{"title":"Burdock Fructooligosaccharide Improves Peel Browning in Green Banana Through Its Regulation of Antioxidant and Chlorophyll Metabolism","authors":"Jianli Yan, Handong Zhao, Yufeng Sun, Wensheng Gao, Zhixiang Xu, Jinwang Li, Fengjun Guo, Wenxiao Jiao","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12030316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030316","url":null,"abstract":"The study first demonstrated that burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) could inhibit peel browning in green banana, with 0.5% BFO treatment showing the most significant suppression of peel browning during low-temperature storage (7 ± 1 °C). The results revealed that 0.5% BFO treatment effectively restrained the increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and maintained cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, BFO treatment enhanced total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, alleviated oxidative damage, and better preserved the external quality of banana peel. Simultaneously, BFO treatment markedly inhibited both the activities of chlorophyll-degrading enzymes and their relative gene expression levels in banana peel, thereby maintaining higher chlorophyll content. This research provided a new insight into the mechanism of inhibiting peel browning for low-temperature storage preservation of banana.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 3","pages":"316-316"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2026-03-02DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae12030295
Lei Yang, Liming Yan, Fanfan Chen, Xin Jiang, Jiaping Yu, Haiyue Sun, Li Chen, Hongzhou Jiang, Yadong Li
{"title":"Screening the Optimal Concentration and Timing of Paclobutrazol for the Growth and Development of Container-Grown Blueberries","authors":"Lei Yang, Liming Yan, Fanfan Chen, Xin Jiang, Jiaping Yu, Haiyue Sun, Li Chen, Hongzhou Jiang, Yadong Li","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12030295","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030295","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 3","pages":"295"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147382009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2026-02-22DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae12020254
Long Li, Jihua Yu, Shilei Luo, Guobin Zhang, Jian Lyu, Zeci Liu, Yan Wang, Hong Cai, Tingting Mu, Rongrong Zhang
{"title":"Effect of Exogenous 2,4-Epibrassinolide (EBR) on Color Change in Tomato Fruit","authors":"Long Li, Jihua Yu, Shilei Luo, Guobin Zhang, Jian Lyu, Zeci Liu, Yan Wang, Hong Cai, Tingting Mu, Rongrong Zhang","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12020254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020254","url":null,"abstract":"Fruit ripening and color change form a complex physiological and biochemical process involving the accumulation and breakdown of a series of metabolites. Brassinolide plays an important role in the regulation of fruit ripening. In this study, the effects of exogenous EBR (2,4-epibrassinolide) and BRZ (Brassinazole, an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis) on fruit color change were investigated using ‘Micro-Tom’ tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as an experimental material. The experiment was set up with five treatments: CK (distilled water + 0.01% Tween-80) and T1–T4 (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 mg/L EBR). In addition, a BRZ-treated group (4 μmol/L BRZ + 0.01% Tween-80) was set up in a follow-up experiment. The results showed that different concentrations of EBR treatments significantly increased the carotenoid and lycopene contents and decreased the chlorophyll contents in fruits compared with CK, with the T3 treatment (0.15 mg/L EBR) showing the most significant effect. Simultaneously, EBR induced the expression of the carotenoid metabolism genes SlGGPPS, SlPSY, SlPDS and SlZDS and promoted carotenoid accumulation. On the 20th day, compared with the CK and BRZ treatments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents were significantly reduced by 20.06% and 46.03% respectively; the expression of the chlorophyll degradation-related genes SlNYC, SlSGR1, SlPPH, and SlPAO was upregulated under a 0.15 mg/L EBR treatment, accelerating chlorophyll degradation. Furthermore, the EBR treatment reduced fruit brightness (L*) and increased fruit red saturation (a*), while yellow saturation (b*) showed an increasing and then decreasing trend; on the 20th day, compared with CK and BRZ, the red saturation of the EBR treatment group increased by 125.57% and 67.37% respectively, while the brightness decreased significantly by 24.28% and 23.83% respectively. In conclusion, exogenous application of 0.15 mg/L EBR significantly accelerated fruit ripening and color transformation by promoting the accumulation of carotenoids and the degradation of chlorophyll.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 2","pages":"254-254"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2026-02-18DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae12020243
Kexin Chen, Zitong Liu, Xin Meng, Shuyan Jiang, Li Jin, Shuya Wang, Shuchao Huang, Jian Lyu, Ning Jin, Jihua Yu
{"title":"Exogenous Na2SiO3 Mitigates the Adverse Effects of Drought Stress on Cucumber Seed Germination by Regulating the AsA-GSH Cycle","authors":"Kexin Chen, Zitong Liu, Xin Meng, Shuyan Jiang, Li Jin, Shuya Wang, Shuchao Huang, Jian Lyu, Ning Jin, Jihua Yu","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12020243","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020243","url":null,"abstract":"Silicon (Si) plays a crucial role in mitigating biotic and abiotic stress in crops, yet its effects on cucumber seed germination under drought stress remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of exogenous Si on the ascorbic acid-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle during cucumber seed germination under PEG-6000-induced drought stress. Seeds of the cucumber cultivar ‘Xinchun No. 4’ were used in this study. Na2SiO3 served as the silicon source, and drought stress was simulated using PEG-6000. The treatments included distilled water (CK), 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG), and PEG combined with five concentrations of silicon (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mM Si). Results showed that 10% PEG significantly inhibited seed germination and reduced antioxidant capacity. In contrast, 5 mM Si (5.0 Si + PEG) alleviated PEG-induced stress, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline (Pro) by 36.87% and 13.71%, respectively, and decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Specifically, H2O2 and O2·− contents declined by 20.00–41.76% and 14.29–27.27%, respectively. The 5.0 Si + PEG treatment also reduced soluble sugar content by 29.08% and 27.84% at 48 h and 72 h, respectively, while increasing soluble protein content by 9.97% and 10.30% at 6 h and 12 h. Additionally, it enhanced activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione Stransferase (GST) by 15.00%, 17.48%, and 18.81%, respectively, and elevated ascorbic acid (AsA) content and the GSH/GSSG ratio. In conclusion, 5 mM Si alleviated drought stress by activating the AsA-GSH cycle and enhancing antioxidant defense, providing valuable insights for Si application in agriculture.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 2","pages":"243-243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/2/243/pdf?version=1771399044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae12020205
Kang Luo, Liping Gao, Sisi Yang, Chao Song, Muhammad Sajjad, Hongjia Zhang, Yue Xu, Mingdong Ran, Huameng Huang, Wang Youguo, Yun Zheng
{"title":"Establishment of a Callus-Based Regeneration System for Lilium regale","authors":"Kang Luo, Liping Gao, Sisi Yang, Chao Song, Muhammad Sajjad, Hongjia Zhang, Yue Xu, Mingdong Ran, Huameng Huang, Wang Youguo, Yun Zheng","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12020205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020205","url":null,"abstract":"Induction of callus is an important step to produce high-quality seedlings, to promote the large-scale production of seedings, and to establish stable transgenic methods. To establish an efficient callus-based regeneration system for lily, in this study, we used the scales of Lilium regale as explants and employed plant tissue thin-layer culture to induce callus tissues. To examine the effects of different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on the induction of lily callus tissues and plant regeneration, we designed orthogonal experiments using three PGRs: 6-BA, NAA, and PIC, with each regulator at three concentration levels. The results indicated that a suitable medium for inducing callus under the experimental conditions was 1.00 mg/L 6-BA + 0.05 mg/L NAA + 2.00 mg/L PIC, pH = 5.8 because in this medium, callus tissue showed a good balance of induction and contamination rate, as well as very low redifferentiation into bulbs. Under the experimental conditions, a suitable medium for callus expansion was 1 mg/L 6-BA + 0.5 mg/L NAA, pH = 5.8. We also showed that the induced callus tissues could develop into seedlings. These findings provide important references for optimizing in vitro culture systems of Lilium regale and offer supports for tissue culture studies of other lily species.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 2","pages":"205-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/2/205/pdf?version=1770387360","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147381630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11121535
Qi Zhao, Meimei Qin, Suixia Lang, Mengyao Qin, Lizhi Liu, Qian Li, Dehui Zhang, Lei Li
{"title":"Concentration-Dependent Effects of Foliar ZnO Nanoparticles on Growth and Nutrient Use in Young Crabapple Plants","authors":"Qi Zhao, Meimei Qin, Suixia Lang, Mengyao Qin, Lizhi Liu, Qian Li, Dehui Zhang, Lei Li","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11121535","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121535","url":null,"abstract":"Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have garnered increasing attention in agriculture due to their potential to enhance plant growth and nutrient use. This research investigates the concentration-dependent effects of ZnO NPs on young crabapple (Malus robusta) plants, addressing gaps in understanding how different concentrations influence plant development. A hydroponic experiment was conducted, applying foliar treatments of 200 mg L−1 ZnSO4 (S200) and 200, 500, and 1000 mg L−1 ZnO NPs (N200, N500, N100). The control group (CK) was treated with deionized water (dH2O). Growth parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and nutrient contents were measured to evaluate the impact of ZnO NPs on plant development and nutrient uptake. The results showed that N200 enhanced growth, increasing plant height by 22.64%, total dry weight by 49.36%, and root length by 116.07%. In contrast, N500 and N1000 induced oxidative stress, elevating H2O2 and MDA by 32.02~54.43% and inhibiting growth. N200 also improved nutrient uptake, increasing K, Ca, Fe, and Zn uptake fluxes by 84.92%, 112.12%, 185.15%, and 149.92%, respectively, whereas N1000 suppressed overall nutrient uptake but increased root Ca accumulation by 64.59%. These findings suggest that ZnO NPs can enhance plant growth and nutrient utilization at low concentrations, with potential implications for agricultural practices involving nanoparticle (NP)-based fertilizers.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 12","pages":"1535-1535"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147334000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coordinated Growth and Physiological Adaptations to Cadmium Stress in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Seedlings","authors":"Hongfang Ren, Fan Cheng, Yuying Wang, Jingyi Huang, Xueqing Zhao, Zhaohe Yuan","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11111400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111400","url":null,"abstract":"Phytoremediation utilizing woody plants represents a promising approach for mitigating cadmium (Cd) contamination; however, the potential of ornamental species such as Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) remains insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated the growth performance, physiological responses, and Cd accumulation patterns of pomegranate seedlings exposed to increasing Cd concentrations (T1–T6) in a hydroponic system. High Cd levels (≥T4) markedly suppressed plant growth, as evidenced by reductions in biomass, root necrosis, leaf wilting, and chlorosis. Photosynthetic efficiency was severely compromised, indicated by significant declines in chlorophyll content and key chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, and qP). Simultaneously, increases in the chlorophyll a/b ratio, carotenoid content, and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) reflected the activation of photoprotective mechanisms. A reduction in stomatal conductance (Gs) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn), coupled with elevated intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), suggested that non-stomatal limitations were primarily responsible for photosynthetic inhibition. Cd exposure also triggered oxidative stress, as shown by increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In response, seedlings activated antioxidative and osmotic adjustment pathways, including elevated peroxidase (POD) activity and the accumulation of glutathione (GSH), proline, soluble proteins, and sugars. Notably, pomegranate displayed a root-based Cd sequestration strategy, with high root accumulation (bioconcentration factor, BCF > 271) and minimal translocation to aerial tissues (translocation factor, TF < 0.17). These findings demonstrate that pomegranate seedlings exhibit pronounced tolerance to Cd stress and substantial bioaccumulation capacity, supporting their potential application as ornamental woody species for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated environments.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 11","pages":"1400-1400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/11/1400/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147332856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genome-Wide Identification of the ACE Gene Family in Melon (Cucumis melo L.) and Its Response to Autotoxicity and Saline-Alkali Stress","authors":"Hao Yang, Xiao Song, Sujie Liu, Wanqing Cheng, Yuting Zhang, Xin Cai, Zhizhong Zhang, Jinghua Wu","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11111344","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111344","url":null,"abstract":"Soil salinization and autotoxicity are major abiotic stresses constraining melon production. The ACE gene family (also known as HOTHEAD, HTH) encodes flavin-containing oxidoreductases involved in stress responses and RNA cache-mediated non-Mendelian inheritance. This study presents a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the ACE/HTH gene family in melon through integrated bioinformatic and experimental approaches. We identified 14 CmACE genes encoding proteins of 457–595 amino acids. This gene family underwent significant expansion through tandem duplication events, particularly on chromosome 5. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these genes into three distinct clades with conserved gene structures and motif compositions. Promoter analysis identified abundant stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements, with ABRE elements being predominant. Expression analyses revealed that multiple CmACE genes, including CmACE3, CmACE5, CmACE6 and CmACE14, were significantly upregulated under salt-alkali and autotoxicity stresses, showing distinct tissue-specific and time-dependent expression patterns. Notably, CmACE3 and CmACE6 were strongly induced under both stresses, while the tandemly duplicated pair CmACE6 and CmACE7 exhibited divergent expression patterns, suggesting functional specialization. Our findings provide the first comprehensive characterization of the CmACE gene family in melon, revealing its evolutionary history and stress-responsive regulation. These results not only offer valuable genetic resources for breeding stress-resistant melons but also lay a foundation for future research into the potential role of this conserved gene family in integrating stress adaptation with epigenetic regulatory pathways in crops.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 11","pages":"1344-1344"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147330684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2025-10-24DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11111284
J. M. Chen, Qizheng Liu, Siyuan Guo, Yitong Li, R. Chen, Kexin Li, G.-H. An, Yung‐Chuan Liu, Z.F. Hong, Beixin Mo, X. Q. Liu, Wei-Zhao Chen
{"title":"An Endogenous, Flavor-Enhancing TRV/Agrobacterium System for Edible Tomato Fruits with the Sweet Protein Thaumatin II","authors":"J. M. Chen, Qizheng Liu, Siyuan Guo, Yitong Li, R. Chen, Kexin Li, G.-H. An, Yung‐Chuan Liu, Z.F. Hong, Beixin Mo, X. Q. Liu, Wei-Zhao Chen","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11111284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11111284","url":null,"abstract":"The rise in diabetes and obesity worldwide has created an urgent demand for low-sugar, nutrient-dense foods with appealing flavors. This study established an endogenous and “rapid validation–stable production” platform to enhance the flavor of edible tomato fruits by integrating two key technologies in the MicroTom cherry tomato: (1) TRV viral vector-mediated transient expression and (2) Agrobacterium-mediated stable genetic transformation. We employed the human sweet taste receptor TAS1R2 for in vitro functional validation and objectively demonstrated that tomato-derived recombinant thaumatin II exhibits receptor-binding activity equivalent to that of the native protein, overcoming the limitations of traditional sensory evaluation. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis (covering 1236 metabolites) confirmed that thaumatin II expression did not significantly alter the profiles of sugars, organic acids, or key flavor compounds in tomato fruits. This provides safety data supporting the development of “ready-to-eat sugar-substitute fruits.” Our strategy offers a solution and theoretical technical support for the development of low-sugar, high-nutrient foods.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 11","pages":"1284-1284"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147333926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
HorticulturaePub Date : 2025-10-18DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11101259
Chi Zhang, Sulei She, Haiyan Wang, Jiaheng Li, Xiao Long, Guolu Liang, Qigao Guo, Shifang Li, Ge Li, Qian Liu, Di Wu, Jiangbo Dang
{"title":"A Diploid–Tetraploid Cytochimera of Dashu Tea Selected from a Natural Bud Mutant","authors":"Chi Zhang, Sulei She, Haiyan Wang, Jiaheng Li, Xiao Long, Guolu Liang, Qigao Guo, Shifang Li, Ge Li, Qian Liu, Di Wu, Jiangbo Dang","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11101259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101259","url":null,"abstract":"Polyploids play significant roles in tea production due to their strong tolerance to adverse environmental conditions and their high levels of certain chemical components. Tetraploid can be used to produce more polyploid tea plants, but there have been only a handful of tetraploids found in tea plants. In spite of the extremely low probabilities, bud mutant selection is an effective way to obtain polyploid tree crops. In the present study, a Dashu tea, cytochimera, derived from a bud mutation was identified by using flow cytometry and chromosome observation. The morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of leaves were investigated briefly. Some chemical components were determined. Finally, the pollen viability and ploidy of progeny were detected. The results show that tetraploid cells account for 71.48 ± 3.88%–72.19 ± 2.80% of the leaf tissue in this cytochimera. Compared with the original diploid, the cytochimera exhibited broader, longer, and thicker leaves. Its net photosynthetic rate (high to 41.77 ± 0.38 μmol CO2·m−2·s−1) was higher than that of the original diploid (peak value 28.00 ± 2.29 μmol CO2·m−2·s−1) for most of the day when measured in September. Notably, the total content of 19 free amino acids in the tender spring shoots of cytochimera was 22.96 ± 0.58 mg/g, approximately twice of that of the diploid materials analyzed. The contents of 10 free amino acids, including theanine, were significantly higher than those in diploids, with some free amino acid contents reaching up to seven times those observed in diploids. In addition, the cytochimera produced larger pollen grains than the original diploid, although the in vitro germination rate was lower (14.63 ± 1.11%). Three open-pollinated progenies of cytochimera were identified as triploids. To sum up, cytochimera has larger and thicker leaves, a higher photosynthetic rate, and higher content of total free amino acids and some free amino acids, especially theanine, than the original diploid. Moreover, cytochimera has a certain level of fertility and can produce triploids. These findings suggest the potential for selecting polyploid tea plants from bud mutants and for developing new tea germplasms with enhanced amino acid contents.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 10","pages":"1259-1259"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/10/1259/pdf?version=1760955106","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147332740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}