Horticultural Plant Journal最新文献

{"title":"PavbHLH102 functions as a positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in sweet cherry fruit by targeting multiple key genes","authors":"Wanjia Tang, HongFen Li, Yidi Huang, Wenyi Niu, Quanyan Du, Yizhe Chu, Yujie Gao, Runmei He, Yunjia Tang, Hongxu Chen, Yangang Pei, Ronggao Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.07.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"Anthocyanins play a crucial role in shaping the visual appeal and nutritional quality of fruits. Previous research on anthocyanin biosynthesis in sweet cherry (<ce:italic>Prunus avium</ce:italic> L.) has primarily relied on single-omics approaches or focused on a limited range of metabolites, leaving the regulatory mechanisms and dynamic metabolism of anthocyanins during ripening inadequately characterized. This study integrated anthocyanin-targeted metabolomics and transcriptomics to identify key anthocyanins in sweet cherry and construct a transcriptional regulatory network for anthocyanin biosynthesis. A novel bHLH transcription factor, <ce:italic>Prunus avium</ce:italic> bHLH transcription factor 102 (PavbHLH102), was identified, and its role in regulating cyanidin levels was validated through overexpression and silencing experiments. Both <ce:italic>in vitro</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>in vivo</ce:italic> assays demonstrated that PavbHLH102 activates key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, including <ce:italic>PavF3H</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>PavDFR</ce:italic>, and <ce:italic>PavUFGT</ce:italic>, thereby enhancing fruit coloration. Notably, <ce:italic>PavF3′H</ce:italic> upregulation significantly increased cyanidin accumulation. This study provides new insights into anthocyanin regulation in sweet cherry and offers valuable resources for improving fruit quality.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"53 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145181226","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}

{"title":"Bulk segregated analysis, transcriptome, and functional analyses reveal the involvement of VcKCS19 and VcCER2 in regulating blueberry fruit wax accumulation","authors":"Liwei Chu, Xueting Wang, Wanting Li, Siyu Zuo, Yawen Kang, Wenji Zhang, Hexin Wang, Rongli Gai, Guohui Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"The blueberry (<ce:italic>Vaccinium</ce:italic> L.) fruit is known for its light-blue appearance, attributed to its blue-black skin covered with a white waxy layer. This layer is crucial for the growth and storage of blueberry fruits. This study established an F<ce:inf loc=\"post\">1</ce:inf> mapping population of 166 plants derived from ‘Chandler’ (wax-rich) and ‘Black Pearl’ (wax-poor). Bulk segregated analysis sequencing was used to identify the candidate region associated with cuticular wax, which was finally narrowed to a 1.85 Mb segment on chromosome 11, including ten candidate genes. Further transcriptome analyses and qRT-PCR revealed that the relative expression levels of five candidate genes (<ce:italic>VcMYB36</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>VcDXS</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>VcCAMS1</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>VcCER2,</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>VcKCS19</ce:italic>) were different between ‘Chandler’ and ‘Black Pearl’. Combined with gene function annotation, we hypothesized that <ce:italic>VcKCS19</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>VcCER2</ce:italic> are key candidate genes for wax synthesis in blueberry, potentially accounting for the variations in wax content between ‘Chandler’ and ‘Black Pearl’. Transient overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing in blueberry fruit revealed that <ce:italic>VcCER2</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>VcKCS19</ce:italic> positively regulate wax accumulation in blueberry fruits. This study provided key insights into the molecular basis of wax synthesis in blueberry fruits, which provides new avenues for enhancing wax quality in genetic breeding programs.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093847","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}

{"title":"Tree thinning intensity modulates photosynthetic performance, photoprotection, and fruit quality in open-central canopy apple orchards of the Loess Plateau","authors":"Yuan Wan, Lu Lin, Hongning Wang, Lu Yu, Xiaogai Cheng, Zhiqiang Li, Zhongding Wu, Zimian Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.06.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.06.009","url":null,"abstract":"Open-central canopy (OCC) has become the popular tree shape for arboreal apple orchards in full fruit period in the Loess Plateau of China. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological regulation mechanisms related to planting density optimization, photosynthetic performance enhancement, and fruit quality improvement in dense-canopy OCC apple orchards in the Loess Plateau of China through tree thinning practices at different intensities. This study used three planting densities of OCC apple trees as experimental materials. These include no thinning [NT, 3 m (plant) × 4 m (row)], low-intensity thinning [LT, i.e., first thinning based on NT: 4 m (plant) × 6 m (row)], and high-intensity thinning [HT, i.e., second thinning based on LT: 6 m (plant) × 8 m (row)]. In three successive experimental years, changes in spatiotemporal variations of photosynthetically active radiation (&lt;ce:italic&gt;PAR&lt;/ce:italic&gt;) intercepted by canopy, leaf gas exchange, gross photosynthetic rate (&lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;g&lt;/ce:inf&gt;), photorespiration rate (&lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;r&lt;/ce:inf&gt;), nonphotochemical quenching (&lt;ce:italic&gt;NPQ&lt;/ce:italic&gt;) dark relaxation curves, antioxidant enzyme activity [ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD)], and fruit quality were carefully measured and compared. Results showed that compared with NT, LT increased &lt;ce:italic&gt;PAR&lt;/ce:italic&gt; by 36 %, maximum net photosynthetic rate under light saturation (&lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;nmax,P&lt;/ce:inf&gt;) by 30 %, carboxylation efficiency (&lt;ce:italic&gt;CE&lt;/ce:italic&gt;) by 37 %, fruit soluble solid content (SSC) by 4 %, and peel anthocyanin content (AC) by 20 %. Moreover, LT enhanced the photoprotective capacity through elevated ratio of &lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;r&lt;/ce:inf&gt; to &lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;g&lt;/ce:inf&gt; under &lt;ce:italic&gt;PAR&lt;/ce:italic&gt; of 2 000 μmol m&lt;ce:sup loc=\"post\"&gt;−2&lt;/ce:sup&gt; s&lt;ce:sup loc=\"post\"&gt;−1&lt;/ce:sup&gt; (52 %), the reversible component in &lt;ce:italic&gt;NPQ&lt;/ce:italic&gt; [r(&lt;ce:italic&gt;q&lt;/ce:italic&gt;E), 9 %], and antioxidant enzymes (SOD 10 %). Compared with NT, HT enhanced &lt;ce:italic&gt;PAR&lt;/ce:italic&gt; by 71 %, &lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;nmax,P&lt;/ce:inf&gt; by 67 %, &lt;ce:italic&gt;CE&lt;/ce:italic&gt; by 65 %, SSC by 9 %, and AC by 37 % and boosted photoprotection through increased &lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;r&lt;/ce:inf&gt;/&lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;g&lt;/ce:inf&gt; (116 %), r(&lt;ce:italic&gt;q&lt;/ce:italic&gt;E) (11 %), and SOD activity (29 %). The Pearson Correlation Coefficients between &lt;ce:italic&gt;PAR&lt;/ce:italic&gt; and the fruit quality indices (including single fruit weight, SSC, and AC) were 0.89, 0.73, and 0.96, respectively. Single fruit weight and SSC were significantly and positively correlated with photosynthetic parameters (such as &lt;ce:italic&gt;P&lt;/ce:italic&gt;&lt;ce:inf loc=\"post\"&gt;nmax,P&lt;/ce:inf&gt; and &lt;ce:italic&gt;CE&lt;/ce:italic&gt;). In summary, after tree thinning, the light e","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093865","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}

{"title":"Improving the environmental and economic sustainability of citrus orchard systems through optimization of fertilization and organic carbon amendment","authors":"Xiaohui Chen, Xiaojun Yan, Hongyang Pan, Manman Sheng, Jinhui Bao, Muhammad Atif Muneer, Liangquan Wu, Xinxin Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.04.022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.04.022","url":null,"abstract":"Excessive fertilization (NPK) and the depletion of soil organic carbon (C) have become growing concerns in subtropical orchard production, posing a threat to agricultural sustainability. To address these challenges, an integrated soil nutrient management strategy is crucial. Using pomelo orchard as a case, a two-year field experiment was conducted with three treatments, i.e., FP (NPK fertilizer overused), OPT (balanced NPK fertilization), and OPT + C (balanced NPK with organic amendments). The aim was to assess the potential benefits of balancing nutrient inputs and incorporating organic amendments for enhancing efficiency and quality production. The results revealed that, compared to the FP treatment, the OPT treatment significantly reduced environmental footprints: 92.7% for carbon, 85.4% for nitrogen, and 99.9% for phosphorus, while simultaneously improving the benefit-cost ratio by 80.8%. Furthermore, the OPT + C treatment outperformed the OPT treatment by improving fruit yield (by 8.7%) and fruit quality, as indicated by the lowest titratable acidity (0.62%) and highest vitamin C content (403.2 mg kg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup>). Structural equation modeling revealed that balanced NPK fertilization improved root morphology, achieving a synergistic balance between economic and environmental efficiency while maintaining pomelo yield. Additionally, organic amendments positively influenced soil properties and enzyme activities, promoting a synergistic increase in both pomelo yield and quality. In conclusion, the combination of balanced NPK and organic amendments led to synergistic improvements in pomelo yield, fruit quality, environmental footprints, and benefit-cost ratio. These findings provide a valuable framework for improving orchard efficiency and quality production through an integrated soil nutrient management strategy.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093841","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}

{"title":"Genome-wide identification of the GDSL esterase/lipase gene family in cucumber and functional characterization of CsGELP57 in fruit cuticle development","authors":"Xuling Zhai, Lin Chen, Wenrui Liu, Jinqiang Yan, Piaoyun Sun, Zhenqiang Cao, Jiesheng Hong, Dian Li, Xiaoxin Cheng, Biao Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.06.010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.06.010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"52 4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093840","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}

{"title":"Diverse functions of C2H2 zinc-finger transcription factors in growth regulation and stress adaptation in woody and perennial horticultural plants","authors":"Minhui Li, Chenhao Zhu, Cheng Jiang, Yi An, Lichao Huang, Ningning Chen, Mengzhu Lu, Fengxia Tian, Jin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"C2H2 zinc finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs), one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, exhibit unique functional diversity in woody and horticultural species due to their modular architecture and regulatory flexibility. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding their roles in perennial growth cycles and horticultural trait regulation, with a focus on their contributions to fruit development, secondary growth, and complex environmental adaptation. Structurally, C2H2-ZFPs harbor conserved zinc-coordinating motifs (C2H2 domains) and regulatory domains, enabling precise transcriptional control of developmental processes. In woody and horticultural plants, they integrate hormonal signals (e.g., auxin, ABA) and environmental cues (e.g., drought, photoperiod) to regulate seasonal dormancy and flowering timing in horticultural species, cambial activity for wood formation, and fruit ripening processes. Under abiotic stress, C2H2-ZFPs act as key modulators in ABA-dependent and independent pathways, governing osmotic balance, redox homeostasis, and stress memory. Meanwhile, emerging evidence also highlights their involvement in biotic stress responses. However, dissecting their regulatory networks in woody and horticultural species remains challenging due to genomic redundancy and complex regulatory layers. Future research should leverage multi-omics approaches and CRISPR-based tools to uncover their functional redundancy and species-specific adaptations, thereby advancing sustainable forestry and precision horticulture breeding under climate change.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059395","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}

{"title":"PbrMYB31–PbrbHLH147 complex activity in response to ABA promotes fatty acid biosynthesis for suberin deposition in the russet mutant of ‘Dangshansuli’","authors":"Xiexuan Wang, Lingxia Chen, Lindong Dou, Jinhui Yu, Xueqian Wang, Satoru Kondo, Takanori Saito, ZiXiao Wu, Jie Denga, Bing Jia, Zhenfeng Ye, Lun Liu, Xiaomei Tang, Li Liu, Wei Heng","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.014","url":null,"abstract":"Suberin is a naturally occurring polymer found in plant cell walls that plays crucial roles in protecting plants from environmental stress and enhancing resistance to pathogens. Despite its biological importance, the molecular regulatory networks governing suberin biosynthesis are not fully understood. In the russet pericarp of ‘Dangshanjinsu’ pear, suberin accumulation, which is enriched with very long-chain fatty acids, contributes to the formation of a robust protective barrier. Transcriptome data analysis revealed that PbrMYB31 and PbrbHLH147 were the key differentially expressed transcription factors in the pericarp of both ‘Dangshansuli’ and ‘Dangshanjinsu’ at various developmental stages. In this study, overexpression of <ce:italic>PbrMYB31</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>PbrbHLH147</ce:italic> was found to positively regulate long-chain fatty acid synthesis, promote suberin formation, and increase sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). Additionally, PbrMYB31 interacts with PbrbHLH147, forming a regulatory complex that synergistically extends the carbon chain length of fatty acids, a critical step in suberin assembly. ABA signaling was shown to integrate into this pathway, further modulating suberin production and linking hormonal regulation with structural barrier formation. This study provides novel insights into the genetic and hormonal control of suberin biosynthesis in russeted pear pericarp, emphasizing its critical role in enhancing fruit protection, improving quality, and extending shelf life, thereby contributing to advancements in horticultural science and sustainable fruit production.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059348","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}

{"title":"Multi-omics provides insights into the genetic influence on characteristic aroma formation of Xinhui Chenpi","authors":"Hangxiu Liu, Weikang Zheng, Jiahao Xu, Li Zhou, Mengting Zong, Sheng Wang, Yiheng Wang, Wang Zhang, Hao Zuo, Shengjun Liu, Qi Li, Dehua Wu, Qingjun Yuan, Chuanzhi Kang, Qiang Xu, Luqi Huang, Lanping Guo, Zhaocheng Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.016","url":null,"abstract":"Xinhui Chenpi, the dried mature fruit peel of <ce:italic>Citrus reticulata</ce:italic> ‘Chachi’ (Cha-Zhi-Gan, CZG), is a geo-authentic materia medica widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite its distinctive aroma, the influence of genetic background on volatile metabolite accumulation has not been fully understood. In this study, 11 volatile metabolites, including methyl 2-(methylamino)benzoate and γ-terpinene, were found at significantly higher concentrations in Xinhui Chenpi than in other Chenpi resources. A complete telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome assembly of CZG (326.6 Mb) was generated, and genome sequences of 33 mandarin accessions were compiled to elucidate the origin and domestication of CZG. Comparative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses across five developmental stages of <ce:italic>C. reticulata</ce:italic> ‘Unshiu’ (Guo-Qing-Yi-Hao, GQYH) peels revealed significantly elevated levels of 20 volatile compounds and differential expression of 2525 genes in CZG peels. Notably, higher levels of methyl 2-(methylamino)benzoate were associated with the upregulation of <ce:italic>CreBSMT1</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>CreCHD1</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>CrePAL1</ce:italic>, whereas increased γ-terpinene levels correlated with the upregulation of <ce:italic>CreGPPS2</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>CreMTSL61</ce:italic>, and <ce:italic>CreMTSL3</ce:italic>. Integration of metabolomic and transcriptomic data enabled the construction of a regulatory network for volatile metabolite biosynthesis in CZG. A <ce:italic>NAC</ce:italic> transcription factor, <ce:italic>CreNAC8,</ce:italic> was identified as a key regulator of both methyl 2-(methylamino)benzoate and γ-terpinene accumulation. Transient overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assays confirmed that <ce:italic>CreNAC8</ce:italic> regulated the accumulation of γ-terpinene and methyl 2-(methylamino)benzoate in CZG fruit peels through the regulation of <ce:italic>CreMTSL61</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>CreCHD1</ce:italic>, respectively. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the characteristic aroma formation of Xinhui Chenpi.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"66 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059349","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}

{"title":"PomiR164 targets PoLBD25 to promote early flowering in tree peony","authors":"Jingshan Gao, Mengxue Niu, Yang Lei, Xiaohui Wang, Zuqi Zhang, Dingding Zuo, Chenjie Zhang, Yuying Li, Chengwei Song, Qi Guo, Lili Guo, Xiaogai Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.05.015","url":null,"abstract":"Tree peony (<ce:italic>Paeonia Section</ce:italic> Moutan DC.), a highly valued ornamental plant, has a short and concentrated blooming period, which limits its economic and aesthetic value. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the flowering time in peony. In this study, we profiled small RNAs across sequential floral stages of tree peony (<ce:italic>Paeonia suffruticosa</ce:italic>) and identified miR164 as a putative flowering-time regulator. Dual-luciferase reporter assays coupled with co-expression in <ce:italic>Nicotiana benthamiana</ce:italic> demonstrated that miR164 directly recognizes and promotes the degradation of PoLBD25 transcripts. Mining of the peony genome recovered 25 LBD homologues (PoLBD1–25) that are non-randomly distributed on five chromosomes and were systematically designated according to their physicochemical properties. qRT-PCR revealed that <ce:italic>PoLBDs</ce:italic> were expressed throughout the flowering stages, with the highest expression during the color-exposure stage. Using homologous transient transformation and heterologous stable transformation, we obtained transgenic peony with altered expression of PomiR164 and <ce:italic>PoLBD25</ce:italic> genes and transgenic tobacco overexpressing these genes. PomiR164a overexpression promoted early flowering, and silencing caused delayed flowering. In contrast, <ce:italic>PoLBD25</ce:italic> overexpression delayed flowering, and its silencing resulted in early flowering. Taken together, our study elucidates the critical role of the PomiR164–<ce:italic>PoLBD25</ce:italic> module in regulating the flowering time in peony, providing a theoretical basis for flowering control and genetic breeding in peony.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059351","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}

{"title":"Dedifferentiation and redifferentiation: The developing cell fate transition of plants","authors":"Asia Maqbool, Mengxiao Lu, Noor Muhammad, Naila Mir Baz, Mengjun Liu, Zhiguo Liu, Lixin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.hpj.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpj.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"Plant cells retain the ability for cellular reprogramming, including totipotency and pluripotency, enabling them to revert their cell fate from differentiated to dedifferentiated one and subsequently redifferentiate under specific physiological and environmental cues. In response to these cues, endogenous phytohormones, genetic landscapes, and epigenetic remodeling play a significant role in initiating the reprogramming of somatic cells and re-establishment of an organized structure. Detailed studies on dedifferentiation have gradually unraveled the involvement of stem-like cells during early callus formation, along with the existence of QC-like transcriptional features in the middle cell layer of callus, which exhibits organ regeneration ability. Tracking natural variations and real-time regeneration dynamics across species, combined with single-cell RNA sequencing, will enable the identification of key developmental regulators and small peptides. These breakthroughs can be applied to enhance regeneration efficiency, improve transformation in recalcitrant species, and accelerate next-generation crop development. The current review summarizes the longstanding history and ongoing research progress in two pathways: dedifferentiation and redifferentiation. It also highlights how hormonal effects on the genetic factors and provides insights into how genetic signatures interact with epigenetic landscapes to drive these processes. It highlights the potential applications of developmental regulators for efficient gene transformation to enhance plant genetic engineering, while also addressing fundamental questions and identifying research gaps to guide future studies.","PeriodicalId":13178,"journal":{"name":"Horticultural Plant Journal","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145059352","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}