Combining novel technologies with interdisciplinary basic research to enhance horticultural crops. (10th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Xiaohui; Zhang, Weiyi; Fernie, Alisdair R.; Wen, Weiwei
• Is Part Of: Plant journal. Volume 109:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 46
• Publication Date: 2021-11-10
• Subjects: horticultural crops -- sustainable development -- interdisciplinary -- bioengineering -- multi‐omics -- artificial intelligence; Plant molecular biology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15553
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-7412

Abstract

SUMMARY: Horticultural crops mainly include fruits, vegetables, ornamental trees and flowers, and tea trees ( Melaleuca alternifolia ). They produce a variety of nutrients for the daily human diet in addition to the nutrition provided by staple crops, and some of them additionally possess ornamental and medicinal features. As such, horticultural crops make unique and important contributions to both food security and a colorful lifestyle. Under the current climate change scenario, the growing population and limited arable land means that agriculture, and especially horticulture, has been facing unprecedented challenges to meet the diverse demands of human daily life. Breeding horticultural crops with high quality and adaptability and establishing an effective system that combines cultivation, post‐harvest handling, and sales becomes increasingly imperative for horticultural production. This review discusses characteristic and recent research highlights in horticultural crops, focusing on the breeding of quality traits and the mechanisms that underpin them. It additionally addresses challenges and potential solutions in horticultural production and post‐harvest practices. Finally, we provide a prospective as to how emerging technologies can be implemented alongside interdisciplinary basic research to enhance our understanding and exploitation of horticultural crops. Significance Statement: Horticultural crops are rich in nutrients and of great economic value. Novel technologies such as multi‐omics, CRISPR, high‐precision sensors, and artificial intelligence have been developed to study and breed horticultural crops. In this review, we focus on these novel techniques and provide a perspective to combine interdisciplinary technologies to enhance our understanding and exploitation of horticultural crops.