Regulating floral induction (FI) through the application of gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitors is a critical agricultural practice to prevent yield loss in fruit trees. We observed that mepiquat chloride (MC), a highly safe plant growth retardant, enhanced FI in mango. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism by which MC facilitates FI remains elusive. Using two distinct treatments and varied stages during FI in mango (Mangifera indica L. ‘Tainong No.1’), 24 dynamic transcriptome profiles were constructed. Through pairwise comparisons and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a regulatory network centered on the hub gene FLOWERING LOCUS T3 (MiFT3) was established. We further discovered MC-induced floral transition was associated with the decreases of GA20 and GA3 levels and the upregulation of MiGA2oxs (GA2 OXIDASES) expression, alongside the increase of abscisic acid (ABA) content and the upregulation of MiNCED1 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 1) and MiABI5-like7 (ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 5-like7). Furthermore, biochemical assays and stable transgenic experiments were applied to confirmed that MiABI5-like7 activated the expression of MiFT3. Moreover, silencing MiABI5-like7 in mango buds delayed floral transition, while ectopic expression of MiABI5-like7 promoted early flowering. Additionally, exogenous ABA accelerated the floral transiton induced by MC, whereas an ABA inhibitor delayed floral transiton, which were associated with the expression levels of MiABI5-like7 and MiFT3. This study clarified the mechanism by which MC induced floral transition by inhibiting GA biosynthesis that activate MiABI5-like7-mediated signaling pathway, which provides novel insights into the regulatory network of FI in plants and offers a solution for solving the issue of insufficient flowering in warm winter climates.
{"title":"MiABI5-like7- MiFT3 regulatory module controls floral transition induced by mepiquat chloride in evergreen perennial mango ( Mangifera indica L.)","authors":"Wentian Xu, Bin Zheng, Hongxia Wu, Xiaolong He, Meng Gao, Kunliang Xie, Yanan Wang, Rulin Zhan, Yuyao Gao, Songbiao Wang, Xiaowei Ma","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf336","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf336","url":null,"abstract":"Regulating floral induction (FI) through the application of gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitors is a critical agricultural practice to prevent yield loss in fruit trees. We observed that mepiquat chloride (MC), a highly safe plant growth retardant, enhanced FI in mango. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism by which MC facilitates FI remains elusive. Using two distinct treatments and varied stages during FI in mango (Mangifera indica L. ‘Tainong No.1’), 24 dynamic transcriptome profiles were constructed. Through pairwise comparisons and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a regulatory network centered on the hub gene FLOWERING LOCUS T3 (MiFT3) was established. We further discovered MC-induced floral transition was associated with the decreases of GA20 and GA3 levels and the upregulation of MiGA2oxs (GA2 OXIDASES) expression, alongside the increase of abscisic acid (ABA) content and the upregulation of MiNCED1 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 1) and MiABI5-like7 (ABSCISIC ACID-INSENSITIVE 5-like7). Furthermore, biochemical assays and stable transgenic experiments were applied to confirmed that MiABI5-like7 activated the expression of MiFT3. Moreover, silencing MiABI5-like7 in mango buds delayed floral transition, while ectopic expression of MiABI5-like7 promoted early flowering. Additionally, exogenous ABA accelerated the floral transiton induced by MC, whereas an ABA inhibitor delayed floral transiton, which were associated with the expression levels of MiABI5-like7 and MiFT3. This study clarified the mechanism by which MC induced floral transition by inhibiting GA biosynthesis that activate MiABI5-like7-mediated signaling pathway, which provides novel insights into the regulatory network of FI in plants and offers a solution for solving the issue of insufficient flowering in warm winter climates.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145703830","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}
Chinese cabbage production faces critical mechanization challenges due to traditional plant architectures that limit mechanical harvesting efficiency. Traditional breeding prioritized short-hypocotyl varieties to prevent damping-off, but long hypocotyls are now critical for mechanical harvesting. We identified BrHB52, an HD-Zip transcription factor, as a key regulator of hypocotyl elongation through QTL mapping, RNA-seq, and haplotype analysis. BrHB52 expression was significantly higher in the long-hypocotyl variety R031L than in the short-hypocotyl variety R032S. Overexpression of BrHB52 in both Chinese cabbage and Arabidopsis led to elongated hypocotyls. The silencing of BrHB52 in R031L resulted in a reduction of hypocotyl length. Sequence alignment revealed a 251-bp insertion in the BrHB52 promoter of the long-hypocotyl variety R031L, which introduced the light-responsive GT-1 motifs. The upstream transcription factors Phytochrome-interacting factor4 (PIF4) and B-box zinc finger 24 (BBX24) were identified through yeast one-hybrid screening using the BrHB52R031L promoter sequence. PIF4 were found to bind to the both BrHB52R031L and BrHB52R032S promoters and activate their expression through G-box, while light-induced factor BBX24 only bind to the BrHB52R031L promoter and activate its expression by light-responsive element GT-1. Our findings elucidate a BrPIF4/BrBBX24-BrHB52 regulatory module that controls plant architecture through hypocotyl elongation. These findings not only provide critical genetic targets for developing mechanization-compatible Chinese cabbage, but also develop transgenic prototypes with elongated hypocotyls, offering practical resources for mechanized breeding.
{"title":"BrPIF4/BrBBX24-BrHB52 mediated hypocotyl modularity unlocks mechanized harvesting potential in Brassica rapa","authors":"Xiaohong Yuan, Yunyun Cao, Xiaoyun Xin, Youping Li, Peirong Li, Weihong Wang, Bin Zhang, Xiuyun Zhao, Yangjun Yu, Deshuang Zhang, Fenglan Zhang, Huarui Wu, Shuancang Yu, Tongbing Su","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf328","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf328","url":null,"abstract":"Chinese cabbage production faces critical mechanization challenges due to traditional plant architectures that limit mechanical harvesting efficiency. Traditional breeding prioritized short-hypocotyl varieties to prevent damping-off, but long hypocotyls are now critical for mechanical harvesting. We identified BrHB52, an HD-Zip transcription factor, as a key regulator of hypocotyl elongation through QTL mapping, RNA-seq, and haplotype analysis. BrHB52 expression was significantly higher in the long-hypocotyl variety R031L than in the short-hypocotyl variety R032S. Overexpression of BrHB52 in both Chinese cabbage and Arabidopsis led to elongated hypocotyls. The silencing of BrHB52 in R031L resulted in a reduction of hypocotyl length. Sequence alignment revealed a 251-bp insertion in the BrHB52 promoter of the long-hypocotyl variety R031L, which introduced the light-responsive GT-1 motifs. The upstream transcription factors Phytochrome-interacting factor4 (PIF4) and B-box zinc finger 24 (BBX24) were identified through yeast one-hybrid screening using the BrHB52R031L promoter sequence. PIF4 were found to bind to the both BrHB52R031L and BrHB52R032S promoters and activate their expression through G-box, while light-induced factor BBX24 only bind to the BrHB52R031L promoter and activate its expression by light-responsive element GT-1. Our findings elucidate a BrPIF4/BrBBX24-BrHB52 regulatory module that controls plant architecture through hypocotyl elongation. These findings not only provide critical genetic targets for developing mechanization-compatible Chinese cabbage, but also develop transgenic prototypes with elongated hypocotyls, offering practical resources for mechanized breeding.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145703832","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}
Zengyu Lin, Chuqiao Lu, Yibing Wang, Yonglu Wei, Jie Gao, Jie Li, Qi Xie, Jianpeng Jin, Yanmei Sun, Wei Zhu, Genfa Zhu, Fengxi Yang
Floral organ formation plays an essential role in C. sinense reproductive development and serves as a key determinant of their ornamental traits. During the domestication and natural evolution of C. sinense, numerous floral organ variant cultivars have emerged, among which many floral morphological variations arise from abnormal development of the gynostemium, a reproductive organ. These Gynostemium Variant (GV) cultivars not only exhibit enhanced commercial appeal but also provide a unique model for investigating floral morphogenesis and evolutionary diversification. In this study, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of CsSEP4 closely linked to GV through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Functional analyses of CsSEP4 revealed that it played a crucial role in the development of gynostemium. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays indicated that the CsbZIP26 transcription factor binds to the CsSEP4 promoter and activates its expression in normal flowers, whereas the SNP mutations from ACGTG to ATGTG or ACGTA of CsSEP4 promoter were detected in GV lines, which resulted in the inability of CsbZIP26 to bind and regulate the expression of CsSEP4. Furthermore, DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) and Y1H experiments identified CsSPL18 as a direct downstream target of CsSEP4. Genetic evidence also demonstrated that CsSEP4 orchestrates gynostemium development by positively activating CsSPL18 expression. Collectively, our findings revealed the CsbZIP26-CsSEP4-CsSPL18 regulatory module governs the development of stamen columns to regulate flower morphology in C. sinense. This finding delivers insights into the molecular mechanisms of floral morphogenesis into gynostemium of orchids and establishing a molecular framework for further elucidating orchids diversity and evolution.
{"title":"A novel CsbZIP26-CsSEP4-CsSPL18 regulatory module governs gynostemium morphology and floral architecture in Cymbidium sinense","authors":"Zengyu Lin, Chuqiao Lu, Yibing Wang, Yonglu Wei, Jie Gao, Jie Li, Qi Xie, Jianpeng Jin, Yanmei Sun, Wei Zhu, Genfa Zhu, Fengxi Yang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf329","url":null,"abstract":"Floral organ formation plays an essential role in C. sinense reproductive development and serves as a key determinant of their ornamental traits. During the domestication and natural evolution of C. sinense, numerous floral organ variant cultivars have emerged, among which many floral morphological variations arise from abnormal development of the gynostemium, a reproductive organ. These Gynostemium Variant (GV) cultivars not only exhibit enhanced commercial appeal but also provide a unique model for investigating floral morphogenesis and evolutionary diversification. In this study, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of CsSEP4 closely linked to GV through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Functional analyses of CsSEP4 revealed that it played a crucial role in the development of gynostemium. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays indicated that the CsbZIP26 transcription factor binds to the CsSEP4 promoter and activates its expression in normal flowers, whereas the SNP mutations from ACGTG to ATGTG or ACGTA of CsSEP4 promoter were detected in GV lines, which resulted in the inability of CsbZIP26 to bind and regulate the expression of CsSEP4. Furthermore, DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) and Y1H experiments identified CsSPL18 as a direct downstream target of CsSEP4. Genetic evidence also demonstrated that CsSEP4 orchestrates gynostemium development by positively activating CsSPL18 expression. Collectively, our findings revealed the CsbZIP26-CsSEP4-CsSPL18 regulatory module governs the development of stamen columns to regulate flower morphology in C. sinense. This finding delivers insights into the molecular mechanisms of floral morphogenesis into gynostemium of orchids and establishing a molecular framework for further elucidating orchids diversity and evolution.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"48 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145703833","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}
Bateer Baiyin, Yue Xiang, Yang Shao, Jung Eek Son, Kotaro Tagawa, Mina Yamada, Satoshi Yamada, Qichang Yang
The mechanisms underlying plant root response to mechanical environmental stimuli are crucial for plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation. In this review, we examine the mechanical environments encountered by plant roots, including the different types of mechanical stimuli they experience. We describe in detail the mechanisms that enable roots to perceive these stimuli and their modes of action. Unfavorable mechanical stimuli can cause roots to alter their growth patterns and rates. Morphologically, roots become thicker, enhancing their stress resistance. Mechanical stimuli influence the activity of hormones, including auxin and ethylene, which jointly regulate root growth. Auxin promotes cell elongation in roots, whereas ethylene can inhibit root growth under certain conditions. Plants modulate antioxidant enzyme activity and osmoregulatory substance accumulation to cope with environmental stress. We explored the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying plant root adaptation to mechanical stimuli, including those involved in regulating genes and signal transduction pathways. Finally, we suggest future research directions, including an in-depth study of the multi-signal integration mechanism of roots and gene editing technology for improving plant adaptability. This review provides a basis for studying the interactions between plants and mechanical environments for plant adaptation and agricultural production.
{"title":"Response of plant roots to mechanical environmental stimuli","authors":"Bateer Baiyin, Yue Xiang, Yang Shao, Jung Eek Son, Kotaro Tagawa, Mina Yamada, Satoshi Yamada, Qichang Yang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf337","url":null,"abstract":"The mechanisms underlying plant root response to mechanical environmental stimuli are crucial for plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation. In this review, we examine the mechanical environments encountered by plant roots, including the different types of mechanical stimuli they experience. We describe in detail the mechanisms that enable roots to perceive these stimuli and their modes of action. Unfavorable mechanical stimuli can cause roots to alter their growth patterns and rates. Morphologically, roots become thicker, enhancing their stress resistance. Mechanical stimuli influence the activity of hormones, including auxin and ethylene, which jointly regulate root growth. Auxin promotes cell elongation in roots, whereas ethylene can inhibit root growth under certain conditions. Plants modulate antioxidant enzyme activity and osmoregulatory substance accumulation to cope with environmental stress. We explored the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying plant root adaptation to mechanical stimuli, including those involved in regulating genes and signal transduction pathways. Finally, we suggest future research directions, including an in-depth study of the multi-signal integration mechanism of roots and gene editing technology for improving plant adaptability. This review provides a basis for studying the interactions between plants and mechanical environments for plant adaptation and agricultural production.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145704497","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}
Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ contributes its fruit peel to the raw material of ‘Guangchenpi’, is renowned for its distinctive medicinal and aromatic properties and has been utilized for hundreds of years. However, the molecular and metabolic mechanism underlining the properties remains unknown. In this study, dimethyl anthranilate was uniquely detected in ‘Chachiensis’ fruit peel compared to other mandarin cultivars and was further validated as the characteristic metabolic biomarker based on OPLS-DA analysis. Two SAMTs genes, CreSAMT1 and CreSAMT2, were screened by combined volatile profiling and transcriptome sequencing. CreSAMT1 could catalyze the methylation of N-methyl-2-aminobenzoic acid to synthesize dimethyl anthranilate, and its constant expression contributes to the specific accumulation of dimethyl anthranilate in ‘Chachiensis’ which was activated by CreERF35 and CreZAT11. Whilst CreSAMT2 is highly expressed in citrus flowers and is responsible for catalyzing anthranilate to form methyl anthranilate, the main floral volatiles. Moreover, the involvement of transcription factors such as ERF were speculated in regulating its volatiles biosynthesis. The study provides a theoretical basis to elucidate the volatile metabolism, and to improve the aromatic citrus industry.
{"title":"CreSAMT1 is mainly responsible for the biosynthesis of characteristic aroma compound dimethyl anthranilate in Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’","authors":"Yuan Liu, Huan Wen, Zhehui Hu, Xiao Liu, Qiuhong Chen, Tinglin Wen, Yaning Liang, Yang Hu, Jiwu Zeng, Jiajing Chen, Juan Xu","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf331","url":null,"abstract":"Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ contributes its fruit peel to the raw material of ‘Guangchenpi’, is renowned for its distinctive medicinal and aromatic properties and has been utilized for hundreds of years. However, the molecular and metabolic mechanism underlining the properties remains unknown. In this study, dimethyl anthranilate was uniquely detected in ‘Chachiensis’ fruit peel compared to other mandarin cultivars and was further validated as the characteristic metabolic biomarker based on OPLS-DA analysis. Two SAMTs genes, CreSAMT1 and CreSAMT2, were screened by combined volatile profiling and transcriptome sequencing. CreSAMT1 could catalyze the methylation of N-methyl-2-aminobenzoic acid to synthesize dimethyl anthranilate, and its constant expression contributes to the specific accumulation of dimethyl anthranilate in ‘Chachiensis’ which was activated by CreERF35 and CreZAT11. Whilst CreSAMT2 is highly expressed in citrus flowers and is responsible for catalyzing anthranilate to form methyl anthranilate, the main floral volatiles. Moreover, the involvement of transcription factors such as ERF were speculated in regulating its volatiles biosynthesis. The study provides a theoretical basis to elucidate the volatile metabolism, and to improve the aromatic citrus industry.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664522","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}
Weifeng Wu, Jianyong Wang, Chengcheng Cai, Xiaoyu Song, Hua Li, Tao Zhang, Meixin Xiong, Ying Wang, Jie Zhang, Bingbing Li, Lei Zhang, Feng Li, Mingkun Huang, Wei Li, Feng Cheng, Danyu Kong, Yi Liu
Quercetin glucosides are important phytopharmaceutical metabolites in Descurainia sophia seeds, which are widely used in traditional herbal medicine. However, the key genes involved in quercetin glucoside biosynthesis in D. sophia have not been characterized. Herein, we present the telomere-to-telomere genomes of a tetraploid D. sophia, which accumulates high levels of quercetin glucoside, and a diploid D. sophia, which accumulates only trace amounts. Multi-omics analyses and uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme assays revealed that the gene duplication and functional evolution of Dscd6AG01520, a UGT gene, led to high quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside and quercetin-3,7-O-β-D-diglucoside accumulation in tetraploid D. sophia seeds. Further UGT enzyme assays with the point mutations of Dscd6AG01520 showed that S213 was a critical amino acid for the enzymatic activity of Dscd6AG01520. In addition, we found that diploid D. sophia evolved from an ancestral crucifer karyotype through chromosome fusion and rearrangement. Collectively, our findings illuminate the mechanism of high quercetin glucoside accumulation in tetraploid D. sophia, clarify the origin of the diploid D. sophia genome, and provide valuable genomic resources for comparative genomics and research into polyploid evolution.
槲皮素甙是柏树种子中重要的植物药物代谢物，在传统草药中应用广泛。然而，槲皮素葡萄糖苷生物合成的关键基因尚未被明确。在这里，我们展示了四倍体索菲亚的端粒到端粒基因组，它积累了高水平的槲皮素葡萄糖苷，二倍体索菲亚的端粒到端粒基因组，它只积累了微量的槲皮素葡萄糖苷。多组学分析和尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖基转移酶（UGT）酶分析表明，UGT基因Dscd6AG01520的基因重复和功能进化导致四倍体索菲亚种子中槲皮素-3- o -β- d -葡糖苷和槲皮素-3,7- o -β- d -二葡糖苷积累量高。对Dscd6AG01520点突变的UGT酶分析表明，S213是影响Dscd6AG01520酶活性的关键氨基酸。此外，我们还发现二倍体索非亚花是通过染色体融合和重排从十字花科植物祖先的核型进化而来的。总的来说，我们的研究结果阐明了四倍体索菲亚的高槲皮素苷积累机制，阐明了二倍体索菲亚基因组的起源，为比较基因组学和多倍体进化研究提供了宝贵的基因组资源。
{"title":"Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly and multi-omics analyses illustrate the high accumulation of quercetin glucosides in tetraploid Descurainia sophia","authors":"Weifeng Wu, Jianyong Wang, Chengcheng Cai, Xiaoyu Song, Hua Li, Tao Zhang, Meixin Xiong, Ying Wang, Jie Zhang, Bingbing Li, Lei Zhang, Feng Li, Mingkun Huang, Wei Li, Feng Cheng, Danyu Kong, Yi Liu","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf335","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf335","url":null,"abstract":"Quercetin glucosides are important phytopharmaceutical metabolites in Descurainia sophia seeds, which are widely used in traditional herbal medicine. However, the key genes involved in quercetin glucoside biosynthesis in D. sophia have not been characterized. Herein, we present the telomere-to-telomere genomes of a tetraploid D. sophia, which accumulates high levels of quercetin glucoside, and a diploid D. sophia, which accumulates only trace amounts. Multi-omics analyses and uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme assays revealed that the gene duplication and functional evolution of Dscd6AG01520, a UGT gene, led to high quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside and quercetin-3,7-O-β-D-diglucoside accumulation in tetraploid D. sophia seeds. Further UGT enzyme assays with the point mutations of Dscd6AG01520 showed that S213 was a critical amino acid for the enzymatic activity of Dscd6AG01520. In addition, we found that diploid D. sophia evolved from an ancestral crucifer karyotype through chromosome fusion and rearrangement. Collectively, our findings illuminate the mechanism of high quercetin glucoside accumulation in tetraploid D. sophia, clarify the origin of the diploid D. sophia genome, and provide valuable genomic resources for comparative genomics and research into polyploid evolution.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664525","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}
Rose (Rosa spp.) is a high-value ornamental plant cultivated worldwide for its aesthetic and commercial importance. However, rose production is frequently challenged by a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses that impair growth, development, and floral quality, ultimately reducing yield and economic returns. Recent advances have clarified the molecular pathways that govern stress responses in roses, with particular emphasis on transcriptional regulation, post-translational protein modifications, and epigenetic control. Transcription factors (TFs) such as WRKY, NAC, MYB, and AP2/ERF families regulate stress-responsive gene expression. Post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, together with epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, establish molecular “stress memory” and resilience. In response to biotic stress, roses defend against major pathogens including black spot (Marssonina rosae), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) through integrated hormonal signaling and transcriptional regulation. Aphid herbivory triggers calcium fluxes, phosphorylation cascades, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites that strengthen defense. Emerging biotechnological tools, particularly genome editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), marker-assisted selection, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), provide promising approaches for breeding rose cultivars with improved tolerance to environmental and pathogenic stresses. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying both biotic and abiotic stress adaptation in roses and outlines strategies for developing resilient cultivars capable of maintaining productivity and ornamental value under adverse conditions.
{"title":"Engineering resilient roses: Molecular insights into biotic and abiotic stress adaptation","authors":"Hammad Hussain, Hamza Sohail, Edvinas Misiukevičius, Kaikai Zhu, Yazheng Cao, Yuqing Gu, Qianxiang Zhang, Yong Xu, Mengjuan Bai, Jianwen Wang, Guo Wei, Liguo Feng","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf332","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf332","url":null,"abstract":"Rose (Rosa spp.) is a high-value ornamental plant cultivated worldwide for its aesthetic and commercial importance. However, rose production is frequently challenged by a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses that impair growth, development, and floral quality, ultimately reducing yield and economic returns. Recent advances have clarified the molecular pathways that govern stress responses in roses, with particular emphasis on transcriptional regulation, post-translational protein modifications, and epigenetic control. Transcription factors (TFs) such as WRKY, NAC, MYB, and AP2/ERF families regulate stress-responsive gene expression. Post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, and ubiquitination, together with epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, establish molecular “stress memory” and resilience. In response to biotic stress, roses defend against major pathogens including black spot (Marssonina rosae), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) through integrated hormonal signaling and transcriptional regulation. Aphid herbivory triggers calcium fluxes, phosphorylation cascades, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites that strengthen defense. Emerging biotechnological tools, particularly genome editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), marker-assisted selection, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), provide promising approaches for breeding rose cultivars with improved tolerance to environmental and pathogenic stresses. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying both biotic and abiotic stress adaptation in roses and outlines strategies for developing resilient cultivars capable of maintaining productivity and ornamental value under adverse conditions.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664523","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}
Wenshan Dai, Tao Hu, Donglian Huang, Yangyang Qin, Nannan Wei, Huanying Xue, Nian Wang, Min Wang
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-restricted bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is a devastating disease threatening global citrus production. CLas infection triggers excessive accumulation of phloem proteins (PPs) that obstruct sieve pores, a dual-edged process potentially restricting pathogen spread while impairing phloem transport. Despite its pathophysiological significance, systematic identification and functional characterization of PPs in citrus, particularly their roles in CLas defense, remain unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the PP2 gene family in the HLB-susceptible sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and identified 26 CsPP2 genes. Phylogenetic and structural analyses uncovered evolutionary divergence and regulatory complexity among CsPP2 family members. Using promoter-drived GUS gene expression assays in transgenic hairy roots, we identified three phloem-specific paralogs, CsPP2-3, CsPP2-5, and CsPP2-18, and delineated core regulatory regions conferring tissue specificity. Overexpression of each gene significantly enhanced phloem protein deposition. Notably, although virus-induced silencing of individual CsPP2s did not affect resistance to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), overexpression of any of the three genes substantially enhanced resistance against this apoplastic pathogen, demonstrating functional redundancy. However, the three paralogs exhibited marked functional divergence in response to CLas: CsPP2-3 and CsPP2-18 conferred enhanced resistance, whereas CsPP2-5 increased susceptibility. Distinct defense-related gene expression profiles further supported their specialized immune roles. Our study provides the first systematic identification of PP2 genes in citrus and reveals the functional differentiation of CsPP2-3/5/18 as key regulators of phloem-mediated defense. These findings provide crucial insights into phloem defense regulatory networks and identify novel genetic targets for HLB resistance breeding.
{"title":"Genome-wide dissection of PP2 genes reveals CsPP2-3/5/18 as key regulators of phloem protein deposition and bacterial immunity in Citrus sinensis","authors":"Wenshan Dai, Tao Hu, Donglian Huang, Yangyang Qin, Nannan Wei, Huanying Xue, Nian Wang, Min Wang","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf333","url":null,"abstract":"Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the phloem-restricted bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is a devastating disease threatening global citrus production. CLas infection triggers excessive accumulation of phloem proteins (PPs) that obstruct sieve pores, a dual-edged process potentially restricting pathogen spread while impairing phloem transport. Despite its pathophysiological significance, systematic identification and functional characterization of PPs in citrus, particularly their roles in CLas defense, remain unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the PP2 gene family in the HLB-susceptible sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and identified 26 CsPP2 genes. Phylogenetic and structural analyses uncovered evolutionary divergence and regulatory complexity among CsPP2 family members. Using promoter-drived GUS gene expression assays in transgenic hairy roots, we identified three phloem-specific paralogs, CsPP2-3, CsPP2-5, and CsPP2-18, and delineated core regulatory regions conferring tissue specificity. Overexpression of each gene significantly enhanced phloem protein deposition. Notably, although virus-induced silencing of individual CsPP2s did not affect resistance to Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), overexpression of any of the three genes substantially enhanced resistance against this apoplastic pathogen, demonstrating functional redundancy. However, the three paralogs exhibited marked functional divergence in response to CLas: CsPP2-3 and CsPP2-18 conferred enhanced resistance, whereas CsPP2-5 increased susceptibility. Distinct defense-related gene expression profiles further supported their specialized immune roles. Our study provides the first systematic identification of PP2 genes in citrus and reveals the functional differentiation of CsPP2-3/5/18 as key regulators of phloem-mediated defense. These findings provide crucial insights into phloem defense regulatory networks and identify novel genetic targets for HLB resistance breeding.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664524","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}
The efficiency of carbon and nitrogen uptake in apple trees is co-regulated by plant genotype and rhizosphere microbial communities. However, the mechanisms by which different scion varieties modulate microbial structure and function under varying nitrogen levels remain poorly understood. In this study, Malus sieversii was used as the rootstock, onto which three scion cultivars (Malus sieversii, Malus domestica cv. Hanfu, and Malus domestica cv. Red Fuji) were grafted under two nitrogen regimes. A combination of 13C/15N isotope labeling, Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing, and metagenomic analysis was employed to elucidate how scion–rootstock interactions and nitrogen availability affect carbon and nitrogen acquisition. Under nitrogen-deficient conditions, Red Fuji exhibited stronger root activity and larger root surface area, indicating enhanced nutrient foraging capacity. Conversely, under nitrogen application, Hanfu showed significantly greater 13C and 15N uptake, with 5.7-fold and 1.6-fold higher 13C accumulation in roots and stems, respectively, and markedly higher 15N utilization efficiency in roots and leaves compared with M. sieversii. In parallel, Hanfu under nitrogen input showed enrichment of beneficial microbial taxa and more complex microbial co-occurrence networks. Metagenomic analysis and random forest analyses revealed that the relative abundance of specific functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen transformation (rbcL, abfA, napB/C, nasA) was significantly higher under specific scion–nitrogen combinations, contributing to enhanced microbial carbon fixation and nitrogen reduction. Collectively, these results demonstrate that scion genotype modulates rhizosphere microbial structure, physiological root traits, and carbon–nitrogen distribution patterns, thereby improving nutrient uptake efficiency under different nitrogen inputs.
{"title":"Scion varieties and nitrogen levels affect carbon and nitrogen assimilation in apple via modulating rhizosphere microbial structure and function","authors":"Huanhuan Zhang, Wen Zhang, Dongdong Yao, Xujiao Li, Hossam Salah Mahmoud Ali, Jingshan Xi, Yingchi Liang, Fengyun Zhao, Songlin Yu, Kun Yu","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf334","url":null,"abstract":"The efficiency of carbon and nitrogen uptake in apple trees is co-regulated by plant genotype and rhizosphere microbial communities. However, the mechanisms by which different scion varieties modulate microbial structure and function under varying nitrogen levels remain poorly understood. In this study, Malus sieversii was used as the rootstock, onto which three scion cultivars (Malus sieversii, Malus domestica cv. Hanfu, and Malus domestica cv. Red Fuji) were grafted under two nitrogen regimes. A combination of 13C/15N isotope labeling, Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing, and metagenomic analysis was employed to elucidate how scion–rootstock interactions and nitrogen availability affect carbon and nitrogen acquisition. Under nitrogen-deficient conditions, Red Fuji exhibited stronger root activity and larger root surface area, indicating enhanced nutrient foraging capacity. Conversely, under nitrogen application, Hanfu showed significantly greater 13C and 15N uptake, with 5.7-fold and 1.6-fold higher 13C accumulation in roots and stems, respectively, and markedly higher 15N utilization efficiency in roots and leaves compared with M. sieversii. In parallel, Hanfu under nitrogen input showed enrichment of beneficial microbial taxa and more complex microbial co-occurrence networks. Metagenomic analysis and random forest analyses revealed that the relative abundance of specific functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen transformation (rbcL, abfA, napB/C, nasA) was significantly higher under specific scion–nitrogen combinations, contributing to enhanced microbial carbon fixation and nitrogen reduction. Collectively, these results demonstrate that scion genotype modulates rhizosphere microbial structure, physiological root traits, and carbon–nitrogen distribution patterns, thereby improving nutrient uptake efficiency under different nitrogen inputs.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664526","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}
Cadmium (Cd) contamination in farmland soils poses a potential threat to crop safety and human health. Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs), a unique group of proteins in vascular plants, play a crucial role in abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, their functional characterization remains limited. In this study, we identified a novel sweetpotato HIPP gene, IbHIPP7, and investigated its role in Cd transport and tolerance. Subcellular localization revealed that IbHIPP7 is localized to the plasma membrane. Functional domain analysis indicated that two conserved heavy metal-associated (HMA) domains, but not the C-terminal isoprenylation motif, are essential for Cd tolerance. Transgenic sweetpotato (cultivar Sushu33) overexpressing IbHIPP7 exhibited significantly enhanced Cd tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation in roots and shoots compared to wild type (WT) plants. These results indicate that IbHIPP7 reduces Cd toxicity by decreasing Cd absorption and thereby enhancing Cd tolerance, providing a molecular basis for developing low-Cd-accumulating sweetpotato varieties to enhance agricultural safety.
{"title":"Overexpression of the heavy metal-associated Isoprenylated plant protein (HIPP) gene IbHIPP7 reduces cadmium accumulation and alleviates cadmium toxicity in sweetpotato","authors":"Pengcheng Dong, Yumeng Yin, Shiyuan Zhang, Yujun Fan, Xinzhe Zhang, Meng Zhang, Yan Xia, Chen Chen, Liang Shi, Yahua Chen","doi":"10.1093/hr/uhaf323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf323","url":null,"abstract":"Cadmium (Cd) contamination in farmland soils poses a potential threat to crop safety and human health. Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs), a unique group of proteins in vascular plants, play a crucial role in abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, their functional characterization remains limited. In this study, we identified a novel sweetpotato HIPP gene, IbHIPP7, and investigated its role in Cd transport and tolerance. Subcellular localization revealed that IbHIPP7 is localized to the plasma membrane. Functional domain analysis indicated that two conserved heavy metal-associated (HMA) domains, but not the C-terminal isoprenylation motif, are essential for Cd tolerance. Transgenic sweetpotato (cultivar Sushu33) overexpressing IbHIPP7 exhibited significantly enhanced Cd tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation in roots and shoots compared to wild type (WT) plants. These results indicate that IbHIPP7 reduces Cd toxicity by decreasing Cd absorption and thereby enhancing Cd tolerance, providing a molecular basis for developing low-Cd-accumulating sweetpotato varieties to enhance agricultural safety.","PeriodicalId":13179,"journal":{"name":"Horticulture Research","volume":"93 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145610891","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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