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Horticulturae
Special Issues
Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops
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Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Genetics, Genomics, Breeding, and Biotechnology (G2B2)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 3927

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yue Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Interests: vegetable genetics; molecular breeding; Chinese cabbage; microspore culture
Dr. Yun Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Interests: Brassica crops; vegetable genetics; molecular breeding; microspore culture
Dr. Jian Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: vegetable genetic breeding; genomics; genetic resources; molecular breeding
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Brassica crops, such as Chinese cabbage and cabbage, are important vegetable, oil, and feed crops, holding a significant position in global agricultural production. Studying their genetics and molecular breeding can first deeply reveal the genetic characteristics and gene structure of these crops, providing a scientific basis for understanding their traits such as growth and development, stress resistance, yield, and quality. Through genetic research, the roles of different genes in crop trait formation can be clarified, providing a theoretical foundation for subsequent molecular breeding. Secondly, molecular breeding technology can achieve the precise modification of crop genes, thereby cultivating new varieties with excellent traits. Additionally, with the continuous development of genome sequencing technology, significant progress has been made in the genome research of Brassica crops. This genomic information provides valuable resources for the in-depth analysis of crop genetic variation, discovery of beneficial genes, implementation of marker-assisted selection, and gene editing.

This Special Issue aims to share any knowledge on the genetics and molecular breeding of Brassica crops, providing a scientific basis and technical support for deeply understanding the genetic characteristics and gene structure of Brassica crops; cultivating excellent new varieties; improving the yield, quality, and stress resistance of cruciferous crops; and enhancing agricultural production efficiency.

Dr. Yue Gao
Dr. Yun Zhang
Dr. Jian Wu
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • molecular biotechnology
  • molecular markers
  • genome sequencing
  • genetic improvement
  • disease resistance genes
  • vegetable germplasm resources

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 3899 KB  
Article
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Knockout of BnaFAH Enhanced Brassica napus Resistance to Plutella xylostella Under a 2-Day Short-Day Photoperiod
by Tiantian Zhi, Zhou Zhou, Chen Shi, Meiqiong Xie, Gang Chen and Cui Lu
Horticulturae 2026, 12(4), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12040403 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 325
Abstract
The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) severely threatens global oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production. This study demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of two homologous BnaFAH, involved in tyrosine degradation, confers enhanced Brassica napus resistance to Plutella xylostella under a 2-day [...] Read more.
The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) severely threatens global oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production. This study demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of two homologous BnaFAH, involved in tyrosine degradation, confers enhanced Brassica napus resistance to Plutella xylostella under a 2-day short-day (SD2) photoperiod. Multi-omics analyses revealed that this resistance is associated with a coordinated response: BnaFAH deficiency triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which is closely associated with activating the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic and signaling pathways. This led to significant upregulation of key JA biosynthetic genes and accumulation of JA, its precursors (OPDA, OPC-4, and OPC-6), and bioactive conjugates (JA-Ile and JA-Phe). Pharmacological analyses support the central role of JA, as exogenous application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhanced insect resistance, whereas the JA biosynthesis inhibitor DIECA suppressed resistance. Scavenging ROS with sodium selenite prevented both JA pathway upregulation and insect resistance, suggesting that ROS may act upstream to activate the JA biosynthetic and signaling pathways. These findings support a previously unrecognized “photoperiod-dependent ROS-JA” defense module, revealing how metabolic perturbation under specific environmental cues can be co-opted to enhance plant immunity, offering new targets for breeding resistant rapeseed varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops)
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18 pages, 5845 KB  
Article
Characterization and Expression Profiling of Orphan Genes in Rapeseed (Brassica napus) Provide Insights into Tissue Development and Cold Stress Adaptation
by Hong Lang, Yuting Zhang, Baofeng Wang, Kexin Li and Mingliang Jiang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070826 - 11 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Orphan genes (OGs) lack homologs in related species and have been associated with adaptive evolution. However, it is poorly characterized in Brassica napus (rapeseed). This study aims to identify and characterize OGs in rapeseed to evaluate their association with stress adaptation and lineage-specific [...] Read more.
Orphan genes (OGs) lack homologs in related species and have been associated with adaptive evolution. However, it is poorly characterized in Brassica napus (rapeseed). This study aims to identify and characterize OGs in rapeseed to evaluate their association with stress adaptation and lineage-specific traits. Through comprehensive comparative genomics analysis, all rapeseed genes were categorized into four distinct evolutionary classes. Furthermore, bioinformatics analyses were carried out to evaluate the structural, evolutionary, and expression dynamics, which were further validated by qRT-PCR analysis of different tissues and in cold stress. In total, 4 B. napus OGs (BnaOGs), 2859 Brassica-specific genes (BSGs), 9650 Cruciferae-specific genes (CSGs), and 94,720 evolutionarily conserved genes (ECGs) were identified. BnaOGs and BSGs indicated shorter sequences, higher GC content, fewer transcription factors, and limited functional annotation compared to ECGs. Similarly, transcriptomic analysis determined the tissue-specific and stress-responsive expression patterns in BnaOGs and BSGs. qRT-PCR validation revealed four BnaOGs and five BSGs from different tissue-specific and cold-responsive expression modules in rapeseed. Overall, this study identified OGs associated with lineage-specific adaptation in rapeseed, potentially related to cold tolerance and phenotypic diversity. The identified expression patterns and structural divergence provide novel insights for breeding stress-resilient varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops)
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13 pages, 2865 KB  
Article
Fine Mapping of BrTCP1 as a Key Regulator of Branching in Flowering Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)
by Chuanhong Liu, Xinghua Qi, Shuo Fu, Chao Zheng, Chao Wu, Xiaoyu Li, Yun Zhang and Xueling Ye
Horticulturae 2025, 11(7), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11070824 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1048
Abstract
Branching is a critical agronomic trait in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), influencing plant architecture and yield. In this study, there was a highly significant difference between CX010 (single primary rosette branches) and BCT18 (multiple primary rosette branches). Phenotypic [...] Read more.
Branching is a critical agronomic trait in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), influencing plant architecture and yield. In this study, there was a highly significant difference between CX010 (single primary rosette branches) and BCT18 (multiple primary rosette branches). Phenotypic analysis revealed significant differences in primary rosette branch numbers, with BCT18 showing up to 15 branches and CX010 displaying only one main stem branch. Genetic analysis indicated that branching was controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTL) with a normal distribution of branch numbers. Using bulked segregant analysis coupled with sequencing (BSA-seq), we identified a candidate interval of approximately 2.96 Mb on chromosome A07 linked to branching. Fine mapping narrowed this to a 172 kb region containing 29 genes, with BraA07g032600.3C (BrTCP1) as the most likely candidate. cDNA cloning of the BrTCP1 gene revealed several variations in BCT18 compared to CX010, including a 6 bp insertion, 10 SNPs, and two single-nucleotide deletions. Expression analysis indicated that BrTCP1 was highly expressed in the rosette stems of CX010 compared to BCT18, consistent with its role as a branching suppressor. The heterologous mutants in Arabidopsis confirmed the conserved role of BrTCP1 in branch inhibition. These findings reveal that BrTCP1 might be a key regulator of branching in flowering Chinese cabbage, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this trait and offering a framework for genetic improvement in Brassica crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops)
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Review

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17 pages, 4802 KB  
Review
Deciphering Defense Mechanisms and Genetic Determinants of Insect Resistance in Brassica Species
by Yiran Xu, Faujiah Nurhasanah Ritonga, Yancan Li, Jianwei Gao and Cheng Li
Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020222 - 11 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 665
Abstract
Brassica crops (genus Brassica) represent globally important vegetables and oilseeds, yet are continuously threatened by insect pests that reduce yield and quality. While classical physiological and chemical defense mechanisms such as the glucosinolate–myrosinase system have been well documented, recent advances in genomics [...] Read more.
Brassica crops (genus Brassica) represent globally important vegetables and oilseeds, yet are continuously threatened by insect pests that reduce yield and quality. While classical physiological and chemical defense mechanisms such as the glucosinolate–myrosinase system have been well documented, recent advances in genomics and molecular biology are beginning to unravel the genetic basis of insect resistance in Brassica species. Notably, emerging evidence highlights the central role of jasmonic acid (JA) signaling and the transcription factor MYC2 as a master regulator of inducible defense responses, where stress-induced degradation of JAZ repressors releases MYC2 to activate downstream defense genes and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This review synthesizes the current understanding of defense mechanisms in Brassica against herbivores, highlights identified resistance genes and their functional roles, and examines the knowledge gaps that hinder progress in molecular breeding. We then explore future molecular approaches including high-throughput omics, gene editing, and resistance gene mining that hold promise for designing durable insect-resistant Brassica cultivars. To our knowledge, major insect resistance loci are relatively scarce compared to pathogen-resistant loci. We argue for integrated strategies combining classical breeding, biotechnology, and ecological management to accelerate the development of resilient Brassica germplasm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Molecular Breeding of Brassica Crops)
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