompanied by enhanced ethylene biosynthesis, elevated accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids, and a marked reduction in reactive oxygen species levels. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing and transactivation assays, we identified PpMYC2.1 as a central regulator that directly activates key genes involved in ethylene-mediated fruit softening (PpIAA1, PpHB.G7, PpERF61, PpPL1, PpPG2, and PpXTH2) and phenylpropanoid metabolism (PpPAL1, Pp4CL, PpCHI3, and PpCHS). Stable overexpression of PpMYC2.1 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) significantly enhanced fruit tolerance to cold stress. Meanwhile, transient overexpression or silencing in peach fruit upregulated or downregulated the expression of its target genes, confirming its positive regulatory role in cold stress response. Mechanistically, MeJA downregulated the expression of transcriptional repressors PpJAZ2 and PpJAZ4, thereby alleviating their suppression of PpMYC2.1-mediated transactivation. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously uncharacterized JA-responsive transcriptional module, PpJAZ2/4-PpMYC2.1, that orchestrates cold stress adaptation in peach fruit, offering novel insights into postharvest preservation strategies for climacteric fruit.
{"title":"JAZ2/JAZ4-MYC2.1 Module Mediates MeJA-Induced Alleviation of Chilling Injury in Peach Fruit ( Prunus persica )","authors":"Ang Li, Hongmei Wang, Akhi Badrunnesa, Junren Meng, Yuan Gao, Shihang Sun, Liang Niu, Lei Pan, Wenyi Duan, Guochao Cui, Zhiqiang Wang, Wenfang Zeng","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf295","url":null,"abstract":"Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has emerged as a promising agent for mitigating chilling injury (CI) in peach fruit (Prunus persica); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of MYC2, a key transcriptional regulator of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, in mediating cold adaptation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated that MeJA treatment effectively alleviated CI in peach fruit, accompanied by enhanced ethylene biosynthesis, elevated accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids, and a marked reduction in reactive oxygen species levels. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing and transactivation assays, we identified PpMYC2.1 as a central regulator that directly activates key genes involved in ethylene-mediated fruit softening (PpIAA1, PpHB.G7, PpERF61, PpPL1, PpPG2, and PpXTH2) and phenylpropanoid metabolism (PpPAL1, Pp4CL, PpCHI3, and PpCHS). Stable overexpression of PpMYC2.1 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) significantly enhanced fruit tolerance to cold stress. Meanwhile, transient overexpression or silencing in peach fruit upregulated or downregulated the expression of its target genes, confirming its positive regulatory role in cold stress response. Mechanistically, MeJA downregulated the expression of transcriptional repressors PpJAZ2 and PpJAZ4, thereby alleviating their suppression of PpMYC2.1-mediated transactivation. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously uncharacterized JA-responsive transcriptional module, PpJAZ2/4-PpMYC2.1, that orchestrates cold stress adaptation in peach fruit, offering novel insights into postharvest preservation strategies for climacteric fruit.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anuran K Gayen,Laura M Carmona Rojas,Zhen Fan,Seonghee Lee,Vance M Whitaker,Andrew D Hanson
{"title":"Building a directed evolution-genome editing pipeline for metabolic traits in specialty crop breeding.","authors":"Anuran K Gayen,Laura M Carmona Rojas,Zhen Fan,Seonghee Lee,Vance M Whitaker,Andrew D Hanson","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf203","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"227 1","pages":"uhaf203"},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hongling Qin, Leyan Zhang, Zhongxiu Rao, Xiaomeng Wei, András Táncsics, Rong Sheng, Yi Liu, Anlei Chen, Cheng Fang, Fengqiu Huang, Pan Long, Baoli Zhu
Biological control leveraging endophytic microbes represents a promising eco-friendly strategy to mitigate soil-borne diseases, yet the efficacy and mechanistic underpinnings of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) derived from plant endophytes remain poorly understood. This study employed a holistic approach—integrating field sampling, microbial profiling, and functional validation—to investigate the dynamics of edible lily (Lilium) microbiomes under continuous cropping and develop targeted SynComs against Fusarium oxysporum. Metacommunity analysis revealed that prolonged monoculture co-enriched both potentially beneficial taxa (e.g., Pseudomonas, Bacillus) and pathogenic Fusarium, reflecting a dynamic equilibrium where naturally recruited antagonists were insufficient to prevent pathogen dominance, while increasing the complexity of endophytic co-occurrence networks. Keystone bacterial lineages, including Burkholderiaceae and Pseudomonas, emerged as critical stabilizers of the endosphere microbiome. Notably, 50% of endogenous bacterial taxa exhibited rhizospheric origins, contrasting with fungal communities where <10% derived from soil—a finding underscoring host-specific filtering mechanisms. Through systematic isolation and combinatorial testing, we engineered SynComs combining core antagonistic strains (Rhizobium, Methylobacterium, Talaromyces) with auxiliary microbes. Fungal-integrated SynComs outperformed bacteria-only consortia in plant growth promotion and pathogen suppression. By bridging fundamental microbial ecology with translational agriculture, our findings establish SynComs as scalable tools for sustainable soil health management, reducing reliance on synthetic fungicides while addressing the yield-limiting challenges in continuous cropping systems.
{"title":"Decoding Endophytic Microbiome Dynamics: Engineering Antagonistic Synthetic Consortia for Targeted Fusarium Suppression in Monoculture Regimes","authors":"Hongling Qin, Leyan Zhang, Zhongxiu Rao, Xiaomeng Wei, András Táncsics, Rong Sheng, Yi Liu, Anlei Chen, Cheng Fang, Fengqiu Huang, Pan Long, Baoli Zhu","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf286","url":null,"abstract":"Biological control leveraging endophytic microbes represents a promising eco-friendly strategy to mitigate soil-borne diseases, yet the efficacy and mechanistic underpinnings of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) derived from plant endophytes remain poorly understood. This study employed a holistic approach—integrating field sampling, microbial profiling, and functional validation—to investigate the dynamics of edible lily (Lilium) microbiomes under continuous cropping and develop targeted SynComs against Fusarium oxysporum. Metacommunity analysis revealed that prolonged monoculture co-enriched both potentially beneficial taxa (e.g., Pseudomonas, Bacillus) and pathogenic Fusarium, reflecting a dynamic equilibrium where naturally recruited antagonists were insufficient to prevent pathogen dominance, while increasing the complexity of endophytic co-occurrence networks. Keystone bacterial lineages, including Burkholderiaceae and Pseudomonas, emerged as critical stabilizers of the endosphere microbiome. Notably, 50% of endogenous bacterial taxa exhibited rhizospheric origins, contrasting with fungal communities where &lt;10% derived from soil—a finding underscoring host-specific filtering mechanisms. Through systematic isolation and combinatorial testing, we engineered SynComs combining core antagonistic strains (Rhizobium, Methylobacterium, Talaromyces) with auxiliary microbes. Fungal-integrated SynComs outperformed bacteria-only consortia in plant growth promotion and pathogen suppression. By bridging fundamental microbial ecology with translational agriculture, our findings establish SynComs as scalable tools for sustainable soil health management, reducing reliance on synthetic fungicides while addressing the yield-limiting challenges in continuous cropping systems.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145382470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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