Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2020, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (1): 1-4.DOI: 10.11983/CBB19240

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The Development of Genomics Technologies Drives New Progress in Horticultural Plant Research

Jiali Tang,Jie Qiu,Xuehui Huang()   

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
  • Received:2019-12-15 Accepted:2019-12-17 Online:2020-01-01 Published:2019-12-20
  • Contact: Xuehui Huang

Abstract: Horticultural plants include flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, some melon (such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), muskmelon (Cucumis melo)) and tea trees (Camellia sinensis), with a large number of species based on plant classification. Genomics and genetics researches for horticultural plants are of important theoretical value and economic significance. The development of genome sequencing technology and related bioinformatics tools greatly facilitate molecular biology researches of horticultural plants. In addition to its important ornamental value, the plant species ‘water lily’ has a very special position in evolutionary, belonging to an early angiosperm group. Recently, a high-quality genome map of an important flower plant, water lily, was generated. Through systematic analysis and genomic comparison of the water lily genome and other angiosperm genomes, the researchers thoroughly elucidated the evolutionary position and related evolutionary events of water lily. Based on the high-quality genomic sequences of these horticultural plants, researchers in horticultural plant science are expected to carry out in-depth molecular genetics research and identify functional genes underlying many traits such as flower organs, flower color, fragrance, and quality, which is expected to promote basic research and accelerate the creation of new varieties.

Key words: water lily, genome, horticulture, evolution