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Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0
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Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 4690

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhiyong Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Lab of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China
Interests: plant genomics and genetics; molecular breeding; plant physiology; carbon partitioning; seed development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China
Interests: plant genetics; molecular biology; biochemistry; transcriptome; proteome approaches; synthetic biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue “Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding”.

Over recent decades, crop breeding has greatly benefited from the knowledge of plant genomics and genetics, as well as the development of modern biotechnologies. It is imperative to explore the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying various plant developmental and growth processes, as it underpins crop yield, grain quality, and stress adaptions. The goal of this Special Issue, “Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding”, in IJMS is to present an overview of the latest fundamental discoveries in the field of plant genomics, as well as the potential utilization of biotechnologies in crop genetic improvement. We welcome all types of submissions, including original research, reviews, methodologies, mini reviews, perspectives, and opinion articles in this field, including (but not limited to) research covering:

  • Genetic and functional characterization of genes regulating important plant development processes or agronomic traits;
  • Genetic improvement in crops using gene editing and other modern biotechnologies;
  • Discovery, characterization, and application of germplasm resources with elite traits.

Dr. Zhiyong Li
Dr. Jian Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gene cloning and function
  • genetic engineering
  • molecular genetics
  • genome editing
  • regulatory mechanisms
  • germplasm enhancement
  • molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 9529 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Profiling Reveals the Variations in Carbohydrate Metabolism between Two Blueberry Cultivars
by Haiyan Yang, Zhiwen Wei, Yaqiong Wu, Chunhong Zhang, Lianfei Lyu, Wenlong Wu and Weilin Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010293 - 25 Dec 2023
Viewed by 842
Abstract
Blueberry is a high-quality fruit tree with significant nutritional and economic value, but the intricate mechanism of sugar accumulation in its fruit remains unclear. In this study, the ripe fruits of blueberry cultivars ‘Anna’ and ‘Misty’ were utilized as experimental materials, and physiological [...] Read more.
Blueberry is a high-quality fruit tree with significant nutritional and economic value, but the intricate mechanism of sugar accumulation in its fruit remains unclear. In this study, the ripe fruits of blueberry cultivars ‘Anna’ and ‘Misty’ were utilized as experimental materials, and physiological and multi-omics methodologies were applied to analyze the regulatory mechanisms of the difference in sugar content between them. The results demonstrated that the ‘Anna’ fruit was smaller and had less hardness than the ‘Misty’ fruit, as well as higher sugar content, antioxidant capability, and lower active substance content. A total of 7067 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (3674 up-regulated and 3393 down-regulated) and 140 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) (82 up-regulated and 58 down-regulated) were identified between the fruits of the two cultivars. According to KEGG analysis, DEGs were primarily abundant in phenylpropanoid synthesis and hormone signal transduction pathways, whereas DAMs were primarily enriched in ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway. A combined multi-omics study showed that 116 DEGs and 3 DAMs in starch and sucrose metabolism (48 DEGs and 1 DAM), glycolysis and gluconeogenesis (54 DEGs and 1 DAM), and the pentose phosphate pathway (14 DEGs and 1 DAM) were significantly enriched. These findings suggest that blueberries predominantly increase sugar accumulation by activating carbon metabolism network pathways. Moreover, we identified critical transcription factors linked to the sugar response. This study presents new understandings regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying blueberry sugar accumulation and will be helpful in improving blueberry fruit quality through breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0)
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19 pages, 4878 KiB  
Article
Hub Genes in Stable QTLs Orchestrate the Accumulation of Cottonseed Oil in Upland Cotton via Catalyzing Key Steps of Lipid-Related Pathways
by Beena Alam, Ruixian Liu, Juwu Gong, Junwen Li, Haoliang Yan, Qun Ge, Xianghui Xiao, Jingtao Pan, Haihong Shang, Yuzhen Shi, Youlu Yuan and Wankui Gong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16595; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316595 - 22 Nov 2023
Viewed by 736
Abstract
Upland cotton is the fifth-largest oil crop in the world, with an average supply of nearly 20% of vegetable oil production. Cottonseed oil is also an ideal alternative raw material to be efficiently converted into biodiesel. However, the improvement in kernel oil content [...] Read more.
Upland cotton is the fifth-largest oil crop in the world, with an average supply of nearly 20% of vegetable oil production. Cottonseed oil is also an ideal alternative raw material to be efficiently converted into biodiesel. However, the improvement in kernel oil content (KOC) of cottonseed has not received sufficient attention from researchers for a long time, due to the fact that the main product of cotton planting is fiber. Previous studies have tagged QTLs and identified individual candidate genes that regulate KOC of cottonseed. The regulatory mechanism of oil metabolism and accumulation of cottonseed are still elusive. In the current study, two high-density genetic maps (HDGMs), which were constructed based on a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 231 individuals, were used to identify KOC QTLs. A total of forty-three stable QTLs were detected via these two HDGM strategies. Bioinformatic analysis of all the genes harbored in the marker intervals of the stable QTLs revealed that a total of fifty-one genes were involved in the pathways related to lipid biosynthesis. Functional analysis via coexpression network and RNA-seq revealed that the hub genes in the co-expression network that also catalyze the key steps of fatty acid synthesis, lipid metabolism and oil body formation pathways (ACX4, LACS4, KCR1, and SQD1) could jointly orchestrate oil accumulation in cottonseed. This study will strengthen our understanding of oil metabolism and accumulation in cottonseed and contribute to KOC improvement in cottonseed in the future, enhancing the security and stability of worldwide food supply. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0)
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21 pages, 9447 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and Physiological Analysis of Rapeseed Tolerance to Post-Flowering Temperature Increase
by Javier Canales, José F. Verdejo and Daniel F. Calderini
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15593; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115593 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 925
Abstract
Climate-change-induced temperature fluctuations pose a significant threat to crop production, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. This study investigates the transcriptome and physiological responses of rapeseed to post-flowering temperature increases, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rapeseed tolerance to heat stress. Two [...] Read more.
Climate-change-induced temperature fluctuations pose a significant threat to crop production, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. This study investigates the transcriptome and physiological responses of rapeseed to post-flowering temperature increases, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying rapeseed tolerance to heat stress. Two rapeseed genotypes, Lumen and Solar, were assessed under control and heat stress conditions in field experiments conducted in Valdivia, Chile. Results showed that seed yield and seed number were negatively affected by heat stress, with genotype-specific responses. Lumen exhibited an average of 9.3% seed yield reduction, whereas Solar showed a 28.7% reduction. RNA-seq analysis of siliques and seeds revealed tissue-specific responses to heat stress, with siliques being more sensitive to temperature stress. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified distinct gene clusters reflecting different aspects of heat stress adaptation in siliques, with a role for protein folding in maintaining silique development and seed quality under high-temperature conditions. In seeds, three distinct patterns of heat-responsive gene expression were observed, with genes involved in protein folding and response to heat showing genotype-specific expression. Gene coexpression network analysis revealed major modules for rapeseed yield and quality, as well as the trade-off between seed number and seed weight. Overall, this study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying rapeseed tolerance to heat stress and can inform crop improvement strategies targeting yield optimization under changing environmental conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0)
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21 pages, 7324 KiB  
Article
Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveal the Underlying Mechanism of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Toona sinensis Leaves
by Jing Xu, Yanru Fan, Xiaojiao Han, Huanhuan Pan, Jianhua Dai, Yi Wei, Renying Zhuo and Jun Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015459 - 23 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1061
Abstract
Toona sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Toon, is a plant species that possesses noteworthy value as a tree and vegetable. Its tender young buds exhibit a diverse range of colors, primarily determined by the presence and composition of anthocyanins and flavonoids. However, [...] Read more.
Toona sinensis, commonly known as Chinese Toon, is a plant species that possesses noteworthy value as a tree and vegetable. Its tender young buds exhibit a diverse range of colors, primarily determined by the presence and composition of anthocyanins and flavonoids. However, the underlying mechanisms of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Toona sinensis have been rarely reported. To explore the related genes and metabolites associated with composition of leaf color, we conducted an analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome of five distinct Toona clones. The results showed that differentially expressed genes and metabolites involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway were mainly enriched. A conjoint analysis of transcripts and metabolites was carried out in JFC (red) and LFC (green), resulting in the identification of 510 genes and 23 anthocyanin-related metabolites with a positive correlation coefficient greater than 0.8. Among these genes and metabolites, 23 transcription factors and phytohormone-related genes showed strong coefficients with 13 anthocyanin derivates, which mainly belonged to the stable types of delphinidin, cyanidin, peonidin. The core derivative was found to be Cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, which was present in JFC at 520.93 times the abundance compared to LFC. Additionally, the regulatory network and relative expression levels of genes revealed that the structural genes DFR, ANS, and UFGT1 might be directly or indirectly regulated by the transcription factors SOC1 (MADS-box), CPC (MYB), and bHLH162 (bHLH) to control the accumulation of anthocyanin. The expression of these genes was significantly higher in red clones compared to green clones. Furthermore, RNA-seq results accurately reflected the true expression levels of genes. Overall, this study provides a foundation for future research aimed at manipulating anthocyanin biosynthesis to improve plant coloration or to derive human health benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0)
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16 pages, 2625 KiB  
Article
Screening and Validation of Appropriate Reference Genes for Real-Time Quantitative PCR under PEG, NaCl and ZnSO4 Treatments in Broussonetia papyrifera
by Mengdi Chen, Zhengbo Wang, Ziyuan Hao, Hongying Li, Qi Feng, Xue Yang, Xiaojiao Han and Xiping Zhao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15087; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015087 - 11 Oct 2023
Viewed by 770
Abstract
Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has a high sensitivity and strong specificity, and is widely used in the analysis of gene expression. Selecting appropriate internal reference genes is the key to accurately analyzing the expression changes of target genes by RT-qPCR. To find out [...] Read more.
Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has a high sensitivity and strong specificity, and is widely used in the analysis of gene expression. Selecting appropriate internal reference genes is the key to accurately analyzing the expression changes of target genes by RT-qPCR. To find out the most suitable internal reference genes for studying the gene expression in Broussonetia papyrifera under abiotic stresses (including drought, salt, and ZnSO4 treatments), seven different tissues of B. papyrifera, as well as the roots, stems, and leaves of B. papyrifera under the abiotic stresses were used as test materials, and 15 candidate internal reference genes were screened based on the transcriptome data via RT-qPCR. Then, the expression stability of the candidate genes was comprehensively evaluated through the software geNorm (v3.5), NormFinder (v0.953), BestKeeper (v1.0), and RefFinder. The best internal reference genes and their combinations were screened out according to the analysis results. rRNA and Actin were the best reference genes under drought stress. Under salt stress, DOUB, HSP, NADH, and rRNA were the most stable reference genes. Under heavy metal stress, HSP and NADH were the most suitable reference genes. EIF3 and Actin were the most suitable internal reference genes in the different tissues of B. papyrifera. In addition, HSP, rRNA, NADH, and UBC were the most suitable internal reference genes for the abiotic stresses and the different tissues of B. papyrifera. The expression patterns of DREB and POD were analyzed by using the selected stable and unstable reference genes. This further verified the reliability of the screened internal reference genes. This study lays the foundation for the functional analysis and regulatory mechanism research of genes in B. papyrifera. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Plant Genomics and Breeding 2.0)
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