Scientia Horticulturae最新文献

{"title":"MlTT8 enhances anthocyanin biosynthesis in Magnolia liliiflora by interacting with proteins and directly binding to the MlCHS promoter","authors":"Jing-Jing Wang,&nbsp;Chao Wu,&nbsp;Meng-Yi Dai,&nbsp;Zhuo-Wei Wang,&nbsp;Feng Tian,&nbsp;Sen-Yu Zhu,&nbsp;Xiao-Jun Chen,&nbsp;Ya-Mei Shen,&nbsp;Jing-Jing Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The IIIf bHLH (basic/helix-loop-helix) subfamily controls plant anthocyanin production, but the specific regulatory mechanisms in <em>Magnolia liliiflora</em> are not well understood. Phylogenetic analysis of IIIf bHLH members identified anthocyanin pathway regulators, revealing two members in <em>M. liliiflora</em>. Among them, <em>TRANSPARENT TESTA 8</em> (<em>TT8</em>) was identified as a potential positive regulator for further investigation based on sequence alignment. Nuclear localization was observed for MlTT8 and exhibited high expression levels in floral buds, particularly during the initial stages. <em>MlTT8</em> overexpression enhanced anthocyanin accumulation and upregulated biosynthetic genes in <em>Nicotiana tabacum</em>. Yeast Two-hybrid (Y2H) analysis combined with bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays confirmed the formation of active MlTT8- MlMYB75 (R2R3-MYB transcription factor 75), MlTT8-MlTTG1 (Transparent Testa Glabra 1), MlTT8- MlMYC1 (MYELOCYTOMATOSIS 1) and MlTT8-MlTT8 protein complexes. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that MlTT8 directly activates the Chalcone Synthase (CHS) promoter to enhance anthocyanin synthesis through Yeast One-hybrid system (Y1H) combined with dual-Luciferase Reporter system (dual-Luc). These findings elucidated a regulatory module in which MlTT8 forms complex with other proteins and directly activates to enhance anthocyanin biosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114355"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889542","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}

{"title":"Exogenous application of acetoin promotes tomato seedling growth and alters the transcriptome profile","authors":"Yu Song ,&nbsp;Rongjun Yin ,&nbsp;Hui Shen ,&nbsp;Fangfang Ren ,&nbsp;Xin Tao ,&nbsp;Hanwen Cui ,&nbsp;Weiye Chen ,&nbsp;Nan Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114350","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114350","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbially derived volatile organic compounds can influence plant growth and bolster systemic resistance; however, the respective transcriptional changes are unclear. This study focused on acetoin, a specific volatile organic compound, to assess its impact on the growth of tomato seedlings across various concentrations. In a hydroponic experiment, optimal growth was observed at a concentration of 0.5 g L⁻¹ acetoin, which also facilitated an increase in photosynthetic activity in the seedlings. At 6 hours, a total of 796, 62, and 114 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the leaves, stems, and roots, respectively. After 24 hours, the numbers increased significantly to 517, 450, and 3,981, respectively, comprising predominantly upregulated DEGs. The DEGs were annotated using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, revealing significant enrichment in pathways related to plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interactions. The pronounced upregulation of genes associated with stress responses and auxin biosynthesis likely contributed to enhanced plant growth and stress resilience. Physiological assessments indicated that acetoin treatment significantly increased the levels of indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, glycosylated salicylic acid, and trans-zeatin in tomato leaves, ultimately facilitating seedling growth. These results suggest potential molecular targets for the breeding of stress-resistant crops and highlight the promising application of acetoin as a microbial fertilizer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114350"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878164","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}

{"title":"Transcriptome analysis-based inference of magnolin metabolic pathways in Magnolia: Enhancing Xinyi production and quality management","authors":"Runkai Zheng ,&nbsp;Dongmei Zhang ,&nbsp;Lijuan Yin ,&nbsp;Renjie Fu ,&nbsp;Guixia Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Xinyi, the dried flower buds of specific <em>Magnolia</em> species used in traditional Chinese medicine, relies on magnolin as a key quality marker. Yet its biosynthetic pathway remains largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying species-specific and developmental variation in magnolin accumulation in <em>Magnolia</em> flower buds. We quantified magnolin content via HPLC and performed transcriptome analysis on flower buds of <em>Magnolia biondii, M. denudata</em> and <em>M. liliiflora</em> during key developmental stages (October and November). <em>M. biondii</em> exhibited significantly higher magnolin content than <em>M. denudata</em> and <em>M. liliiflora</em>. Transcriptomics identified the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway as central to magnolin variation. Crucially, 25 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) encoding key pathway enzymes were upregulated in high-magnolin accessions and during October compared to November. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR validation further revealed that expression of downstream biosynthetic genes peaked in August-September, preceding peak magnolin accumulation in October. Taken together these findings elucidate the core magnolin biosynthetic pathway and identified key regulatory genes, providing a molecular basis for selecting elite <em>M. biondii</em> germplasm and optimizing harvest timing to enhance the yield and therapeutical quality of Xinyi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114331"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828565","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}

{"title":"Towards genomic-assisted breeding in sweet pepper: Fruit morphology and selective sweep analysis in MAGIC founders","authors":"Matteo Martina ,&nbsp;Nike Gianoglio ,&nbsp;Lorenzo Barchi ,&nbsp;Luciana Gaccione ,&nbsp;Chiara Milanesi ,&nbsp;Alberto Acquadro ,&nbsp;Ezio Portis","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sweet pepper (<em>Capsicum annuum</em> L.) holds significant economic and nutritional value, with fruit shape being a key trait influencing marketability and consumer preferences. Traditional breeding approaches for improving fruit morphology are labor-intensive, requiring novel strategies to accelerate genetic gains. A Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) population was developed from eight diverse <em>C. annuum</em> accessions to capture extensive genetic diversity. At present, the population is in the G₆ developmental stage. To characterize the variability captured by the crossings, whole-genome sequencing of parental lines was performed, identifying ∼39.3 million polymorphisms, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and structural variants (SVs). A preliminary selective sweep (SS) analysis based on sequencing data of the 8 parentals lines, together with 8 Italian landraces, was conducted, leading to the identification of genomic regions associated with fruit morphology. In these regions, candidate genes involved in transcription regulation and hormone response pathways were highlighted, and SNP variants across the genotypes identified. Among them, a set of polymorphisms on <em>CaOFP20</em> (<em>Caz10g08850)</em>, a transcriptional repressor associated with fruit elongation, phylogenetically clustered together the elongated-fruit accessions, reinforcing the putative role of the ovate-family transcription factor in fruit morphology regulation. Additional candidate genes, auxin response factors, and NAC domain proteins, were present in the selective sweep regions related to fruit weight, diameter, and length. These findings provide a valuable genomic framework that can be leveraged in marker-assisted selection to improve fruit shape traits in sweet pepper, contributing to more efficient and targeted breeding strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114352"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144919688","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}

{"title":"Nanoformulated rosemary essential oil in chitosan matrix alleviates salinity-induced physiological and biochemical damages in lettuce","authors":"Mohammad Haghaninia ,&nbsp;Farzad Rasouli ,&nbsp;Sina Golestaneh ,&nbsp;Mohammad Asadi ,&nbsp;Gholamreza Mahdavinia","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salinity is a major abiotic stress that impairs plant growth and limits agricultural productivity. This study investigated the potential of rosemary essential oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (REO<img>CSNPs) to alleviate the detrimental effects of salt stress in lettuce (<em>Lactuca sativa</em> L.). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design with three replications. Lettuce plants were exposed to varying salinity levels and treated with REO<img>CSNPs, chitosan nanoparticles, or rosemary essential oil. Salinity stress significantly reduced root and shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, and uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, while increasing levels of oxidative markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In contrast, foliar application of REO<img>CSNPs, particularly at 500 ppm, effectively improved plant growth and physiological status. This treatment enhanced nutrient accumulation, osmoprotectants (proline and soluble carbohydrates), and secondary metabolites (phenolics and flavonoids), and it significantly boosted the activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX). Moreover, it reduced MDA and H₂O₂ levels, indicating decreased oxidative damage. In summary, these findings underscore the potential of REO<img>CSNPs as a sustainable biostimulant in saline environments and pave the way for future research into nanobiotechnology-based strategies to enhance crop resilience under abiotic stress conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114325"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770624","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}

{"title":"PpMYB102 as a central regulator of pipecolic Acid-induced defense against monilinia fructicola brown rot in peach fruit","authors":"Dixin Chen ,&nbsp;Ruxin Wang ,&nbsp;Jiayin Niu ,&nbsp;Yan Ren ,&nbsp;Yihan Zhang ,&nbsp;Jianshe Zhao ,&nbsp;Yihe Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peach fruit is highly susceptible to postharvest brown rot caused by <em>Monilinia fructicola</em>, leading to substantial economic losses. However, the mechanism by which exogenous pipecolic acid (Pip) enhances disease resistance remains unclear. This study examined the mechanism of exogenous Pip against brown rot in 'Okubao' peaches. Pip treatment significantly inhibited <em>M. fructicola</em> infection, reducing disease incidence and lesion diameter. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by Pip were primarily enriched in hormone signaling (salicylic acid, jasmonate/ethylene), cell wall metabolism, and disease resistance pathways. Temporal expression patterns indicated Pip enhances resistance through a dynamic regulatory network featuring early-stage cell wall reinforcement and hormone modulation, mid-stage disease resistance signal activation, and late-stage energy metabolism maintenance. WGCNA identified the MYB transcription factor PpMYB102 as a central Pip-induced regulator. Subcellular localization and yeast activation assays showed that PpMYB102 had nuclear localization and transcriptional activation. Transient overexpression of <em>PpMYB102</em> in peach fruit significantly enhanced disease resistance by suppressing ROS accumulation, increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, and reducing membrane lipid peroxidation following <em>M. fructicola</em> infection. This study demonstrates that exogenous Pip enhances peach resistance to <em>M. fructicola</em> by inducing PpMYB102 expression to regulate antioxidant enzymes and ROS homeostasis, providing a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanism of brown rot resistance in postharvest peach fruits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114318"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770673","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}

{"title":"Multi-omics analysis provides preliminary insights into the mechanisms involved in dormancy and germination in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)","authors":"Yinchao Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuzhen Sheng ,&nbsp;Jia Lai ,&nbsp;Yong Liu ,&nbsp;Qianfang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jia Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoli Shi ,&nbsp;Haitao Huang ,&nbsp;Peng sheng Ye ,&nbsp;Shugu Wei ,&nbsp;Ling Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114363","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114363","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dormancy and germination are critical physiological processes in asparagus (<em>Asparagus officinalis</em>) bud development, yet their molecular regulatory networks remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to characterize gene expression and metabolic dynamics during these stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) of 12 samples revealed distinct clustering of three biological replicates for dormancy and germination. Transcriptome analysis identified 2510 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during dormancy release and sprouting in asparagus rhizomes. Among these, 92 transcription factors (TFs) were significantly regulated, dominated by ZF-HD (19 members), MYB (18), and WRKY (13). Gene ontology analysis (GO) enrichment highlighted microtubule-based processes, carbohydrate metabolism, and photosynthesis, while kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed significant pathways in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and starch/sucrose metabolism. Metabolomic profiling detected 331 (GS vs DS) and 173 (GR vs DR) differential metabolites, with 93 shared metabolites. Integrative analysis via Procrustes (M² = 0.1828, <em>p</em>-value = 0.001) and O2PLS identified four key candidate genes (<em>AoAHG1, AoGA3ox2, AoHB13, AoPRH132</em>) linking transcriptional and metabolic regulation. These findings unravel potential molecular mechanisms underlying dormancy regulation and germination activation, highlighting TF-hormone-signaling crosstalk and key metabolites in asparagus bud development. We also identified two common KEGG pathways in the transcriptome and metabolome, flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941) and starch/sucrose metabolism (ko00500), suggesting that these two pathways play important roles in dormancy and germination. This study provides a comprehensive framework for dissecting the regulatory networks governing perennial plant dormancy and sprouting, offering targets for agricultural optimization of asparagus production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114363"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144912279","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}

{"title":"Micro-irrigation systems for water conservation during establishment and freeze protection in Florida strawberry production","authors":"Josue St Fort ,&nbsp;Vivek Sharma ,&nbsp;Michael Dukes ,&nbsp;Shinsuke Agehara ,&nbsp;Davie Kadyampakeni ,&nbsp;Carlene A. Chase","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Florida's annual hill system for strawberry production employs high-volume overhead sprinklers to establish bare-root strawberry transplants and to protect flowers and fruit from frost and freeze injury. Experiments were conducted to evaluate whether micro-sprinkler systems can serve as effective alternatives while conserving water. At a research farm in north-central Florida, five irrigation systems were compared for ‘Florida Brilliance’ strawberry production: an impact sprinkler system, which served as the control and four micro-irrigation systems: (1) Mini Revolver (MR), (2) SuperNet Jet (NS), (3) Mini Wobbler (MW), and (4) Xcel Wobbler (XW). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Significant water reduction was noted when using micro-irrigation systems. The MR system used 953.13 m³/ha for establishment, which is 65 % less than the control system's 2756.82 m³/ha usage. No adverse effects were observed among the treatments regarding strawberry transplant survival, vigor, or vegetative growth. During freeze protection, the MR system used 1203.82 m³/ha compared to the impact sprinkler system, which used 3183.37 m³/ha, saving 62 % of water. When comparing the MR system with a grower’s Rotator sprinkler system on a commercial farm in west-central Florida using the Odessa and Medusa cultivars in consecutive seasons, the MR system consumed 58 % less water during establishment and 63 % less for freeze protection than the Rotator sprinkler system. The two systems showed no significant differences in transplant survival, vigor, vegetative growth, or yield. Therefore, micro-irrigation systems like the MR are viable for reducing water use during bare-root strawberry transplanting and freeze protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114368"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988476","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}

{"title":"Morphological, biochemical, and molecular characterizations of rosehip (Rosa canina L.) genotypes naturally grown in the Eastern Central Anatolia region of Türkiye","authors":"Nihal Bozdoğan ,&nbsp;Ercan Yıldız ,&nbsp;Yazgan Tunç ,&nbsp;Ali Khadivi ,&nbsp;Mehmet Yaman ,&nbsp;Ahmet Sümbül ,&nbsp;Kadir Uğurtan Yılmaz ,&nbsp;Umut Ateş ,&nbsp;Burhan Öztürk","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wild rosehip (<em>Rosa canina</em> L.) is a valuable genetic resource due to its broad geographic distribution, high adaptability, and economic and medicinal significance. Despite its importance, comprehensive analyses of its morphological, pomological, and biochemical diversity remain limited. Understanding this variation is crucial for breeding programs focused on improving fruit quality and stress resilience. Additionally, molecular characterization provides insights into genetic relationships, supporting conservation efforts and the selection of superior genotypes. Twenty-nine wild <em>R. canina</em> genotypes were evaluated based on morphological, pomological, and biochemical traits. Fruit weight varied from 0.81 to 2.39 g, fruit width from 9.02 to 14.75 mm, and fruit length from 15.23 to 28.93 mm. The fruit-flesh ratio ranged between 64.22 and 90.93 %, while soluble solid content varied from 13.8 to 17.1 % Brix. Among the phenolic compounds, catechin (91.37 mg/100 g), aminobenzoic acid (71.95 mg/100 g), and epicatechin (67.76 mg/100 g) exhibited the highest variation. Total phenolic content ranged from 2507.14 to 3736.55 mg GAE/100 g, while vitamin C content varied between 424.62 and 616.36 mg AsAE/100 g. Molecular characterization using ISSR markers revealed high genetic diversity, with a polymorphism rate of 85.51 %. Genetic similarity among genotypes ranged from 0.55 to 0.84, and UPGMA clustering analysis grouped them into two major clusters. Among the studied genotypes, ‘K7’, ‘K9’, ‘K15’, ‘K25’, and ‘K29’ emerged as superior selections due to their outstanding biochemical composition, fruit quality, and genetic distinctiveness. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the first three principal components accounted for 46.62 % of the total variation. PC1 (19.59 %) was primarily associated with total phenolic content (0.35), vitamin C (0.35), and total flavonoids (0.34), underscoring their role in antioxidant capacity. PC2 (15.74 %) was influenced by seed weight (0.42), fruit weight (0.39), and seed number (0.32), emphasizing the trade-off between seed load and edible fruit content. PC3 (11.28 %) was linked to leaf area (0.41) and leaf length (0.40), reflecting their impact on plant vigor. Multiple regression analysis further confirmed that total phenolic content was significantly correlated with vitamin C (<em>β = 1.00, p ≤ 0.00</em>), suggesting their potential as selection criteria in breeding programs. This study demonstrates the significant genetic and phenotypic diversity in wild <em>R. canina</em> genotypes, highlighting their potential for breeding and conservation. The observed morphological and biochemical variations provide essential insights for selecting genotypes with desirable agronomic and nutritional attributes. High heterozygosity suggests strong adaptability to environmental conditions, vital for sustaining genetic diversity in natural populations. Clustering and molecular analyses further support the","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114375"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144988475","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}

{"title":"Postharvest L-Arginine treatment reduces senescence and improves storability of sweet cherry during cold storage","authors":"Zia Ur Rehman ,&nbsp;Muhammad Azam ,&nbsp;Beenish Chaudhary ,&nbsp;Muhammad Ali Umer ,&nbsp;Basharat Ali ,&nbsp;Zia Ullah Khan ,&nbsp;Shiza Muqadas ,&nbsp;Rashad Qadri ,&nbsp;Abeer Hashem ,&nbsp;Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada ,&nbsp;Khalid F. Almutairi ,&nbsp;Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah","doi":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114340","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114340","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Being a non-climacteric fruit, sweet cherries exhibit rapid deterioration due to their thin pericarp and succulent tissue, which intensifies water loss and decay incidence during storage. L-arginine (L-Arg) is used as a natural preservative in fruit preservation to maintain nutritional quality, cellular integrity, increase antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduce oxidative damage in fruits during storage. Therefore, the current study was executed to evaluate the effect of pre-storage application of L-Arg on enhancing the defensive mechanism and preserving the biochemical properties of sweet cherries during low-temperature storage. For this, sweet cherries were immersed in various concentrations of L-Arg (control, 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM) and stored at 4 ± 1°C for 20 days. Findings exhibited that postharvest treatment with 5 mM L-Arg had markedly suppressed the advancement in weight loss, decay incidence, total soluble solids content, and ripening index, thereby maintaining a maximum acidity content compared to control fruits. Moreover, L-Arg maintained the maximum ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant scavenging activity. Sweet cherries treated with L-Arg exhibited higher antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, during prolonged storage. In addition to this, L-Arg substantially inhibited the maximum synthesis of oxidative stress indicators, i.e., hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. L-Arg treatments also slowed down the fruit softening activities, such as cellulase, polygalacturonase, and pectin methyl esterase, thereby improving the shelf life of sweet cherries compared to non-coated ones. Results suggested that pre-storage application of L-Arg may enhance the quality and shelf life of sweet cherries by elevating the defensive mechanism, physicochemical attributes, and inhibiting cell membrane dissimilation during cold storage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21679,"journal":{"name":"Scientia Horticulturae","volume":"350 ","pages":"Article 114340"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144852590","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}