Search

Introduction: Current eggplant variety breeding is still mainly based on conventional methods, and there remains a lack of effective molecular breeding systems for complex traits controlled by multiple genes, such as yield and quality. To accelerate the research progress of eggplant genetics and molecular breeding, it is necessary to implement a genome-based breeding strategy. Methods: Therefore, in this study, a SNP array containing 50K liquid-phase probes was designed on the basis of the resequencing data of 577 eggplants. Results: The developed 50K liquid-phase probes were used to perform targeted capture sequencing on 12 eggplant lines, and the efficiency of probe capture exceeded 99.25%. Principal component, phylogenetic, and population structure analyses divided the 577 eggplants into 7 subgroups, and statistical analysis was performed on the fruit shape and color of the materials in the different subgroups. Further analysis of the geographical distribution of 428 Chinese eggplant materials revealed that the geographical regions of different subgroups were similar. The 50K SNP liquid-phase array was used to perform bulked- segregant analysis combined with whole-genome resequencing (BSA-seq) of fruit shape in the F2 population, which consisted of 1435 lines constructed with E421 as the maternal parent and 145 as the paternal parent. The BSA-seq data were located in the 78444173−84449348 interval on chromosome 3, with a size of 6 Mb, which was narrowed to 712.6 kb through fine mapping. Further sequence alignment and expression analysis revealed SmIQD14 as a candidate gene controlling eggplant fruit shape. The 50K SNP liquid-phase array can be widely used in future eggplant molecular breeding research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape is one of the most important factors in determining the appearance quality of a fruit. In Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm. f.) Nakai), fruit deformation often occurs and damages the fruit appearance, highlighting the need for breeding improvements. Therefore, this study aimed at developing an image analysis method for objectively identifying deformed fruits and applying the method to Japanese pear breeding. We used 1595 fruit images from 22 cultivars and 551 F1 individuals from 44 cross combinations, which were produced by a Japanese pear breeding program. From these images, we measured four shape parameters to evaluate fruit deformation, and subsequently distinguished between normal and deformed fruits by using these parameters. Based on a binary classification of normal vs. deformed fruits, we estimated the narrow-sense heritability of fruit deformation rate as 0.34. We predicted genotypic values of fruit deformation rate as being in the range of 0.030 to 0.625. Our results demonstrate that (1) the image analysis method used in this study can effectively distinguish between normal and deformed fruits, (2) there is significant genetic variation in fruit deformation rate in Japanese pear breeding materials, and (3) fruit deformation rate is a trait that can be genetically improved. These findings can contribute to the efficient development of pear cultivars with superior appearance quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manual measurement on mango fruit dimensions is often confined to the time inefficiency and low accuracy. Specifically, the human judgment and simplified definitions of fruit shape can impact the morphology classification and subsequent packaging. Consequently, it is highly required for the dedicated platform to determine the morphological indicators for the accurate identification of mango fruit shapes. Such a platform can be expected to streamline the sizing process for the shape identification. Advanced techniques, such as three-dimensional (3D) scanning, have been successfully applied into the morphological analysis of other fruit types, demonstrating their potential to the high accuracy. Additionally, machine learning can also be integrated to significantly improve the classification of fruit shapes, in order to effectively mitigate the errors associated with human assessment. In this study, a 3D scanning platform was implemented to rapidly capture the geometric data of mango fruits. An accurate 3D model was constructed to facilitate the measurement on the morphological indices and shape identification. 75 mango varieties were selected with three replicates for each variety. 10 quantitative parameters were then measured, including volume, longitudinal and transverse diameters, as well as fruit shape indices using 3D scanning. A comparison was then made on the scanning and manual measurement. The results indicated that the precision of scanning was surpassed the manual ones, indicating the superiority of the former. Subsequently, eigenvalue, principal component, correlation and cluster analysis were conducted to categorize the mango varieties, according to their distinct fruit shapes. There were the rich genetic diversity and variability in the mango germplasm resources. Notably, the fruit shape index was taken as the critical indicators, together with longitudinal and transverse diameter. The comprehensive evaluation of fruit morphology was performed for the subsequent application of machine learning. The input parameters were then optimized to predict the modeling. A back-propagation (BP) neural network model was developed to classify the fruit shape, according to the SPSSPRO online data analysis platform. The architecture of model consisted of 100 hidden layers, with a learning rate set at 0.1 and a total of 1000 iterations. Furthermore, an success rate was achieved in the 94.12% accuracy, when testing on 68 samples and training with 157 samples. Moreover, the training set exhibited a precision and recall rate of 0.941, with a remarkably rapid recognition time of only 0.451 s. In conclusion, 3D point cloud data was utilized to provide the rapid, precise, and lossless morphological information for mango fruits. 3D point cloud maps were generated to further enhance the overall accuracy, such as fruit color information. Compared with the conventional, this approach can offer numerous advantages: rapid sampling, high accuracy, reduced susceptibility to external factors, and a non-contact measurement. A significant framework can also advance the field of fruit morphology analysis for future application in fruit classification and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape of fruits is a critical trait affecting the commercial value and consumer acceptance of horticultural crops. Genetic regulation of fruit shape involves complex interactions among multiple genes and environmental factors. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms controlling fruit shape in several key horticultural crops, including tomato, pepper, cucumber, peach, and grape. We present the identification and characterization of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that influence fruit shape, focusing on the roles of genes such as OVATE, SUN, FAS, LC, ENO, GLOBE, CsSUN, CsFUL1, CsCRC, PpCAD1, PpOFP1, and VvSUN. This review highlights the importance of hormonal pathways, particularly those involving synthesis and concentration of cytokinins and brassinosteroids in shaping fruit morphology, and explores how these genes interact and form regulatory networks that collectively determine the final fruit shape. This knowledge provides a foundation for developing strategies to improve fruit quality and yield through genetic modification and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Polarized auxin transport regulates fruit shape determination by promoting anisotropic cell growth. Angiosperms produce organs with distinct shape resultant from adaptive evolution. Understanding the cellular basis underlying the development of plant organ has been a central topic in plant biology as it is key to unlock the mechanisms leading to the diversification of plants. Variations in the location of synthesis, polarized auxin transport (PAT) have been proposed to account for the development of diverse organ shapes, but the exact cellular mechanism has yet to be elucidated. The Capsella rubella develops a perfect heart-shaped fruit from an ovate shape gynoecium that is tightly linked to the localized auxin synthesis in the valve tips and provides a unique opportunity to address this question. In this study, we studied auxin movement in the fruits and the cellular effect of N-1-Naphthylphthalamic Acid (NPA) on the fruit shape determination by constructing the pCrPIN3:PIN3:GFP reporter and live-imaging. We found PAT in the valve epidermis is in congruent with fruit shape development and NPA treatment disrupts the heat-shaped fruit development mainly by repressing cell anisotropic growth with minor effect on division. As the Capsella fruit is unusually big in size, we also included a detailed step-by-step protocol on how to conduct live-imaging experiment. We further test the utility of this protocol by conducting a live-imaging analysis of the gynophore in Arachis hypogaea. Collectively, the results of this study elucidated the mechanism on how auxin signal was translated into instructions guiding cell growth during organ shape determination. In addition, the description of the detailed live-imaging protocol will encourage further studies of the cellular mechanisms underlying shape diversification in angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goji berries are a small-fruited shrub with industrial importance whose fruit considered beneficial in both fresh and dried forms. Current germplasms of goji berries include small fruits with a short shelf life, less sweet and bitter taste, and a lack of appropriate genetic information. This study aimed to employ whole genome resequencing to generate an ultra-dense bin linkage map and to elucidate the genetic basis of goji fruit quality and size using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis in a cross-pollinated hybrid population. To achieve this goal, human sensory tests were carried out to determine the bitter taste (BT) and sweet taste (ST), and to quantify the soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness (FF), and fruit size-related traits of fresh goji fruits over three or four years. The results revealed that the goji bin linkage map based on resequencing spanned a total length of 966.42 cM and an average bin interval of 0.03 cM. Subsequent variant calling and ordering resulted in 3,058 bins containing 35,331 polymorphic markers across 12 chromosomes. A total of 99 QTLs, with individual loci in different environments explaining a phenotypic variance of 1.21-16.95% were identified for the studied traits. Ten major effects, including colocalized QTLs corresponding to different traits, were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, with a maximum Logarithm of Odds (LOD) of 29.25 and 16.95% of explained phenotypic variance (PVE). In addition, four stable loci, one for FF, one for fruit weight (FW), and two for fruit shape index (FSI), were mainly mapped on chromosomes 5, 6, and 7, elucidating 2.10-16.95% PVE. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of goji fruit traits along with identified specific loci and markers to further improve and develop sweeter, less bitter and larger fruited goji berry cultivars with extended shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a vital economic vegetable crop, and the TONNEAU1 Recruiting Motif (TRM) gene plays a key role in cucumber organ growth. However, the pan-genomic characteristics of the TRM gene family and their expression patterns under different stresses have not been reported in cucumber. In this study, we identified 29 CsTRMs from the pan-genomes of 13 cucumber accessions, with CsTRM29 existing only in PI183967. Most CsTRM proteins exhibited differences in sequence length, except five CsTRMs having consistent protein sequence lengths among the 13 accessions. All CsTRM proteins showed amino acid variations. An analysis of CsTRM gene expression patterns revealed that six CsTRM genes strongly changed in short-fruited lines compared with long-fruited lines. And four CsTRM genes strongly responded to salt and heat stress, while CsTRM14 showed responses to salt stress, powdery mildew, gray mold, and downy mildew. Some CsTRM genes were induced or suppressed at different treatment timepoints, suggesting that cucumber TRM genes may play different roles in responses to different stresses, with expression patterns varying with stress changes. Remarkably, the expression of CsTRM21 showed considerable change between long and short fruits and in responses to abiotic stresses (salt stress and heat stress), as well as biotic stresses (powdery mildew and gray mold), suggesting a dual role of CsTRM21 in both fruit shape determination and stress resistance. Collectively, this study provided a base for the further functional identification of CsTRM genes in cucumber plant growth and stress resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) has a long domestication history and has accumulated diverse fruit shape variations. The illustration of the mechanisms underlying different fruit shape is not only important for clarifying the regulation of pepper fruit development but also critical for fully understanding the plant organ morphogenesis. Thus, in this study, morphological, histological and transcriptional investigations have been performed on pepper accessions bearing fruits with five types of shapes. From the results it can be presumed that pepper fruit shape was determined during the developmental processes before and after anthesis, and the anthesis was a critical developmental stage for fruit shape determination. Ovary shape index variations of the studied accessions were mainly due to cell number alterations, while, fruit shape index variations were mainly attributed to the cell division and cell expansion variations. As to the ovary wall thickness and pericarp thickness, they were regulated by both cell division in the abaxial-adaxial direction and cell expansion in the proximal-distal and medio-lateral directions. Transcriptional analysis discovered that the OFP-TRM and IQD-CaM pathways may be involved in the regulation of the slender fruit shape and the largest ovary wall cell number in the blocky-shaped accession can be attributed to the higher expression of CYP735A1, which may lead to an increased cytokinin level. Genes related to development, cell proliferation/division, cytoskeleton, and cell wall may also contribute to the regulation of helical growth in pepper. The insights gained from this study are valuable for further investigations into pepper fruit shape development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main reasons for the low yield of Camellia oleifera Abel is the large number of flowers and fruits that fall off before ripening. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) on the fruiting characteristics of C. oleifera, and to provide technical support for its flower and fruit preservation and yield increasing. Three C. oleifera cultivars, 'Changlin 18', 'Changlin 166', and 'Changlin 40', were used as experimental materials to conduct foliar spraying experiments with different water concentrations of KH2PO4. The effects of KH2PO4 on the fruit retention rate, fruit properties, and seed oil quality of each cultivar were measured and analyzed. The application of the optimal concentration of KH2PO4 significantly enhanced various fruit quality metrics of three C. oleifera cultivars. Specifically, the total fruit retention rate was increased by 30.02~87.53%, the transverse diameter by 7.36~21.21%, and the longitudinal diameter by 18.56%, and the fruit weight of 'Changlin 40' could increase by 83.63%. It also increased dry seed yield by 27.87~80.81%, dry kernel rate by 10.29~30.12%, dry seed oil content by 28.00~29.77%, total unsaturated fatty acids (TUFAs) by 0.63~5.3%, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) by 0.30~5.37%, and squalene by 0.09~0.14% during the maturing stage. However, camellia cultivars had the different responses to KH2PO4 concentrations. To promote the fruiting of C. oleifera, improve the economic traits of fruits, and enhance the quality of tea oil, the recommended concentrations of KH2PO4 solution are 4.50 g·L−1, 1.50 g·L−1, and 1.50 g·L−1, for mist spraying on the trees of 'Changlin 18', 'Changlin 166', and 'Changlin 40', respectively. For mixed cultivars of C. oleifera which planted randomly, the recommended concentration range of KH2PO4 solution for spraying is 1.50 to 4.50 g·L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten hybrids of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were obtained from public and private sectors were evaluated to performance of genotype on various characters like Days to flowering, Days to fruiting, Number of cluster per plant and Number of flower per cluster, Number of fruit per cluster, Total number of fruit per plant and Plant height (cm), Fruit length, diameter of fruit, Number of locule per fruit, Pericarp thickness of fruit, Total soluble solids (brix), Standard fruit weight (g), Yield per plant (kg), For qualitative traits fruit shape, Immature fruit color and Mature fruit color, Foliage coverage, Stem pigmentation, pulpiness and plant habits and fruit firmness inside the polyhouse at Department of Agriculture Guru Nanak College, Budhlada during kharif 2020-21. The experiment was layout in RBD with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference among the genotype for all the characters under study, which is representing the survival of sufficient heritable variation among the genotypes. Days to flowering and days to fruiting were early in the Himshikher and NS 4266 hybrids. Highest fruit length and diameter was exhibit by Abhinav and Himshikher respectively. The highest yield per plant was exhibited by Himshikher, Polyana and Lakshmi in under protected environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionCurrent eggplant variety breeding is still mainly based on conventional methods, and there remains a lack of effective molecular breeding systems for complex traits controlled by multiple genes, such as yield and quality. To accelerate the research progress of eggplant genetics and molecular breeding, it is necessary to implement a genome-based breeding strategy.MethodsTherefore, in this study, a SNP array containing 50K liquid-phase probes was designed on the basis of the resequencing data of 577 eggplants.ResultsThe developed 50K liquid-phase probes were used to perform targeted capture sequencing on 12 eggplant lines, and the efficiency of probe capture exceeded 99.25%. Principal component, phylogenetic, and population structure analyses divided the 577 eggplants into 7 subgroups, and statistical analysis was performed on the fruit shape and color of the materials in the different subgroups. Further analysis of the geographical distribution of 428 Chinese eggplant materials revealed that the geographical regions of different subgroups were similar. The 50K SNP liquid-phase array was used to perform bulked- segregant analysis combined with whole-genome resequencing (BSA-seq) of fruit shape in the F2 population, which consisted of 1435 lines constructed with E421 as the maternal parent and 145 as the paternal parent. The BSA-seq data were located in the 78444173−84449348 interval on chromosome 3, with a size of 6 Mb, which was narrowed to 712.6 kb through fine mapping. Further sequence alignment and expression analysis revealed SmIQD14 as a candidate gene controlling eggplant fruit shape. The 50K SNP liquid-phase array can be widely used in future eggplant molecular breeding research.

Abstract Background Fruit appearance of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is accession-specific and one of the main criteria for consumer choice. Consequently, fruit appearance is an important selection criterion in the breeding of new cultivars. It is also used for the description of older varieties or landraces. In commercial apple production, sorting devices are used to classify large numbers of fruit from a few cultivars. In contrast, the description of fruit from germplasm collections or breeding programs is based on only a few fruit from many accessions and is mostly performed visually by pomology experts. Such visual ratings are laborious, often difficult to compare and remain subjective. Results Here we report on a morphometric device, the FruitPhenoBox, for automated fruit weighing and appearance description using computer-based analysis of five images per fruit. Recording of approximately 100 fruit from each of 15 apple cultivars using the FruitPhenoBox was rapid, with an average handling and recording time of less than eleven seconds per fruit. Comparison of fruit images from the 15 apple cultivars identified significant differences in shape index, fruit width, height and weight. Fruit shape was characteristic for each cultivar, while fruit color showed larger variation within sample sets. Assessing a subset of 20 randomly selected fruit per cultivar, fruit height, width and weight were described with a relative margin of error of 2.6%, 2.2%, and 6.2%, respectively, calculated from the mean value of all available fruit. Conclusions The FruitPhenoBox allows for the rapid and consistent description of fruit appearance from individual apple accessions. By relating the relative margin of error for fruit width, height and weight description with different sample sizes, it was possible to determine an appropriate fruit sample size to efficiently and accurately describe the recorded traits. Therefore, the FruitPhenoBox is a useful tool for breeding and the description of apple germplasm collections.

The quality traits of 36 local pepper germplasm resources in Shandong were analyzed by variance analysis, coefficient of variation analysis, membership analysis and cluster analysis of different fruit shapes, regions and cluster categories. The results showed that the variation coefficient of quality traits among different pepper germplasm resources ranged from 14. 37% to 110. 26%, and the variation coefficient of capsaicin content was the largest(110. 26%). In different fruit shapes, the average value of crude fiber content was significantly different between groups(P = 0. 013∗ ). The coefficient of variation of linear pepper was the largest(165. 22%). The average membership degree of the five quality indexes was between 0. 18 and 0. 65, and the comprehensive quality was quite different. The average membership degree was more than 0. 60, and the top three pepper germplasm resources were ranked from large to small as follows : L949(0. 65)= L958(0. 65) > L951 (0. 64)> L933(0. 61)= L945(0. 61)= LP220(0. 61);the six pepper germplasm materials have good quality traits and can be used in medicinal, feeding and food processing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern agricultural production, where a small number of commercial cultivars dominate, the collection, evaluation, and preservation of germplasm are important tasks to reduce the erosion of genes and preserve biodiversity. The aim of this study is to characterize the morphological and fruit chemical properties of the pomegranate germplasm grown on the East Adriatic coast, including the commercial cultivars 'Hicaznar', 'Granada', and 'Wonderful', and to highlight the characteristics with the greatest discriminating power. The characterization of the tree, leaf, flower, arils, seed, and juice was carried out using the UPOV descriptor. The colors of the peel, arils, and juice were analyzed according to the CIEL*a*b* method, total soluble solids were measured using refractometers, and total acidity was determined by titration with 0.1 M NaOH. The research results showed significant diversity between the cultivars, which were grouped into several clusters using an unsupervised analysis technique. Factors such as plant vigor, plant growth habit, predominant number of leaves per node on young shoots, crown type, fruit shape, fruit shape in cross-section, peel weight, total aril weight, aril weight, number of arils per fruit, seed length and width, seed yield, total acidity, TSS/TA ratio, and color parameters of the peel, arils, and juice showed high variability, indicating their strong discriminating power in determining the phenotypic diversity of pomegranate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited variability in commercially cultivated eggplant spp. has led to the exploration of traditional and cultivated varietal collections as an important strategy for the development of superior-quality hybrids with effective biodiversity conservation. Five parents and 20 F1s of eggplant were characterized using 12 quantitative traits. The fruits were segregated into two groups; i.e., based on their skin colour (purple, striped, and green) and shape (long, round, oblong) while the variation for selected quantitative traits were observed across the germplasm. Analysis of variance revealed a wide range of variability for the traits. Marketable yield per plant was significantly correlated with the number of marketable fruits per plant, harvest duration and number of marketable fruits per node indicating that direct selection based on these parameters might be sufficient for the improvement of other traits which were independent. The first three principal components explained approximately 85.7% of the total variation in eggplant for 12 quantitative traits. Research on the inheritance of fruit colour revealed the presence of a duplicate type of gene action and monogenic inheritance in the crosses viz., Res-2 × Arka Nidhi and Hisar Shyamal × Res-1, respectively. However, duplicate and inhibitory types of gene action were observed in Hisar Shyamal × Res-1 and Arka Nidhi × Hisar Shyamal, respectively, for the fruit shape. Hence, for a particular cross based on overall performance, fruit colour and fruit shape, a specific breeding strategy should be adopted to develop superior hybrids with diverse features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit shape is one of the important traits for quality evaluation, classification, and market grading of horticultural crops. In order to explore the genes regulating pear fruit shape formation, pear varieties 'Huangguan' and 'Korla Fragrant Pear' with significant differences in fruit shape were selected as experimental materials. Through morphological observation, measurement of fruit longitudinal diameter and fruit transverse diameter, and fruit shape index analysis of the pear fruit growth and development period, the formation of pear fruit shape during the young fruit period was preliminarily determined. By analyzing the transcriptome data of 'Huangguan' and 'Korla Fragrant Pear' at the young fruit stage, 8993 differentially expressed genes were obtained, and the majority of the genes were annotated to the plant hormone signaling pathway, among which gibberellin-related genes accounted for 13.4%. Spraying GA3 at the full-bloom stage can significantly prolong the shape of oriental pear. The results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression level of the gibberellin metabolic pathway gene PbGA2ox11 in 'Huangguan' was significantly higher than that in 'Korla Fragrant Pear'. GA3 treatment inhibited the expression of this gene in 'Korla Fragrant Pear', while PP333 promoted the expression. It was speculated that PbGA2ox11 was most likely to regulate the shape of pear fruit by regulating gibberellin metabolism. This study provides a new method for studying fruit shape via the analysis of the gibberellin synthesis metabolic pathway, new resources for the rational use of plant growth regulators, and theoretical and technical support for cultivating excellent fruit shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fruit appearance of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is accession-specific and one of the main criteria for consumer choice. Consequently, fruit appearance is an important selection criterion in the breeding of new cultivars. It is also used for the description of older varieties or landraces. In commercial apple production, sorting devices are used to classify large numbers of fruit from a few cultivars. In contrast, the description of fruit from germplasm collections or breeding programs is based on only a few fruit from many accessions and is mostly performed visually by pomology experts. Such visual ratings are laborious, often difficult to compare and remain subjective. Results: Here we report on a morphometric device, the FruitPhenoBox, for automated fruit weighing and appearance description using computer-based analysis of five images per fruit. Recording of approximately 100 fruit from each of 15 apple cultivars using the FruitPhenoBox was rapid, with an average handling and recording time of less than eleven seconds per fruit. Comparison of fruit images from the 15 apple cultivars identified significant differences in shape index, fruit width, height and weight. Fruit shape was characteristic for each cultivar, while fruit color showed larger variation within sample sets. Assessing a subset of 20 randomly selected fruit per cultivar, fruit height, width and weight were described with a relative margin of error of 2.6%, 2.2%, and 6.2%, respectively, calculated from the mean value of all available fruit. Conclusions: The FruitPhenoBox allows for the rapid and consistent description of fruit appearance from individual apple accessions. By relating the relative margin of error for fruit width, height and weight description with different sample sizes, it was possible to determine an appropriate fruit sample size to efficiently and accurately describe the recorded traits. Therefore, the FruitPhenoBox is a useful tool for breeding and the description of apple germplasm collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit shape is an important external feature when consumers choose their preferred fruit varieties. Studying persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit shape is beneficial to increasing its commodity value. However, research on persimmon fruit shape is still in the initial stage. In this study, the mechanism of fruit shape formation was studied by cytological observations, phytohormone assays, and transcriptome analysis using the long fruit and flat fruit produced by 'Yaoxianwuhua' hermaphroditic flowers. The results showed that stage 2–3 (June 11–June 25) was the critical period for persimmon fruit shape formation. Persimmon fruit shape is determined by cell number in the transverse direction and cell length in the longitudinal direction. High IAA, GA4, ZT, and BR levels may promote long fruit formation by promoting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, and high GA3 and ABA levels may be more conducive to flat fruit formation by increasing the cell number in the transverse direction and inhibiting cell elongation in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Thirty-two DEGs related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling pathways and nine DEGs related to cell division and cell expansion may be involved in the persimmon fruit shape formation process. These results provide valuable information for regulatory mechanism research on persimmon fruit formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) exhibits a rich diversity in fruit shape, with natural occurrences of gourd-like, flattened, and other special shapes. Despite the ongoing research into fruit shape, studies integrating elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFDs) with both Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) for gene discovery remain scarce. In this study, six cultivars of jujube fruits with distinct shapes were selected, and samples were collected from the fruit set period to the white mature stage across five time points for shape analysis and transcriptome studies. By combining EFDs with WGCNA and STEM, the study aimed to identify the critical periods and key genes involved in the formation of jujube fruit shape. The findings indicated that the D25 (25 days after flowering) is crucial for the development of jujube fruit shape. Moreover, ZjAGL80, ZjABI3, and eight other genes have been implicated to regulate the shape development of jujubes at different periods of fruit development, through seed development and fruit development pathway. In this research, EFDs were employed to precisely delineate the shape of jujube fruits. This approach, in conjunction with transcriptome, enhanced the precision of gene identification, and offered an innovative methodology for fruit shape analysis. This integration facilitates the advancement of research into the morphological characteristics of plant fruits, underpinning the development of a refined framework for the genetic underpinnings of fruit shape variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) has a long domestication history and has accumulated diverse fruit shape variations. The illustration of the mechanisms underlying different fruit shape is not only important for clarifying the regulation of pepper fruit development but also critical for fully understanding the plant organ morphogenesis. Thus, in this study, morphological, histological and transcriptional investigations have been performed on pepper accessions bearing fruits with five types of shapes. From the results it can be presumed that pepper fruit shape was determined during the developmental processes before and after anthesis, and the anthesis was a critical developmental stage for fruit shape determination. Ovary shape index variations of the studied accessions were mainly due to cell number alterations, while, fruit shape index variations were mainly attributed to the cell division and cell expansion variations. As to the ovary wall thickness and pericarp thickness, they were regulated by both cell division in the abaxial-adaxial direction and cell expansion in the proximal-distal and medio-lateral directions. Transcriptional analysis discovered that the OFP-TRM and IQD-CaM pathways may be involved in the regulation of the slender fruit shape and the largest ovary wall cell number in the blocky-shaped accession can be attributed to the higher expression of CYP735A1, which may lead to an increased cytokinin level. Genes related to development, cell proliferation/division, cytoskeleton, and cell wall may also contribute to the regulation of helical growth in pepper. The insights gained from this study are valuable for further investigations into pepper fruit shape development.

Introduction Cucumis sativus L. (2n=2x=14) originates from the south of the Himalayan mountains and has at least 3000 years of history of cultivation in India. According to the latest statistics published by the Ministry of Agriculture, about 75% of greenhouse production belongs to greenhouse cucumbers. This plant, with a cultivated area of 7539 ha-1 and a production amounting to 1923865 t year-1, is considered one of the most important vegetable and summer greenhouse products in the country. Cucumber varieties should have characteristics such as high yield, quality of taste, shelf life and resistance to diseases. Based on this, modified cultivars and imported cultivars must pass compatibility tests in order to be able to enter commercial fields. Recent research in Japan shows that by creating suitable conditions for various factors in the greenhouse (light distribution, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, irrigation, nutrition and pruning), the yield of greenhouse cucumbers can be up to 40 kg m-2 year-1 year. The difference between different varieties of cucumber is primarily due to characteristics such as the number of fruits per plant, fruit size (fruit length and length-to-diameter ratio) and fruit surface characteristics (the presence of grooves, surface smoothness, and fruit color). The number of cucumbers per plant is one of the most important yield components. The study of 9 varieties of cucumbers in greenhouse conditions showed that the range of changes in the number of cucumbers per plant varied from 19 to 54.3, and Khasib variety had the highest yield with the production of 14.9 kg of fresh weight per square meter. Material and Methods In order to compare the yield, yield components and some morpho-physiological characteristics of greenhouse cucumber hybrids produced in the country, a research was conducted in 2022 under greenhouse conditions in Varamin city. In this research, 11 greenhouse cucumber hybrids along with 4 regional control cultivars were evaluated in a completely randomized block design with three replications. The initial tillage including plowing, disc and soil disinfection was done through sunning the soil. The width of the seed planting bed was considered to be 70 cm in order to provide the possibility of two-row cultivation. The width of the corridors was considered to be 80 cm in order to provide proper ventilation and access of workers to the bushes for operations and harvest during the period. The drip irrigation system was chosen so that one tape strip could be used for each row of crops. The plant needed fertilizer during the growth period and was determined based on the soil test and provided to the plant through the irrigation system. Fruit yield for different harvests (once every 10 harvests) and total fresh fruit yield based on the total area of the plot (after removing the margins) and traits such as plant height (meters), internode length (cm), leaf length (cm), Leaf width (cm), petiole length (cm), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (mm), number of fruits per plant and fruit weight per plant (grams) based on the selection of 10 plants per plot was taken. The fruit shape index was obtained from the ratio of the length to the diameter of the fruit. For the experimental hybrids, after harvest fruit color was determined by grouping (light green to green), (green), (green to dark green) and dark green. Results and Discussion Based on the obtained results, the hybrid (IR4) with a total fresh fruit yield of 11.49 kg m-2 had a significantly higher performance than other hybrids, but there is not a significant difference between this hybrid and the hybrid (IR5) with a fruit weight of 10.61 kg m-2. 10 harvested stages for two hybrids (IR4) and (IR5) constituted 24.6 and 22.9% of the total yield, respectively. The hybrids (IR11) and (IR6) had the longest and shortest fruit length with 16.60 cm and 11.12 cm, respectively. The fruit shape index (the ratio of fruit length to diameter) in hybrid (IR11) had the highest value (6.35). The hybrids (IR4) and (IR5) that produced the highest yields per hectare had the highest number of fruits plant-1 with 108.72 and 84.22 cucumbers plant-1, respectively. The presence of this number of fruits is one of the important factors for producing high yields in these two hybrids, and the number of fruits in the rest of the hybrids is often in the range of 50 to 70 cucumbers per plant. Although in some studies the number of 135 fruits plant-1 is also mentioned for greenhouse cucumbers, but in most cases this number is less than 50. The color of the fruit is also an important quality attribute that is very important in the cucumber market. This trait varies from light green to dark green. Hybrid (IR9) dark green, hybrids (IR2), (IR6), (IR13) (IR15) dark green to green, hybrids (IR1), (IR3), (IR4), (IR5), (IR12) and (IR14) was green and hybrids (IR7), (IR8), (IR10) and (IR11) had light green to green color. The superior performance of two experimental hybrids and the equal performance of 7 other experimental hybrids (out of 11 studied hybrids) compared to the control hybrids can be a good promise for the production of greenhouse cucumber hybrid varieties by domestic companies.

The shape of fruits is a critical trait affecting the commercial value and consumer acceptance of horticultural crops. Genetic regulation of fruit shape involves complex interactions among multiple genes and environmental factors. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms controlling fruit shape in several key horticultural crops, including tomato, pepper, cucumber, peach, and grape. We present the identification and characterization of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that influence fruit shape, focusing on the roles of genes such as OVATE, SUN, FAS, LC, ENO, GLOBE, CsSUN, CsFUL1, CsCRC, PpCAD1, PpOFP1, and VvSUN. This review highlights the importance of hormonal pathways, particularly those involving synthesis and concentration of cytokinins and brassinosteroids in shaping fruit morphology, and explores how these genes interact and form regulatory networks that collectively determine the final fruit shape. This knowledge provides a foundation for developing strategies to improve fruit quality and yield through genetic modification and breeding programs.

The determination of fruit size and shape are of considerable interest in horticulture and developmental biology. Fruit typically exhibits three-dimensional structures characterized by geometric features that are dependent on the genotype. Although minor developmental variations have been recognized, few studies have fully visualized and measured these variations throughout fruit growth. Here, a high-resolution 3D scanner was used to investigate the fruit development of 51 persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cultivars with various complex shapes. We obtained 2380 3D models that fully represented fruit appearance, and enabled precise and automated measurements of shape features throughout fruit development, including horizontal and vertical grooves, length-to-width ratio, and roundness. The 3D fruit model analysis identified key stages that determined the shape attributes at maturity. Typically, genetic diversity was found in vertical groove development, and these grooves could be filled by tissue expansion in the carpel fusion zone during fruit development. In addition, transcriptome analysis of fruit tissues from groove and non-groove tissues revealed gene co-expression networks that were highly associated with groove depth variation. The presence of YABBY homologs was most closely associated with groove depth and indicated the possibility that this pathway is a key molecular contributor to vertical groove depth variation. Overall, our results revealed deterministic patterns of complex shape traits in persimmon fruit and showed that different growth patterns among tissues are the main factor contributing to the shape of both vertical and horizontal grooves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peppers are a major vegetable crop worldwide. With the completion of additional genome assemblies, a multitude of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be utilized for population structure and genetic diversity analysis. In this study, we used target SNP-sequencing as a new high-throughput sequencing technology, screening out 425 perfect SNPs for analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure among 496 pepper lines from five pepper species in China and abroad. The perfect SNP panel exhibited commendable discriminative ability, as indicated by the average values of polymorphism information content, observed heterozygosity, minor allele frequency, and genetic diversity, which were 0.346, 0.011, 0.371, and 0.449, respectively. Based on phylogenetic, population structure, and principal component analyses, 484 C. annuum lines were divided into four subpopulations according to the shape of fruit: blocky fruit, wide-horn fruit, narrow-horn fruit, and linear fruit. These subpopulations displayed clear clustering with minimal or no overlap. Moreover, F statistic (Fst) analysis revealed considerable distinctions among these subpopulations. Additionally, we established a set of 47 core SNPs that could effectively differentiate among all pepper lines. This core SNP set could precisely classify the C. annuum lines into four distinct fruit-shape groups. The blocky and narrow-horn fruit subpopulations displayed the lowest and highest genetic diversity, respectively. This study highlights the importance of fruit shape as a crucial trait in pepper breeding. Moreover, this work indicates the immense potential of optimized target SNP technology in the addition of foreground markers of important traits to improve molecular breeding efficiency, and demonstrates its broad application prospects in the genetic analysis and variety identification of peppers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In apple (Malus domestica), the level and timing of crop load have a major impact on the final fruit size and can also play a role in optimising internal fruit quality. Ideal crop loads vary with cultivar, but very few cultivars have recommended crop load targets that consider the effect of crop load on both return bloom and fruit quality. To address this issue, studies examining a range of crop loads and thinning times were undertaken on several apple cultivars. Return bloom and multiple fruit quality parameters were examined. The results of these studies demonstrate positive effects for early thinning, not only on fruit size but also on firmness and soluble solids content. Early-thinned fruit showed higher sugar levels than late-thinned fruit. Previously undemonstrated positive relationships between fruit sugar content and weight and between fruit firmness and weight in both ‘Fuji’ and ‘Delicious’, as well as between fruit sugar content and fruit firmness in ‘Delicious’, indicate that early thinning is a valuable tool in improving fruit quality. The current target crop load recommendations of 4–6 fruit cm−2 trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) for ‘Fuji’ and 2–4 fruit cm−2 TCSA for ‘Delicious’ are confirmed by this study. New recommendations are proposed for the other cultivars in this study taking into account the impact of crop load on both fruit quality and return bloom. Both ‘Pink Lady’ and ‘Gala’ can support crop loads of up to eight fruit cm−2 TCSA without impacting return bloom, but fruit quality is compromised; hence, lower targets in the range of 4–6 fruit cm−2 TCSA are recommended. Large fruit size and good return bloom can be maintained in ‘Jonagold’ at crop loads of eight fruit cm−2 TCSA, while crop loads of four fruit cm−2 TCSA are suggested for ‘Braeburn’ to sustain regular bearing and good fruit size.

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a vital economic vegetable crop, and the TONNEAU1 Recruiting Motif (TRM) gene plays a key role in cucumber organ growth. However, the pan-genomic characteristics of the TRM gene family and their expression patterns under different stresses have not been reported in cucumber. In this study, we identified 29 CsTRMs from the pan-genomes of 13 cucumber accessions, with CsTRM29 existing only in PI183967. Most CsTRM proteins exhibited differences in sequence length, except five CsTRMs having consistent protein sequence lengths among the 13 accessions. All CsTRM proteins showed amino acid variations. An analysis of CsTRM gene expression patterns revealed that six CsTRM genes strongly changed in short-fruited lines compared with long-fruited lines. And four CsTRM genes strongly responded to salt and heat stress, while CsTRM14 showed responses to salt stress, powdery mildew, gray mold, and downy mildew. Some CsTRM genes were induced or suppressed at different treatment timepoints, suggesting that cucumber TRM genes may play different roles in responses to different stresses, with expression patterns varying with stress changes. Remarkably, the expression of CsTRM21 showed considerable change between long and short fruits and in responses to abiotic stresses (salt stress and heat stress), as well as biotic stresses (powdery mildew and gray mold), suggesting a dual role of CsTRM21 in both fruit shape determination and stress resistance. Collectively, this study provided a base for the further functional identification of CsTRM genes in cucumber plant growth and stress resistance.

One of the main reasons for the low yield of Camellia oleifera Abel is the large number of flowers and fruits that fall off before ripening. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar spraying of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) on the fruiting characteristics of C. oleifera, and to provide technical support for its flower and fruit preservation and yield increasing. Three C. oleifera cultivars, ‘Changlin 18’, ‘Changlin 166’, and ‘Changlin 40’, were used as experimental materials to conduct foliar spraying experiments with different water concentrations of KH2PO4. The effects of KH2PO4 on the fruit retention rate, fruit properties, and seed oil quality of each cultivar were measured and analyzed. The application of the optimal concentration of KH2PO4 significantly enhanced various fruit quality metrics of three C. oleifera cultivars. Specifically, the total fruit retention rate was increased by 30.02~87.53%, the transverse diameter by 7.36~21.21%, and the longitudinal diameter by 18.56%, and the fruit weight of ‘Changlin 40’ could increase by 83.63%. It also increased dry seed yield by 27.87~80.81%, dry kernel rate by 10.29~30.12%, dry seed oil content by 28.00~29.77%, total unsaturated fatty acids (TUFAs) by 0.63~5.3%, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) by 0.30~5.37%, and squalene by 0.09~0.14% during the maturing stage. However, camellia cultivars had the different responses to KH2PO4 concentrations. To promote the fruiting of C. oleifera, improve the economic traits of fruits, and enhance the quality of tea oil, the recommended concentrations of KH2PO4 solution are 4.50 g·L−1, 1.50 g·L−1, and 1.50 g·L−1, for mist spraying on the trees of ‘Changlin 18’, ‘Changlin 166’, and ‘Changlin 40’, respectively. For mixed cultivars of C. oleifera which planted randomly, the recommended concentration range of KH2PO4 solution for spraying is 1.50 to 4.50 g·L−1.

SUMMARY: Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca subsp. vesca) is a wild relative of cultivated strawberry (F. × ananassa) producing small and typically conical fruits with an intense flavor and aroma. The wild strawberry species, F. vesca, is a rich resource of genetic and metabolic variability, but its diversity remains largely unexplored and unexploited. In this study, we aim for an in‐depth characterization of the fruit complex volatilome by GC–MS as well as the fruit size and shape using a European germplasm collection that represents the continental diversity of the species. We report characteristic volatilome footprints and fruit phenotypes of specific geographical areas. Thus, this study uncovers phenotypic variation linked to geographical distribution that will be valuable for further genetic studies to identify candidate genes or develop markers linked to volatile compounds or fruit shape and size traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In apple (Malus domestica), the level and timing of crop load have a major impact on the final fruit size and can also play a role in optimising internal fruit quality. Ideal crop loads vary with cultivar, but very few cultivars have recommended crop load targets that consider the effect of crop load on both return bloom and fruit quality. To address this issue, studies examining a range of crop loads and thinning times were undertaken on several apple cultivars. Return bloom and multiple fruit quality parameters were examined. The results of these studies demonstrate positive effects for early thinning, not only on fruit size but also on firmness and soluble solids content. Early-thinned fruit showed higher sugar levels than late-thinned fruit. Previously undemonstrated positive relationships between fruit sugar content and weight and between fruit firmness and weight in both 'Fuji' and 'Delicious', as well as between fruit sugar content and fruit firmness in 'Delicious', indicate that early thinning is a valuable tool in improving fruit quality. The current target crop load recommendations of 4–6 fruit cm−2 trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) for 'Fuji' and 2–4 fruit cm−2 TCSA for 'Delicious' are confirmed by this study. New recommendations are proposed for the other cultivars in this study taking into account the impact of crop load on both fruit quality and return bloom. Both 'Pink Lady' and 'Gala' can support crop loads of up to eight fruit cm−2 TCSA without impacting return bloom, but fruit quality is compromised; hence, lower targets in the range of 4–6 fruit cm−2 TCSA are recommended. Large fruit size and good return bloom can be maintained in 'Jonagold' at crop loads of eight fruit cm−2 TCSA, while crop loads of four fruit cm−2 TCSA are suggested for 'Braeburn' to sustain regular bearing and good fruit size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prepurchase situation, consumers base their choice decision on external fruit characteristics, from which they infer internal characteristics. This study investigates consumer preference for pomegranate appearance using a choice-based conjoint analysis with 320 participants. We created 27 images of pomegranates that differed in varietal characteristics: colour (yellow, bicoloured, and red), shape (round, oval, and flattened), and calyx shape (open, semi-open, and closed). Colour was by far the most important factor for consumers, followed by fruit shape and calyx shape. Two preference profiles were identified. Most consumers liked bicolour and red pomegranates equally, and rejected yellow ones, while a smaller group concentrated their choice on bicolour pomegranates. In terms of fruit and calyx shape, oval and flattened fruit and open calyx were the most preferred by both consumer groups. Barriers and drivers for consumption were also investigated. There is still plenty of room to increase pomegranate consumption. Greater availability of pomegranates and ready-to-eat arils in grocery shops, obtaining new unseeded/easier-to-peel varieties, and providing a sensory label would help to overcome current barriers. Marketing campaigns should focus on a pomegranate's health benefits and its versatility in consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape is a primary determinant of consumer preference for many horticultural crops and it is also associated with many aspects of marketing, harvest mechanics, and postharvest handling. Perceptions of quality and preference often map to specific shapes of fruits, tubers, leaves, flowers, roots, and other plant organs. As a result, humans have greatly expanded the palette of shapes available for horticultural crops, in many cases creating a series of market classes where particular shapes predominate. Crop wild relatives possess organs shaped by natural selection, while domesticated species possess organs shaped by human desires. Selection for visually-pleasing shapes in vegetable crops resulted from a number of opportunistic factors, including modification of supernumerary cambia, allelic variation at loci that control fundamental processes such as cell division, cell elongation, transposon-mediated variation, and partitioning of photosynthate. Genes that control cell division patterning may be universal shape regulators in horticultural crops, influencing the form of fruits, tubers, and grains in disparate species. Crop wild relatives are often considered less relevant for modern breeding efforts when it comes to characteristics such as shape, however this view may be unnecessarily limiting. Useful allelic variation in wild species may not have been examined or exploited with respect to shape modifications, and newly emergent information on key genes and proteins may provide additional opportunities to regulate the form and contour of vegetable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent polyploidization events in plants have led to the establishment of many lineage-specific traits representing each species. Little is known about the genetic bases for these specific traits in polyploids, presumably due to plant genomic complexity and their difficulties in applying genetic approaches. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has evolved specific fruit characteristics, including wide variations in fruit shapes and astringency. In this study, using whole-genome diploidized/quantitative genotypes from ddRAD-Seq data of 173 persimmon cultivars, we examined their population structures and potential correlations between their structural transitions and variations in nine fruit traits. The population structures of persimmon cultivars were highly randomized and not substantially correlated with the representative fruit traits focused on in this study, except for fruit astringency. With genome-wide association analytic tools considering polyploid alleles, we identified the loci associated with the nine fruit traits; we mainly focused on fruit-shape variations, which have been numerically characterized by principal component analysis of elliptic Fourier descriptors. The genomic regions that putatively underwent selective sweep exhibited no overlap with the loci associated with these persimmon-specific fruit traits. These insights will contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms by which fruit traits are independently established, possibly due to polyploidization events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) exhibits a rich diversity in fruit shape, with natural occurrences of gourd-like, flattened, and other special shapes. Despite the ongoing research into fruit shape, studies integrating elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFDs) with both Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) for gene discovery remain scarce. In this study, six cultivars of jujube fruits with distinct shapes were selected, and samples were collected from the fruit set period to the white mature stage across five time points for shape analysis and transcriptome studies. By combining EFDs with WGCNA and STEM, the study aimed to identify the critical periods and key genes involved in the formation of jujube fruit shape. The findings indicated that the D25 (25 days after flowering) is crucial for the development of jujube fruit shape. Moreover, ZjAGL80, ZjABI3, and eight other genes have been implicated to regulate the shape development of jujubes at different periods of fruit development, through seed development and fruit development pathway. In this research, EFDs were employed to precisely delineate the shape of jujube fruits. This approach, in conjunction with transcriptome, enhanced the precision of gene identification, and offered an innovative methodology for fruit shape analysis. This integration facilitates the advancement of research into the morphological characteristics of plant fruits, underpinning the development of a refined framework for the genetic underpinnings of fruit shape variation.

Shape is a critical element of the visual appeal of strawberry fruit and is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic determinants. Current fruit phenotyping approaches for external characteristics in strawberry often rely on the human eye to make categorical assessments. However, fruit shape is an inherently multi-dimensional, continuously variable trait and not adequately described by a single categorical or quantitative feature. Morphometric approaches enable the study of complex, multi-dimensional forms but are often abstract and difficult to interpret. In this study, we developed a mathematical approach for transforming fruit shape classifications from digital images onto an ordinal scale called the Principal Progression of k Clusters (PPKC). We use these human-recognizable shape categories to select quantitative features extracted from multiple morphometric analyses that are best fit for genetic dissection and analysis. We transformed images of strawberry fruit into human-recognizable categories using unsupervised machine learning, discovered 4 principal shape categories, and inferred progression using PPKC. We extracted 68 quantitative features from digital images of strawberries using a suite of morphometric analyses and multivariate statistical approaches. These analyses defined informative feature sets that effectively captured quantitative differences between shape classes. Classification accuracy ranged from 68% to 99% for the newly created phenotypic variables for describing a shape. Our results demonstrated that strawberry fruit shapes could be robustly quantified, accurately classified, and empirically ordered using image analyses, machine learning, and PPKC. We generated a dictionary of quantitative traits for studying and predicting shape classes and identifying genetic factors underlying phenotypic variability for fruit shape in strawberry. The methods and approaches that we applied in strawberry should apply to other fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops.

Summary: The mechanisms that regulate the vast diversity of plant organ shapes such as the fruit remain to be fully elucidated. TONNEAU1 Recruiting Motif proteins (TRMs) have been implicated in the control of organ shapes in a number of plant species, including tomato. However, the role of many of them is unknown. TRMs interact with Ovate Family Proteins (OFPs) via the M8 domain. However, the in planta function of the TRM‐OFP interaction in regulating shape is unknown.We used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate knockout mutants in TRM proteins from different subclades and in‐frame mutants within the M8 domain to investigate their roles in organ shape and interactions with OFPs.Our findings indicate that TRMs impact organ shape along both the mediolateral and proximo‐distal axes of growth. Mutations in Sltrm3/4 and Sltrm5 act additively to rescue the elongated fruit phenotype of ovate/Slofp20 (o/s) to a round shape. Contrary, mutations in Sltrm19 and Sltrm17/20a result in fruit elongation and further enhance the obovoid phenotype in the o/s mutant.This study supports a combinatorial role of the TRM‐OFP regulon where OFPs and TRMs expressed throughout development have both redundant and opposing roles in regulating organ shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape is a primary determinant of consumer preference for many horticultural crops and it is also associated with many aspects of marketing, harvest mechanics, and postharvest handling. Perceptions of quality and preference often map to specific shapes of fruits, tubers, leaves, flowers, roots, and other plant organs. As a result, humans have greatly expanded the palette of shapes available for horticultural crops, in many cases creating a series of market classes where particular shapes predominate. Crop wild relatives possess organs shaped by natural selection, while domesticated species possess organs shaped by human desires. Selection for visually-pleasing shapes in vegetable crops resulted from a number of opportunistic factors, including modification of supernumerary cambia, allelic variation at loci that control fundamental processes such as cell division, cell elongation, transposon-mediated variation, and partitioning of photosynthate. Genes that control cell division patterning may be universal shape regulators in horticultural crops, influencing the form of fruits, tubers, and grains in disparate species. Crop wild relatives are often considered less relevant for modern breeding efforts when it comes to characteristics such as shape, however this view may be unnecessarily limiting. Useful allelic variation in wild species may not have been examined or exploited with respect to shape modifications, and newly emergent information on key genes and proteins may provide additional opportunities to regulate the form and contour of vegetable crops.

The areca palm (Areca catechu L.) is one of the most economically important palm trees in tropical areas. To inform areca breeding programs, it is critical to characterize the genetic bases of the mechanisms that regulate areca fruit shape and to identify candidate genes related to fruit-shape traits. However, few previous studies have mined candidate genes associated with areca fruit shape. Here, the fruits produced by 137 areca germplasms were divided into three categories (spherical, oval, and columnar) based on the fruit shape index. A total of 45,094 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across the 137 areca cultivars. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the areca cultivars into four subgroups. A genome-wide association study that used a mixed linear model identified the 200 loci that were the most significantly associated with fruit-shape traits in the germplasms. In addition, 86 candidate genes associated with areca fruit-shape traits were further mined. Among the proteins encoded by these candidate genes were UDP-glucosyltransferase 85A2, the ABA-responsive element binding factor GBF4, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase SIAH1, and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase ERECTA. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the gene that encoded UDP-glycosyltransferase, UGT85A2, was significantly upregulated in columnar fruits as compared to spherical and oval fruits. The identification of molecular markers that are closely related to fruit-shape traits not only provides genetic data for areca breeding, but it also provides new insights into the shape formation mechanisms of drupes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orange (Citrus x aurantium var sinensis) is the most widely consumed citrus fruit, and its essential oil, which is made from the peel, is the most widely used in the food, perfume, and cosmetics industries. This citrus fruit is an interspecific hybrid that would have appeared long before our era and would result from two natural crosses between mandarin and pummelo hybrids. This single initial genotype was multiplied by apomictic reproduction and diversified by mutations to produce hundreds of cultivars selected by men essentially based on phenotypic characteristics of appearance, spread of maturity, and taste. Our study aimed to assess the diversity of essential oil composition and variability in the aroma profile of 43 orange cultivars representing all morphotypes. In agreement with the mutation-based evolution of orange trees, the genetic variability tested with 10 SSR genetic markers was null. The oils from peels and leaves extracted by hydrodistillation were analyzed for composition by GC (FID) and GC/MS and for aroma profile by the CATA (Check All That Apply) method by panelists. Oil yield varied between varieties by a factor of 3 for PEO and a factor of 14 for LEO between maximum and minimum. The composition of the oils was very similar between cultivars and was mainly dominated by limonene (>90%). However, small variations were observed as well as in the aromatic profile, with some varieties clearly distinguishing themselves from the others. This low chemical diversity contrasts with the pomological diversity, suggesting that aromatic variability has never been a selection criterion in orange trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Comparative transcriptome analysis of early fruits of long and round eggplants, SmOVATE5, is involved in regulating fruit development. Eggplant, a solanaceous crop that has undergone a long period of domestication, is one of the most important vegetables worldwide. The shape of its fruit is an important agronomic trait and consumers in different regions have different preferences. However, a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating fruit development and shape has hindered eggplant breeding. In this study, we performed morphological observations and transcriptome analysis of long- and round-fruited eggplant genotypes to understand the molecular regulation during the early development of different fruit shapes. Morphological studies revealed that the two varieties already exhibited distinctly different phenotypes at the initial stage of fruit development before flowering, with rapid fruit enlargement beginning on the sixth day after flowering. Comparative transcriptome analysis identified phytohormone-related genes that were significantly upregulated on the day of flowering, indicating they may be involved in regulating the initial stages of fruit development. Notably, SmARF1 showed a sustained upregulation pattern in both varieties, suggesting that it may promote eggplant fruit growth. In addition, several differentially expressed genes of the SUN, YABBY, and OVATE families are potentially involved in the regulation of fruit development or fruit shape. We demonstrated that the SmOVATE5 gene has a negative regulatory function suppressing plant growth and development. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms of eggplant fruit development, and the genes identified may provide valuable references for different fruit shape breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Miyagawa-wase' mandarin (Citrus. unshiu Marc. cv. Miyagawa-wase) is one of the most widely cultivated citrus varieties in Korea. Previously, we used γ-irradiation to develop new citrus varieties by mutation breeding, a useful tool for increasing genetic diversity in a short time. One of the new citrus varieties we generated, Jedae-unshiu, produces uniquely shaped fruit with vertical troughs on the flavedo. Although comparative analyses of genome-wide variation and transcriptomics have been reported for seedless or color-change citrus variants, little is known regarding genetic variants linked to morphological variation in citrus fruits. In this study, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertion/deletion (InDel) variants were identified in Jedae-unshiu by whole-genome re-sequencing and subjected to functional annotation by gene ontology (GO) analysis. The results show that InDel-containing genes are more highly represented in the GO database than SNP-containing genes. In addition, we compared Jedae-unshiu and wild-type control transcriptomes to identify candidate genetic determinants of the unique fruit phenotype of Jedae-unshiu. A total of 641 unique, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Jedae-unshiu relative to wild-type control, including 388 up-regulated and 253 down-regulated genes. The DEGs were mapped to GO terms and subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to identify DEGs involved in cellular processes potentially linked to the unique phenotype of Jedae-unshiu fruit. The expression of 10 DEGs (5 up- and 5 down-regulated) was quantified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our findings provide insight into putative genetic determinants of fruit morphology in citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OVATE gene family is a class of conserved transcription factors that play significant roles in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress, and also affect fruit shape in vegetable crops. Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), commonly known as calabash or gourd, is an annual climber belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Studies on bottle gourd OVATE genes are limited. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification of the OVATE gene family in bottle gourd, and identified a total of 20 OVATE family genes. The identified genes were unevenly distributed across 11 bottle gourd chromosomes. We also analyzed the gene homology, amino acid sequence conservation, and three-dimensional protein structure (via prediction) of the 20 OVATE family genes. We used RNA-seq data to perform expression analysis, which found 20 OVATE family genes to be differentially expressed based on spatial and temporal characteristics, suggesting that they have varying functions in the growth and development of bottle gourd. In situ hybridization and subcellular localization analysis showed that the expression characteristics of the LsOVATE1 gene, located on chromosome 7 homologous to OVATE, is a candidate gene for affecting the fruit shape of bottle gourd. In addition, RT-qPCR data from bottle gourd roots, stems, leaves, and flowers showed different spatial expression of the LsOVATE1 gene. The ectopic expression of LsOVATE1 in tomato generated a phenotype with a distinct fruit shape and development. Transgenic-positive plants that overexpressed LsOVATE1 had cone-shaped fruit, calyx hypertrophy, petal degeneration, and petal retention after flowering. Our results indicate that LsOVATE1 could serve important roles in bottle gourd development and fruit shape determination, and provide a basis for future research into the function of LsOVATE1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is one of the most diversified (including growth habit trait) species among the members of the Cucurbitaceae family. The fruit is valued for attractive shape, size, flavour, flesh colour and sweetness. For increased acceptability by farmers and consumers, high yielding cultivars with consumer preferred fruit quality traits are desirable. An investigation was carried out to study the influence of plant growth habit and other end user preferred quality traits viz., fruit shape, flesh colour and fruit cavity size on commercially important traits viz., Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and average fruit weight in muskmelon during 2021 rainy season at experimental plots of Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd., Itakudibbanahalli, Karnataka, India. Seventy-two advanced breeding lines (ABLs) were grouped into different classes based on different plant growth habit (3), fruit shape (4), flesh colour (4) and fruit cavity size (3). Trait means of different classes of ABLs were statistically compared for TSS and average fruit weight. Non-significance of means of plant growth habit and fruit cavity size classes for TSS and average fruit weight indicated lack of influence of these traits on TSS and average fruit weight. On the contrary, significant mean differences of four different classes of fruit shape and flesh colour for TSS and average fruit weight suggested prevailing influence of these quality traits on TSS and average fruit weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory on-farm evaluation of improved tomato varieties ('Melka salsa', 'Roma VF' and 'Kochero') against the local tomato variety was carried out during the 2019/2020 growing season involving six farmers of Abergelle district, Eastern Amhara. The objective of the experiment was to assess the performance of different tomato varieties for the farmers, then to collect their feedback. Based on the actual and farmers' preference data, the analysis underscores the better performance of improved tomato varieties over local varieties by most yield-related attributes. Average marketable fruit yields of 'Melka salsa', 'Roma VF', 'Kochero', and the local variety were 4.62, 3.88, 3.64, and 3.10 ton ha-1, respectively. The improved varieties thus had a yield advantage of 72.38%, 37.14%, and 25.72% over the local variety in that order. Among improved tomato varieties, 'Melka salsa' provided the highest fruit yield on top of owing the highest score of overall preference attributes rank. Scale-wide diffusion of 'Melka salsa' tomato variety is therefore suggested for similar and potential agro-ecologies. Biological scientists also should take farmers' preference attributes and feedback as a backup for future breeding and adaptation studies on tomato varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruits, which are eaten at an immature stage of development, can vary extensively in morphological features such as size, shape, waxiness, spines, warts, and flesh thickness. Different types of cucumbers that vary in these morphological traits are preferred throughout the world. Numerous studies in recent years have added greatly to our understanding of cucumber fruit development and have identified a variety of genetic factors leading to extensive diversity. Candidate genes influencing floral organ establishment, cell division and cell cycle regulation, hormone biosynthesis and response, sugar transport, trichome development, and cutin, wax, and pigment biosynthesis have all been identified as factors influencing cucumber fruit morphology. The identified genes demonstrate complex interplay between structural genes, transcription factors, and hormone signaling. Identification of genetic factors controlling these traits will facilitate breeding for desired characteristics to increase productivity, improve shipping, handling, and storage traits, and enhance consumer-desired qualities. The following review examines our current understanding of developmental and genetic factors driving diversity of cucumber fruit morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phenotypic diversity of argan fruit with different morphological characteristics (fusiform, oval, apiculate and spherical) on fat and protein content, inflexibility and fat chemical composition, oil acids and sterols. To investigate the links of argan fruit shape with the chemical composition of argan oil, with the help of native communities, 4 different fruit shapes (fusiform, apiculate, spherical and oval) were selected, which were harvested from the same place (Tamanar) in Essaouira province (South Plain region, Western Morocco). After harvesting the fruit of the argan tree, 100 samples were taken from each form. They were crushed to destroy the core. After extraction of hexane with Soxhlet, fat content, protein level, unsaponifiable content, composition of fatty acids and sterols in fat were determined. The results showed that the oval shape is the best shape of argan fruit because their kernels contain more than 50% fat and a higher percentage of unsaponifiables. The results on fatty acids and sterols showed that argan oil contained 80% of unsaturated fatty acids. The results also showed that the main products of the sterol composition in argan oil were schottenol (or Δ-7-stigmasterol) (42.8 and 46.4%) and spinasterol (39.8 and 45.6%). The study of the chemical composition showed that there was no correlation between the shape of the fruit of the argan tree and the composition of fatty acids. Depending on the shape of the argan fruit, fatty acids and sterols were not only related to the shape but also to the nature of the soil and its altitude, longitude and distance from the sea.

• The shape of mature melons can be predicted by examining the ovary shape during the early developmental stages of the pumpkin. • At the cellular level, pumpkins with different fruit shapes exhibit variations in both cell number and size within their flesh. • Key genes and transcription factors involved in the auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways interact to collectively regulate the shape of pumpkin fruit. Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) is a prominent cultivar in China and is highly favored by consumers. Fruit shape is a critical agronomic trait in horticultural crops, which significantly contributes to their commercial value. In this study, we compared the two inbred lines of Cucurbita maxima , 'CNG2–3–1–1′ and 'BL27–3–2–1′, which exhibited significant difference in fruit shape. We observed that 'CNG2–3–1–1′ had a notably higher fruit shape index than 'BL27–3–2–1′, potentially due to variations in gene expression regulating cell division and expansion throughout fruit development. Furthermore, fruit shape was clearly discernible in both inbred lines at the ovary stage. Transcriptome sequencing was performed at five developmental stages of the inbred lines, coupled with weighted co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and interaction networks of select differentially expressed genes involved in fruit shape regulation. The findings revealed the detection of 25,653 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In the growth hormone signaling pathway, CmaAux/IAA, CmaAUX1, CmaGH3 , and CmaSAUR , as well as CmaARR, CmaCRE1 , and CmaAHP in the cytokinin signaling pathway, exhibited differential expression between the two inbred lines. Moreover, analysis of differentially expressed transcription factors across various developmental stages suggested that CmabHLH, CmaERF, CmaWRKY, CmaHD-ZIP , and CmaMYB transcription factors may be associated with fruit expansion. It is postulated that these factors interact with target genes to collectively govern cell division and expansion in both horizontal and vertical directions, thereby influencing fruit shape difference between the two inbred lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prepurchase situation, consumers base their choice decision on external fruit characteristics, from which they infer internal characteristics. This study investigates consumer preference for pomegranate appearance using a choice-based conjoint analysis with 320 participants. We created 27 images of pomegranates that differed in varietal characteristics: colour (yellow, bicoloured, and red), shape (round, oval, and flattened), and calyx shape (open, semi-open, and closed). Colour was by far the most important factor for consumers, followed by fruit shape and calyx shape. Two preference profiles were identified. Most consumers liked bicolour and red pomegranates equally, and rejected yellow ones, while a smaller group concentrated their choice on bicolour pomegranates. In terms of fruit and calyx shape, oval and flattened fruit and open calyx were the most preferred by both consumer groups. Barriers and drivers for consumption were also investigated. There is still plenty of room to increase pomegranate consumption. Greater availability of pomegranates and ready-to-eat arils in grocery shops, obtaining new unseeded/easier-to-peel varieties, and providing a sensory label would help to overcome current barriers. Marketing campaigns should focus on a pomegranate’s health benefits and its versatility in consumption.