Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114576
Beibei Cao , Qiaoyan Xiang , Huaiyu Jiao , Xiyang Huang , Hong Li , JiaLing Yu , Lixia Guo , Shuiyuan Jiang
Siraitia grosvenorii is a high-value crop prized for its fruits that contain mogrosides, particularly mogroside V, a natural zero-calorie sweetener with substantial health benefits. However, its cultivation is constrained by complete reliance on labor-intensive artificial pollination, due to its dioecious nature and inability to utilize on wind or insect pollination. This study assessed the feasibility of mechanized hand duster pollination (HDP) as an alternative to hand supplementary pollination (HSP) in S. grosvenorii, combining agronomic and molecular analyses. Results showed that HDP achieved a fruit set rate comparable to that of HSP, alongside an identical final mogroside V content, despite slight transient decreases in fruit size and weight. Transcriptomic analyses revealed HDP induced early stress responses but did not alter core mogroside biosynthetic pathways; WGCNA further confirmed that gene co-expression networks associated with fruit quality, specifically mogroside V accumulation, are independent of pollination method. Thus, HDP emerges as a labor-saving, efficient alternative to HSP, directly facilitating sustainable commercial cultivation of S. grosvenorii without compromising the yield of its key bioactive compound.
{"title":"Mechanized hand duster pollination maintains key fruit traits and mogroside V biosynthesis in Siraitia grosvenorii","authors":"Beibei Cao , Qiaoyan Xiang , Huaiyu Jiao , Xiyang Huang , Hong Li , JiaLing Yu , Lixia Guo , Shuiyuan Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114576","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114576","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Siraitia grosvenorii</em> is a high-value crop prized for its fruits that contain mogrosides, particularly mogroside V, a natural zero-calorie sweetener with substantial health benefits. However, its cultivation is constrained by complete reliance on labor-intensive artificial pollination, due to its dioecious nature and inability to utilize on wind or insect pollination. This study assessed the feasibility of mechanized hand duster pollination (HDP) as an alternative to hand supplementary pollination (HSP) in <em>S. grosvenorii</em>, combining agronomic and molecular analyses. Results showed that HDP achieved a fruit set rate comparable to that of HSP, alongside an identical final mogroside V content, despite slight transient decreases in fruit size and weight. Transcriptomic analyses revealed HDP induced early stress responses but did not alter core mogroside biosynthetic pathways; WGCNA further confirmed that gene co-expression networks associated with fruit quality, specifically mogroside V accumulation, are independent of pollination method. Thus, HDP emerges as a labor-saving, efficient alternative to HSP, directly facilitating sustainable commercial cultivation of <em>S. grosvenorii</em> without compromising the yield of its key bioactive compound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114576"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114593
Dan Zhang , Chengliang Liang , Wujun Xing , Daqing Chen , Naying Fang , Peiru Li , Fei Huang , Lianzhen Mao , Xuexiao Zou , Wenyue Li , Lijun Ou , Zhoubin Liu , Wenchao Chen
The involvement of multiple members of Mediator in regulating the growth and development of various plant tissues through diverse mechanisms has been well documented. In this study, a subunit of Mediator, CaMED 21, was identified in pepper. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that this subunit is expressed in leaves, flowers, and fruits, with notably high expression levels in flowers and fruits. Through virus-induced gene silencing, silencing of the CaMED 21 gene was found to result in reduced leaf size and decreased pollen viability in pepper. Conversely, overexpression of CaMED 21 in tomato led to increased plant height, larger leaves, enhanced pollen viability, and bigger fruits. Results from protein interaction analysis suggest that CaMED 21 may regulate plant morphogenesis through interactions with PR 3 and SlMED 18. The regulatory role of the CaMED 21 subunit in leaf morphology and pollen viability of pepper has been demonstrated. These results provide valuable insights for further exploration of the CaMED 21 subunit’s function and offer a novel perspective on the mechanisms governing pepper growth regulation.
{"title":"Functional identification of the pepper(Capsicum annuum L.) mediator subunit MED21 in regulating pollen development","authors":"Dan Zhang , Chengliang Liang , Wujun Xing , Daqing Chen , Naying Fang , Peiru Li , Fei Huang , Lianzhen Mao , Xuexiao Zou , Wenyue Li , Lijun Ou , Zhoubin Liu , Wenchao Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The involvement of multiple members of Mediator in regulating the growth and development of various plant tissues through diverse mechanisms has been well documented. In this study, a subunit of Mediator, <em>CaMED 21</em>, was identified in pepper. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that this subunit is expressed in leaves, flowers, and fruits, with notably high expression levels in flowers and fruits. Through virus-induced gene silencing, silencing of the <em>CaMED 21</em> gene was found to result in reduced leaf size and decreased pollen viability in pepper. Conversely, overexpression of <em>CaMED 21</em> in tomato led to increased plant height, larger leaves, enhanced pollen viability, and bigger fruits. Results from protein interaction analysis suggest that CaMED 21 may regulate plant morphogenesis through interactions with PR 3 and SlMED 18. The regulatory role of the <em>CaMED 21</em> subunit in leaf morphology and pollen viability of pepper has been demonstrated. These results provide valuable insights for further exploration of the <em>CaMED 21</em> subunit’s function and offer a novel perspective on the mechanisms governing pepper growth regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114593"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114607
Zhi-Rong Yin, Lan Ma, Yun Luo, Huan-Jun Qi, Jian-Xin Jin
Replacing chemical fertilizers with biogas slurry microbial fertilizer (BSMF) represents an important strategy for sustainable agriculture in arid regions, yet optimal substitution strategies and ecological response dynamics remain poorly understood. A three-year field experiment monitored soil physicochemical properties, metagenomic profiles, metabolomic signatures, and tomato performance across a 0%‒100% BSMF substitution gradient in a Ningxia greenhouse system. Multi-omics integration identified differential sensitivity patterns across biological layers. BSMF substitution induced non-linear ecological reorganization following a tiered sensitivity pattern. Microbial functional potential adapted first (10%‒30% substitution), with carbon cycling genes like xynA increasing 57.2%. Community restructuring peaked at 20%‒30% substitution (117 genera changed during S20K-S30K transition), while metabolome reprogramming occurred at higher thresholds (above 40%, with 95 metabolites altered between S40K-S50K). Intermediate substitution levels enhanced yield stability, reducing coefficients of variation from above 23% (conventional) to approximately 8% (S10K, S50K). The 20–30% range optimized productivity while maintaining stability. Fruit quality improvements were time-dependent; vitamin C doubled from 836.7 mg/kg to 1816.7 mg/kg, while nitrate content decreased by 87%. Multi-omics integration revealed microbial carbon cycling potential significantly correlated with crop yield (r = 0.495, p = 0.043). However, substitution above 50% elevated salinity risk. Soil ecosystems responded to organic fertilizer substitution through predictable, threshold-driven adaptations rather than linear responses. The tiered sensitivity pattern, with functional plasticity preceding community restructuring, followed by metabolic reprogramming, provided a mechanistic framework for precision management. The 20%‒30% substitution range represented an optimal ecological window balancing productivity and stability while avoiding salinity constraints, transforming BSMF application from empirical adjustment to predictive management for resilient arid agroecosystems.
{"title":"Multi-omics reveal tiered adaptation and critical thresholds for fertilizer substitution in an arid agroecosystem","authors":"Zhi-Rong Yin, Lan Ma, Yun Luo, Huan-Jun Qi, Jian-Xin Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Replacing chemical fertilizers with biogas slurry microbial fertilizer (BSMF) represents an important strategy for sustainable agriculture in arid regions, yet optimal substitution strategies and ecological response dynamics remain poorly understood. A three-year field experiment monitored soil physicochemical properties, metagenomic profiles, metabolomic signatures, and tomato performance across a 0%‒100% BSMF substitution gradient in a Ningxia greenhouse system. Multi-omics integration identified differential sensitivity patterns across biological layers. BSMF substitution induced non-linear ecological reorganization following a tiered sensitivity pattern. Microbial functional potential adapted first (10%‒30% substitution), with carbon cycling genes like <em>xynA</em> increasing 57.2%. Community restructuring peaked at 20%‒30% substitution (117 genera changed during S20K-S30K transition), while metabolome reprogramming occurred at higher thresholds (above 40%, with 95 metabolites altered between S40K-S50K). Intermediate substitution levels enhanced yield stability, reducing coefficients of variation from above 23% (conventional) to approximately 8% (S10K, S50K). The 20–30% range optimized productivity while maintaining stability. Fruit quality improvements were time-dependent; vitamin C doubled from 836.7 mg/kg to 1816.7 mg/kg, while nitrate content decreased by 87%. Multi-omics integration revealed microbial carbon cycling potential significantly correlated with crop yield (<em>r</em> = 0.495, <em>p</em> = 0.043). However, substitution above 50% elevated salinity risk. Soil ecosystems responded to organic fertilizer substitution through predictable, threshold-driven adaptations rather than linear responses. The tiered sensitivity pattern, with functional plasticity preceding community restructuring, followed by metabolic reprogramming, provided a mechanistic framework for precision management. The 20%‒30% substitution range represented an optimal ecological window balancing productivity and stability while avoiding salinity constraints, transforming BSMF application from empirical adjustment to predictive management for resilient arid agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114607"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114591
Hyeondae Han , Sewon Oh , Keumsun Kim , Youngjae Oh , Daeil Kim
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) refers to the failure of flowering plants to produce viable pollen grains during anther development. CMS and the restorer-of-fertility (Rf) system have been documented in Pyrus. Male sterility has been reported in the Asian pear ‘Niitaka’ (P. pyrifolia) and its F1 progeny. However, Rf genes conferring pollen fertility for ‘Niitaka’ cytoplasm in pears remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed at precisely mapping Rf genes involved in pollen fertility restoration and exploring candidate genes. We analyzed F1 progenies derived from female ‘'Whangkeumbae' (P. pyrifolia) possessing ‘Niitaka’ cytoplasm. Two non-linked loci with complementary dominance were hypothesized to account for the observed separation ratio. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) analysis was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and finely map the Rf loci. Two Rf loci were preliminarily mapped to linkage groups 4 and 5 and named Rf1 and Rf2, respectively. Insertion/deletion (InDel) markers were developed by analyzing the whole genome sequencing data of the parents. Rf1 and Rf2 regions were delimited to 560 kb and 880 kb, respectively, by fine mapping with InDel markers. Four candidate genes encoding pentatricopeptide repeat proteins were identified in Rf1 and Rf2. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to map Rf genes responsible for cytoplasmic male sterility in pears, which advances our understanding of male sterility.
细胞质雄性不育（Cytoplasmic male sterile， CMS）是指开花植物在花药发育过程中不能产生有活力的花粉粒。CMS和生育恢复（Rf）系统在Pyrus有文献记载。据报道，亚洲梨“Niitaka”（P. pyrifolia）及其F1后代雄性不育。然而，梨中具有Niitaka细胞质花粉育性的Rf基因仍有待阐明。因此，本研究旨在精确定位与花粉育性恢复相关的Rf基因，并探索候选基因。我们分析了来自具有“Niitaka”细胞质的雌性“Whangkeumbae”（P. pyrifolia）的F1后代。假设两个具有互补优势的非连锁位点可以解释观察到的分离比率。采用基因分型测序（GBS）分析鉴定单核苷酸多态性（SNP）标记，并精细绘制Rf位点。两个Rf位点初步映射到连锁群4和连锁群5，分别命名为Rf1和Rf2。通过分析亲本全基因组测序数据，开发了插入/删除（InDel）标记。利用InDel标记进行精细映射，将Rf1和Rf2区域分别划分为560 kb和880 kb。在Rf1和Rf2中鉴定出4个编码五肽重复蛋白的候选基因。据我们所知，这是第一个绘制梨细胞质雄性不育的Rf基因的研究，这促进了我们对雄性不育的理解。
{"title":"Two complementary restorer-of-fertility loci confer the pollen fertility restoration in the progenies of ‘Niitaka’ pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)","authors":"Hyeondae Han , Sewon Oh , Keumsun Kim , Youngjae Oh , Daeil Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) refers to the failure of flowering plants to produce viable pollen grains during anther development. CMS and the restorer-of-fertility (<em>Rf</em>) system have been documented in <em>Pyrus</em>. Male sterility has been reported in the Asian pear ‘Niitaka’ (<em>P. pyrifolia</em>) and its F<sub>1</sub> progeny. However, <em>Rf</em> genes conferring pollen fertility for ‘Niitaka’ cytoplasm in pears remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed at precisely mapping <em>Rf</em> genes involved in pollen fertility restoration and exploring candidate genes. We analyzed F<sub>1</sub> progenies derived from female ‘'Whangkeumbae' (<em>P. pyrifolia</em>) possessing ‘Niitaka’ cytoplasm. Two non-linked loci with complementary dominance were hypothesized to account for the observed separation ratio. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) analysis was performed to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and finely map the <em>Rf</em> loci. Two <em>Rf</em> loci were preliminarily mapped to linkage groups 4 and 5 and named <em>Rf1</em> and <em>Rf2</em>, respectively. Insertion/deletion (InDel) markers were developed by analyzing the whole genome sequencing data of the parents. <em>Rf1</em> and <em>Rf2</em> regions were delimited to 560 kb and 880 kb, respectively, by fine mapping with InDel markers. Four candidate genes encoding pentatricopeptide repeat proteins were identified in <em>Rf1</em> and <em>Rf2</em>. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to map <em>Rf</em> genes responsible for cytoplasmic male sterility in pears, which advances our understanding of male sterility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114591"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114584
Hui Li , Xiaoyue Geng , Xianbin Xu , Chenxu Sun , Huan Zheng , Yaxin Yang , Jianmin Tao
Anthocyanins play a pivotal role in defining grape coloration which contribute to health-promoting properties of grape. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in promoting anthocyanin accumulation in grape berries. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying ABA-regulated coloration in ‘Benibalado’ (Vitis vinifera L.) grape skin through physiological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses. After ABA treatment, the berry of grapes exhibited a significantly deeper red colour, accompanied by an increase of three additional anthocyanin types and a significant rise in the contents of Peonidin 3-O-glucoside and Malvidin 3-O-glucoside. ABA treatment significantly induced upregulation of ABA signaling genes (VvABF1, VvABF2 and VvPYL1) and anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (VvMYBA1, VvMYBA2, VvGST4 and VvGT1). A genome-wide analysis identified 64 bZIP transcription factors (TFs) in grape, which were classified into 13 subfamilies. Among these, VvABF1 and VvABF2, belonging to subfamily A, exhibited distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns, with VvABF2 highly expressed in skin and flesh. Phylogenetic and motif analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and functional diversification among VvbZIPs. VvABF1 exhibits the closest phylogenetic relationship with LcABF1. VvABF2 showed the highest affinity with LcABF2 and LcbZIP32, followed by MdbZIP45 and MdbZIP90. Furthermore, subcellular localization confirmed the nuclear presence of both VvABF1 and VvABF2. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that these TFs can active the activity of VvMYBA1 promoter. These results indicate that VvABFs mediate ABA-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis by directly regulating VvMYBA1 expression, providing new insights into the ABA-bZIP-MYBA regulatory module in grape berry coloration.
花青素在决定葡萄的颜色中起着关键作用，它有助于促进葡萄的健康特性。外源脱落酸（ABA）在促进葡萄果实花青素积累中起关键作用。在这项研究中，我们通过生理、分子和系统发育分析研究了aba调控Benibalado葡萄皮着色的分子机制。经外源ABA处理后，葡萄果实颜色明显变深，另外3种花青素含量增加，芍药苷3- o -葡萄糖苷和马柳苷3- o -葡萄糖苷含量显著增加。ABA处理显著诱导了ABA信号基因（VvABF1、VvABF2和VvPYL1）和花青素生物合成基因（VvMYBA1、VvMYBA2、VvGST4和VvGT1）的上调。通过对葡萄中64个bZIP转录因子的全基因组分析，将其划分为13个亚科。其中，属于A亚家族的VvABF1和VvABF2表现出明显的时空表达模式，其中VvABF2在皮肤和肉中高表达。系统发育和基序分析揭示了vpbzip的进化保守性和功能多样性。VvABF1与LcABF1的亲缘关系最为密切。VvABF2与LcABF2和LcbZIP32的亲和性最高，其次是MdbZIP45和MdbZIP90。此外，亚细胞定位证实了VvABF1和VvABF2的核存在。酵母单杂交和双荧光素酶实验表明，这些TFs可以激活VvMYBA1启动子的活性。这些结果表明，VvABFs通过直接调控VvMYBA1的表达介导aba诱导的花青素生物合成，为葡萄果实着色中ABA-bZIP-MYBA调控模块的研究提供了新的思路。
{"title":"Transcription factor ABFs involved in regulating anthocyanin accumulation in‘Benibalado’ grape","authors":"Hui Li , Xiaoyue Geng , Xianbin Xu , Chenxu Sun , Huan Zheng , Yaxin Yang , Jianmin Tao","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anthocyanins play a pivotal role in defining grape coloration which contribute to health-promoting properties of grape. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in promoting anthocyanin accumulation in grape berries. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying ABA-regulated coloration in ‘Benibalado’ (<em>Vitis vinifera</em> L.) grape skin through physiological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses. After ABA treatment, the berry of grapes exhibited a significantly deeper red colour, accompanied by an increase of three additional anthocyanin types and a significant rise in the contents of Peonidin 3-<em>O</em>-glucoside and Malvidin 3-<em>O</em>-glucoside. ABA treatment significantly induced upregulation of ABA signaling genes (<em>VvABF1, VvABF2</em> and <em>VvPYL1</em>) and anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (<em>VvMYBA1, VvMYBA2, VvGST4</em> and <em>VvGT1</em>). A genome-wide analysis identified 64 bZIP transcription factors (TFs) in grape, which were classified into 13 subfamilies. Among these, <em>VvABF1</em> and <em>VvABF2</em>, belonging to subfamily A, exhibited distinct spatiotemporal expression patterns, with <em>VvABF2</em> highly expressed in skin and flesh. Phylogenetic and motif analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and functional diversification among VvbZIPs. VvABF1 exhibits the closest phylogenetic relationship with LcABF1. VvABF2 showed the highest affinity with LcABF2 and LcbZIP32, followed by MdbZIP45 and MdbZIP90. Furthermore, subcellular localization confirmed the nuclear presence of both <em>VvABF1</em> and <em>VvABF2</em>. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that these TFs can active the activity of <em>VvMYBA1</em> promoter. These results indicate that VvABFs mediate ABA-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis by directly regulating <em>VvMYBA1</em> expression, providing new insights into the ABA-<em>bZIP</em>-<em>MYBA</em> regulatory module in grape berry coloration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114584"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114575
Savitha Dhandapani , Gandhimathi Chinnasamy , Shaik Anwar Ahamed Nabeela Nasreen, Vidya Susan Philip, Bong Soo Park, Somika Bhatnagar
Containerized plant cultivation is central to urban greening, horticulture, nurseries, and small-scale food production but is often limited by root circling, poor aeration, and inefficient resource use. Conventional air-pruning pots alleviate circling but cause water loss, nutrient leaching, and lack adaptability to diverse root systems. To address these limitations, we developed meshball-mediated air-pruning, a scalable method embedding stainless-steel spheres into soil to create localized aeration pockets, enabling targeted root pruning while minimizing water and soil loss. Testing across four species revealed strong benefits for ornamental shrubs: in dwarf ixora (Ixora coccinea), shoot fresh weight increased by 120 %, branch number by 55 %, and root biomass by 139 %, while firebush (Hamelia patens) showed 87 % greater height and 59 % higher root biomass compared with controls. These effects were linked to early disruption of apical dominance, stimulation of lateral roots, and improved root–shoot signaling. By contrast, pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) showed no measurable change, and white teak (Gmelina arborea) seedlings displayed reduced root biomass, underscoring species-specific responses. Structural evaluation confirmed meshballs provided stable aeration for six months without corrosion or soil intrusion. Overall, meshball-mediated air-pruning represents a resource-efficient alternative to conventional containers, particularly effective for ornamental shrubs in urban landscapes, and offers a sustainable approach to enhance root architecture, plant vigor, and survival in horticulture, forestry, and greening applications.
集装箱植物栽培是城市绿化、园艺、苗圃和小规模粮食生产的核心，但往往受到根循环、通风不良和资源利用效率低下的限制。传统的空气修剪盆减轻了循环，但造成水分流失，养分淋失，缺乏对不同根系的适应性。为了解决这些限制，我们开发了网球介导的空气修剪，这是一种可扩展的方法，将不锈钢球体嵌入土壤中，形成局部透气袋，在减少水土流失的同时实现有针对性的根系修剪。对四种观赏灌木的试验表明，与对照相比，矮灌木（ixora coccinea）的茎鲜重增加了120%，枝数增加了55%，根系生物量增加了139%，而火灌木（Hamelia patens）的高度增加了87%，根系生物量增加了59%。这些影响与早期顶端优势的破坏、侧根的刺激和根尖信号的改善有关。相比之下，小白菜（Brassica rapa var. chinensis）没有可测量的变化，白柚木（Gmelina arborea）幼苗根系生物量减少，强调物种特异性反应。结构评估证实，网球提供了稳定的曝气六个月，没有腐蚀或土壤侵入。总体而言，网状媒介的空气修剪是传统容器的一种资源高效替代方案，对城市景观中的观赏灌木特别有效，并提供了一种可持续的方法来增强园艺、林业和绿化应用中的根结构、植物活力和存活率。
{"title":"Meshball-driven air-pruning offers a resource efficient strategy for containerized cultivation in urban horticulture","authors":"Savitha Dhandapani , Gandhimathi Chinnasamy , Shaik Anwar Ahamed Nabeela Nasreen, Vidya Susan Philip, Bong Soo Park, Somika Bhatnagar","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Containerized plant cultivation is central to urban greening, horticulture, nurseries, and small-scale food production but is often limited by root circling, poor aeration, and inefficient resource use. Conventional air-pruning pots alleviate circling but cause water loss, nutrient leaching, and lack adaptability to diverse root systems. To address these limitations, we developed meshball-mediated air-pruning, a scalable method embedding stainless-steel spheres into soil to create localized aeration pockets, enabling targeted root pruning while minimizing water and soil loss. Testing across four species revealed strong benefits for ornamental shrubs: in dwarf ixora (<em>Ixora coccinea</em>), shoot fresh weight increased by 120 %, branch number by 55 %, and root biomass by 139 %, while firebush (<em>Hamelia patens</em>) showed 87 % greater height and 59 % higher root biomass compared with controls. These effects were linked to early disruption of apical dominance, stimulation of lateral roots, and improved root–shoot signaling. By contrast, pak choi (<em>Brassica rapa</em> var. <em>chinensis</em>) showed no measurable change, and white teak (<em>Gmelina arborea</em>) seedlings displayed reduced root biomass, underscoring species-specific responses. Structural evaluation confirmed meshballs provided stable aeration for six months without corrosion or soil intrusion. Overall, meshball-mediated air-pruning represents a resource-efficient alternative to conventional containers, particularly effective for ornamental shrubs in urban landscapes, and offers a sustainable approach to enhance root architecture, plant vigor, and survival in horticulture, forestry, and greening applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114575"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114582
Mary-Rus Martínez-Cuenca , Luis Andrés Ramón-Núñez , Concepción Gómez-Mena , Carles Quesada-Traver , Ana Quiñones , Matilde González , Joan Sánchez-Pascual , José Miguel Ramis-Fuambuena , Ana Puertes , Carolina Font i Forcada , Alba Lloret , Gabino Ríos
We identified a developmental disorder in a segregating population of yellow kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis), characterized by interveinal chlorosis in upper leaves, culminating in growth arrest and seedling death after developing 9–10 leaves. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and molecular basis of this phenotype through integrated phenotypic, transcriptomic, and genomic analyses. Through phenotypic characterization, we identified key alterations in chloroplast size, lower net CO2 assimilation rate, a decrease in the maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry Fv/Fm, and an altered accumulation of the nutrients phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, boron, and extractable iron in chlorotic leaves. At the transcriptional level, leaves of chlorotic plantlets overexpressed genes involved in chlorophyll metabolism, the photosynthetic apparatus and protein translation machinery, resembling a compensatory mechanism to up-regulate chloroplast and protein translation processes, which was also found in photosynthesis deficient mutants from other species. Our results pointed to a putative monogenic recessive mutation, designated chlorotic terminal (cht), which localized in a wide region of chromosome 18 by Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) and gene mapping, and affected chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthetic activity, and iron-related metabolic processes. These findings provided insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf chlorosis in kiwifruit and highlighted candidate genes for further functional characterization.
{"title":"A seedling-lethal mutation affects chloroplast biogenesis and photosynthetic gene expression in kiwifruit","authors":"Mary-Rus Martínez-Cuenca , Luis Andrés Ramón-Núñez , Concepción Gómez-Mena , Carles Quesada-Traver , Ana Quiñones , Matilde González , Joan Sánchez-Pascual , José Miguel Ramis-Fuambuena , Ana Puertes , Carolina Font i Forcada , Alba Lloret , Gabino Ríos","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114582","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114582","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We identified a developmental disorder in a segregating population of yellow kiwifruit (<em>Actinidia chinensis</em>), characterized by interveinal chlorosis in upper leaves, culminating in growth arrest and seedling death after developing 9–10 leaves. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological and molecular basis of this phenotype through integrated phenotypic, transcriptomic, and genomic analyses. Through phenotypic characterization, we identified key alterations in chloroplast size, lower net CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rate, a decrease in the maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry Fv/Fm, and an altered accumulation of the nutrients phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, boron, and extractable iron in chlorotic leaves. At the transcriptional level, leaves of chlorotic plantlets overexpressed genes involved in chlorophyll metabolism, the photosynthetic apparatus and protein translation machinery, resembling a compensatory mechanism to up-regulate chloroplast and protein translation processes, which was also found in photosynthesis deficient mutants from other species. Our results pointed to a putative monogenic recessive mutation, designated chlorotic terminal (<em>cht</em>), which localized in a wide region of chromosome 18 by Bulked Segregant Analysis (BSA) and gene mapping, and affected chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthetic activity, and iron-related metabolic processes. These findings provided insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf chlorosis in kiwifruit and highlighted candidate genes for further functional characterization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114582"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114572
Sophie C. Jones , Ryan Orr , Gerhard C. Rossouw , Harley M. Smith , Christine A. Beveridge , Lindsay M. Shaw
Fruit abscission is a complex physiological process influenced by the availability of carbohydrates, along with environmental, genetic, and hormonal cues. In perennial tree crops, such as mango (Mangifera indica L.), the abscission of fruitlets prior to maturity directly impacts yield and is a major hurdle for commercial production. Studies have demonstrated that five classes of phytohormones play a pivotal role in regulating the abscission process, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins (GA), ethylene and abscisic acid. Naturally occurring and synthetic hormones, known as plant growth regulators (PGRs), have been applied to manage fruit abscission in mango, with varying success. Here we performed a meta-analysis on available published PGR studies in mango, and found that individual applications of gibberellic acid (GA3), or synthetic versions of auxin (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) or cytokinin (forchlorfenuron) improve fruit retention and yield. Applying combinations of these PGRs has been shown to further improve fruit retention in other species but requires further exploration in mango. Carbohydrate availability also plays a critical role in fruit abscission. Experimental manipulations resulting in carbon-limiting conditions, such as defoliation coupled with girdling, consistently increase fruitlet drop. This response is thought to be mediated by hormonal pathways with low carbohydrate levels reducing auxin signalling while enhancing ethylene biosynthesis and sensitivity, tipping the balance toward abscission. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing mango fruit abscission, highlighting the intricate interactions between hormones and their application for improvement of fruit retention. Understanding these interactions will enable future studies to develop targeted interventions for improved fruit retention.
{"title":"Insights into the molecular regulation of premature fruit drop - what we have learned from mango (Mangifera indica) and other fruit crops","authors":"Sophie C. Jones , Ryan Orr , Gerhard C. Rossouw , Harley M. Smith , Christine A. Beveridge , Lindsay M. Shaw","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fruit abscission is a complex physiological process influenced by the availability of carbohydrates, along with environmental, genetic, and hormonal cues. In perennial tree crops, such as mango (<em>Mangifera indica</em> L.), the abscission of fruitlets prior to maturity directly impacts yield and is a major hurdle for commercial production. Studies have demonstrated that five classes of phytohormones play a pivotal role in regulating the abscission process, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins (GA), ethylene and abscisic acid. Naturally occurring and synthetic hormones, known as plant growth regulators (PGRs), have been applied to manage fruit abscission in mango, with varying success. Here we performed a meta-analysis on available published PGR studies in mango, and found that individual applications of gibberellic acid (GA<sub>3</sub>), or synthetic versions of auxin (1-naphthaleneacetic acid) or cytokinin (forchlorfenuron) improve fruit retention and yield. Applying combinations of these PGRs has been shown to further improve fruit retention in other species but requires further exploration in mango. Carbohydrate availability also plays a critical role in fruit abscission. Experimental manipulations resulting in carbon-limiting conditions, such as defoliation coupled with girdling, consistently increase fruitlet drop. This response is thought to be mediated by hormonal pathways with low carbohydrate levels reducing auxin signalling while enhancing ethylene biosynthesis and sensitivity, tipping the balance toward abscission. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing mango fruit abscission, highlighting the intricate interactions between hormones and their application for improvement of fruit retention. Understanding these interactions will enable future studies to develop targeted interventions for improved fruit retention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145903387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114594
Jinghua Deng , Chi Han , Weihua Wang , Jinping Cao , Zengxin Zhou , Guanghui Zhao , Xinxin Huang
This study investigated the effects of four storage temperatures—near-freezing temperature (NFT, -1 ± 1 °C), low temperature (LT, 2 ± 2 °C), near-low temperature (NLT, 12 ± 2 °C), and room temperature (RT, 22 ± 2 °C)—on the postharvest quality of winter jujubes. The freezing point of the fruit (-4.4 °C) was first determined and used to refine the NFT setting. Results showed that temperature strongly influenced respiratory metabolism, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense, forming a typical temperature-metabolism-oxidative stress-quality regulatory chain. NFT significantly suppressed respiration, reduced Malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and maintained higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Consequently, NFT best preserved total soluble solids (TSS), Titratable acidity (TA), phenolics, and ascorbic acid (AsA), while minimizing weight loss, firmness decline, and decay, resulting in the longest shelf life (70 d). LT also delayed deterioration but was less effective than NFT, whereas NLT and RT caused rapid quality loss. These findings highlight the central role of precise temperature management—particularly NFT—in maintaining postharvest quality of winter jujubes, providing practical guidance for cold-chain storage and commercial applications.
{"title":"Effects of different storage temperatures on the shelf life and quality characteristics of winter jujubes","authors":"Jinghua Deng , Chi Han , Weihua Wang , Jinping Cao , Zengxin Zhou , Guanghui Zhao , Xinxin Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the effects of four storage temperatures—near-freezing temperature (NFT, -1 ± 1 °C), low temperature (LT, 2 ± 2 °C), near-low temperature (NLT, 12 ± 2 °C), and room temperature (RT, 22 ± 2 °C)—on the postharvest quality of winter jujubes. The freezing point of the fruit (-4.4 °C) was first determined and used to refine the NFT setting. Results showed that temperature strongly influenced respiratory metabolism, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defense, forming a typical temperature-metabolism-oxidative stress-quality regulatory chain. NFT significantly suppressed respiration, reduced Malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and maintained higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Consequently, NFT best preserved total soluble solids (TSS), Titratable acidity (TA), phenolics, and ascorbic acid (AsA), while minimizing weight loss, firmness decline, and decay, resulting in the longest shelf life (70 d). LT also delayed deterioration but was less effective than NFT, whereas NLT and RT caused rapid quality loss. These findings highlight the central role of precise temperature management—particularly NFT—in maintaining postharvest quality of winter jujubes, providing practical guidance for cold-chain storage and commercial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"355 ","pages":"Article 114594"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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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