Horticulturae最新文献

{"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}

{"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}

{"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}

{"title":"Exogenous Putrescine Application Mitigates Chill Injury in Melon Fruit During Cold Storage by Regulating Polyamine Metabolism and CBF Gene Expression","authors":"Xiaoxue Li, Kelaremu Kelimujiang, Zhixia Zhao, Jian Zhang, Hong Yue, Pufan Zheng, Yinxing Zhang, Ting Zhang, Cunkun Chen","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12010063","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010063","url":null,"abstract":"When kept at a low temperature, yellow melons are prone to chilling injury. It is widely known that applying putrescine (Put) after harvest can prevent chilling harm in fruit. The best dosage of Put for treating yellow melon remains unknown, and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exogenous putrescine application on chilling injury in melons and to elucidate the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms involved. In this study, melons were treated with various concentrations of Put (0, 1, 2, and 4 mM), and the phenotype, chilling injury index, endogenous polyamine content, activities of crucial enzymes, and expression levels of associated genes (CmADC, CmODC, CmSAMDC1-4, CmSPDS1-2, CmSPMS1-2, and CmCBF1-4) were measured during storage. In our study on yellow melon, we found that treatment with 2 mM Put optimally alleviated chilling injury. This effect was achieved by enhancing the activities of ADC, AIH, CPA, ODC, SAMDC, DAP, and PAO, thereby regulating the endogenous levels of Put, Spd, and Spm. Furthermore, Put mainly impacted the expression of CmCBFs, which might help regulate downstream cold-inducible genes, leading to the improvement of tolerance in yellow melon fruit. Exogenous Put enhances melon chilling tolerance by activating endogenous polyamine biosynthesis and the CBF signaling pathway. This provides an effective strategy for post-harvest preservation of melons and might serve as a guide for future research into the mechanism involved in Put-induced chilling tolerance in horticulture crops.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 1","pages":"63-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/1/63/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147921972","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":"Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene and Polyethylene Bags on Maintaining the Postharvest Quality in Sugar-Cored ‘Fuji’ Apple During Storage","authors":"Keyu Lei, Yinglong Wang, Yunfeng Pu, Bing Xie, L. Wang, Ying Huang, Xujie Hou","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12010030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010030","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined the impact of various treatments on the storage quality of sugar-cored ‘Fuji’ apples, with the objective of establishing a theoretical foundation for extending the retention period of these apples and augmenting their commercial worth. This experiment utilized three distinct treatments for sugar-cored ‘Fuji’ apples, with the combination of 1-methylcyclopropene and polyethylene self-sealing bag treatment (1-M+PE) demonstrating the most effective prolongation of the storage duration for the sugar-cored apples. The 1-M+PE treatment significantly mitigated the reduction of sugar-cored in ‘Fuji’ apples and extended the onset of cellular rupture, postponing the loss of firmness and preserving the concentrations of sorbitol and sucrose throughout the storage duration. The 1-M+PE treatment effectively prolonged the storage duration of sugar-cored apples in cold storage. ‘Fuji’ apples subjected to 1-M+PE treatment were stored in cold storage for 120 days. The sugar-cored apple rate was 38.9%. The firmness was 14.8% greater than that of the control group. The soluble solid concentration in the sugar-cored part was 3.83% higher than that of the control group. The reducing sugar content in the sugar-cored part was 16.2% higher than that of the control group, and the titratable acid content in the sugar-cored part was 1.86 times greater than that of the control group. The correlation study of the indicators during the storage period revealed a robust association between the rate of sugar-cored apple and the content of sorbitol, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Experimental findings demonstrate that the concurrent application of 1-M+PE significantly inhibits the disappearance of sugar-cored.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 1","pages":"30-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/1/30/pdf?version=1766761410","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147877489","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":"Advances in Citrus Fruit Set and Development: A Review","authors":"Manuel Agustí, Carmina Reig, Amparo Martínez-Fuentes, Carlos Mesejo","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12010018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010018","url":null,"abstract":"Citrus species develop fruits through both sexual reproduction and parthenocarpy, following a growth pattern with an initial exponential phase dominated by cell division in the ovary wall, followed by a linear phase driven by cell expansion in juice vesicles. Sustained carbohydrate supply is essential to support the metabolic energy required for these processes, which are tightly regulated by hormonal signaling pathways involving gibberellins (GAs), auxins (IAA), cytokinins, and abscisic acid (ABA). Recent studies across cultivars have identified genes associated with hormone biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and abscission in ovule and pericarp tissues. Manipulation of these hormones through targeted treatments and cultural practices has shown potential to enhance fruit set and growth. Notably, exogenous GA3 application promotes fruit set in parthenocarpic cultivars by upregulating GA20ox2/GA3ox and CYCA1.1, whereas synthetic auxins enhance fruit enlargement by improving assimilate partitioning and water uptake. Optimizing such treatments, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of physiological, environmental, and agronomic factors influencing fruit development. This review summarizes recent advances in hormonal and molecular regulation of citrus fruit set and developments, assesses applied strategies to improve productivity, and identifies current knowledge gaps needed to refine biotechnological and management aimed at enhancing both yield and fruit quality.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 1","pages":"18-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/1/18/pdf?version=1766588195","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148305583","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":"Four Petal-Specific TPS Drive Nocturnal Terpene Scent in Jasminum sambac","authors":"Yuan Yuan, Li Hu, Xian He, Jinan Li, Chao Wan, Yue Zhang, Yuting Wang, Wei Wang, Binghua Wu","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae12010010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010010","url":null,"abstract":"Floral volatile terpenoids are known to play important roles in plant pollination biology by attracting animal pollinators, repelling antagonists, and enhancing resistance to potential microbial pathogens. The terpenoid blend emitted by a flower is usually plant-lineage specific and is primarily determined by a set of versatile terpene synthases (TPSs), which catalyze the final step of diverse terpenoid synthesis. The strongly scented flower of Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton emits linalool and α-farnesene, which dominate the nocturnal floral VOCs, yet the corresponding TPSs have not been identified. Here, we show that four TPS enzymes are responsible for the synthesis of a mixture of volatile terpenoids in the flower, based on their highly correlated and almost exclusive expression in the petal, as well as their enzymatic characterizations in vitro and in Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. JsTPS01 (TPS-a) acts as a sesquiterpene synthase, producing τ-cadinol in yeast at levels that mirror its rhythmic expression in petals. JsTPS02 (TPS-b) carries a plastid-targeting transit peptide, localizes to chloroplasts/plastids, and converts geranyl diphosphate (GPP) to linalool with high affinity (Km = 28.2 ± 3.4 µM). JsTPS03 is a TPS-b clade member that can convert farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to farnesol with a Km of 14.4 ± 5.9 μM in an in vitro assay using isolated yeast vehicles. JsTPS04 (TPS-e/f) exhibits dual targeting—cytosolic in protoplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, but plastidic in J. sambac petals—and functions as a bifunctional mono-/sesqui-TPS, forming linalool from GPP (Km = 2.5 ± 0.3 µM) and trans-nerolidol from FPP (Km = 7.6 ± 0.6 µM). Transient expression in N. benthamiana leaves further confirmed its in-planta linalool production. Collectively, we identified four preferentially expressed terpene synthases that contribute to the production of linalool, τ-cadinol, trans-nerolidol, and farnesol in J. sambac.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"12 1","pages":"10-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/12/1/10/pdf?version=1766483900","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147877786","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":"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":"Integrated Transcriptomic and Physiological Data Offer Novel Insights into Viability Changes in Paeonia lactiflora Seeds After Cryopreservation","authors":"Ruifen Ren, Zhe Ji, Qinlu Zhu, Bairu Zhang, Xiuyun Yang","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11121494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121494","url":null,"abstract":"While water content is a critical factor affecting the outcome of cryopreservation, the mechanism by which it influences seed viability after cryopreservation remains unclear. In this study, Paeonia lactiflora seeds with different water content as experimental materials, analyzed the seed viability, oxidative stress indicators, and transcriptomics before and after cryopreservation, to explore the mechanism of the seed viability changes. The results demonstrated that after cryopreservation, seeds with high water content displayed reduced viability, along with abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, which subsequently triggered ROS-mediated oxidative damage. In contrast, seeds with low water exhibited enhanced following cryopreservation, their ROS levels remained relatively stable, while notable alterations were detected in multiple antioxidant system parameters. At the transcriptional level, 1224 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) up-regulated and 1839 DEGs were down-regulated in seeds with high water content after cryopreservation, but 2090 DEGs up-regulated and 1783 DEGs down-regulated in the seeds with low water content. Among them, 687 DEGs were common to both the high- and low-water content seed groups. Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis indicated that these DEGs are primarily involved physiological metabolic processes including osmotic response, glucosidase activity, protein kinase binding, and response to hydrogen peroxide. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis confirmed that the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAKP) plant signaling pathway and the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway are the key pathways governing the response of seeds with varying water contents to cryopreservation. Finally, through weighted gene co-expression network pinpointed DHN1 and LEA34 as the core genes regulating changes in seed viability after cryopreservation. These findings offer a broader perspective for in-depth exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the differences in seed viability changes after cryopreservation and are crucial for comprehensively clarifying the precise pathways via which these key genes regulate seed viability changes after cryopreservation.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 12","pages":"1494-1494"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/12/1494/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147880924","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":"Seed Asymbiotic Germination Morphological Traits and Seedling Development in Cymbidium faberi Rolfe (Orchidaceae)","authors":"Zhiqing Zhou, Siyu Han, Hao Huang, Zhixiong Liu","doi":"10.3390/horticulturae11121491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121491","url":null,"abstract":"Cymbidium faberi Rolfe is a Chinese flower famous due to its beautiful floral pattern and strong floral scent and is also a threatened terrestrial orchid. Moreover, the traditional propagation method through tillers and symbiotic seed germination with the correct fungus under nature conditions could not meet conservation and commercial needs. Here, an efficient procedure for asymbiotic seed germination and in vitro seedlings development of C. faberi was successfully established through evaluation of time of seed collecting, seed pretreatments, light conditions and composition of culture media, respectively. Seed pretreatment with 1% NaClO for 30 min, dark culture on 1/4 MS medium containing 0.5 mg·L−1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L−1 NAA for 30 days and subsequent long day condition (14 h light/10 h dark photoperiod) culture on this medium for 30 days could obviously enhance the seed germination rate of C. faberi. The highest germination rate (85.0 ± 0.79%) was achieved when seeds were collected at 120 d after cross-fertilization, and then germination percentages progressively decreased. Furthermore, histological analyses from protocorm formation to seedling growth were explored. This study not only offers a reliable and scalable system for mass propagation to meet commercial and conservation demands but also serves as a foundational reference for physiological and molecular studies in Cymbidium and related orchids.","PeriodicalId":507445,"journal":{"name":"Horticulturae","volume":"11 12","pages":"1491-1491"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/12/1491/pdf?version=1765297963","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147896336","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}