Genetic & Breeding · Germplasm Resources · Molecular Biology

• Enhancing Citrus Transformation Efficiency by Activating Developmental Regulators via the CRISPR/dCas9-TV System
• SHEN Wenzhong, YUAN Mengying, HUANG Liting, CHEN Lijuan, ZHANG Xinxin
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1573-1589. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0793
• Abstract ( 70 ) HTML ( 41 ) PDF (5580KB) ( 41 ) 　　　

• In this study，members of the WOX，GRF，and GIF gene families in citrus were systematically identified and analyzed，and a multiplex CRISPR/dCas9-TV activation system was subsequently developed to precisely induce these endogenous developmental regulators without introducing exogenous coding sequences. Expression profiling revealed that CsWUS，CsWOX9，CsGRF4，CsGRF5，and CsGIF1 are highly expressed during somatic embryogenesis and regeneration. Targeted activation of CsWUS markedly shortened the differentiation cycle of sweet orange callus. In grapefruit，activation of CpWUS，CpWOX9，or CpGRF4 significantly increased regeneration and transformation rates from epicotyl explants，with the combined activation of CpGRF4 and CpGIF1 producing the greatest improvement. In lemon，co-activation of ClWUS，ClWOX9，and ClWRKY42 substantially enhanced hairy root induction and transformation efficiency from leaf explants，while enabling visual selection via carotenoid accumulation. This endogenous multi-gene activation strategy is broadly applicable across citrus cultivars，offers a generalizable route for overcoming regeneration bottlenecks in recalcitrant species.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Genome-Wide Identification of ABA Receptor Gene Family in Citrus and Functional Analysis of CrPYL9 in Fruit Maturation
• LIU Shumei, LÜ Yuanda, JIANG Bo, LIU Taibo, YAN Huaxue
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1590-1612. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0791
• Abstract ( 45 ) HTML ( 26 ) PDF (7159KB) ( 26 ) 　　　

• The abscisic acid（ABA）receptor Pyrabactin resistance 1/PYR1-Like/Regulatory component of ABA receptor（PYR/PYL/RCAR，PYL）is an essential component of the ABA signaling pathway，responsible for regulating various physiological processes in plants such as growth，development，and stress responses. In this study，a total of 11 and 14 PYL genes were identified in sweet orange[Citrus sinensis（L.）Osbeck]and Clementine mandarin（C. clementina Hort. ex Tan.），respectively. Through phylogenetic analysis，citrus PYL genes were categorized into three distinct subfamilies. The expression patterns of citrus PYL genes showed tissue-specific characteristics and diverse responses to external hormone treatments. The results of molecular genetic experiments further confirmed that CrPYL9 positively regulates fruit maturation and color change，providing new insights into the mechanism of ABA-mediated regulation of non-climacteric fruit maturation.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Investigation and Analysis of the Flower Bud Freezing Injury in 164 Peach Cultivars After Late Spring Coldness
• TIAN Zhendong, TIAN Qihang, LI Jie, LIU Guojian, WANG Yu, WANG Zhaoyuan, CHANG Ruifeng, LI Yonghong
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1613-1622. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0653
• Abstract ( 35 ) HTML ( 21 ) PDF (2195KB) ( 21 ) 　　　

• The freezing injury rates of flower buds in 164 peach cultivars and 438 hybrids of the ‘Donghe 1’ב21st Century’were investigated after the late spring coldness in 2025 at two experimental fields in Qinhuangdao，Hebei Province. The results showed that the flower bud freezing injury rates of the 164 peach cultivars conformed to the distribution characteristics of quantitative traits，presenting a skewed normal distribution. There was a significant negative correlation between the fruit setting number and the flower bud freezing injury rates. The flower bud freezing injury rates of the upper tree was significantly lower than that of the lower tree，and the two are significantly correlated. The overall flower bud freezing injury rate of the hybrid population was relatively high. The vast majority of individual plants showed poor resistance of flower buds to low temperatures below 0 ℃，exhibiting trait decline compared with their parents. In addition to cultivars characteristic，wide spacing，appropriate water，mature age，and the planting point locating in the south，facing the sun and sheltered from the wind had lower flower bud freezing injury rates. Moreover，11 cultivars with high resistance to late spring coldness were Identified，which can be used for breeding and introduction of peach cultivars resistant to late spring coldness.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Evaluation of Leaf Color Diversity and Preliminary Analysis of the Coloration Mechanisms in Ananas spp.
• ZHONG Ziqin, XIE Jingyao, ZHANG Wei, WU Jing, YANG Mingzhe, FENG Junting, CHEN Chengjie, LENG Yan, LIU Hui, WANG Zhou, LIU Chaoyang, LIANG Yinlong, ZENG Liping, MA Li, HE Junhu, MA Jun, HE Yehua, LUAN Aiping
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1623-1636. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0276
• Abstract ( 24 ) HTML ( 7 ) PDF (5029KB) ( 7 ) 　　　

• This study used 312 Ananas spp. germplasm accessions and three leaf-color genetic populations to establish quantitative classification indices based on measurements of CIELAB color space parameters，pigment spectral indices，and pigment contents. Microscopic observations were conducted to parameters，pigment spectral indices，and pigment contents. Microscopic observations were conducted to analyze how tissue-specific cellular characteristics influence the formation of leaf-color traits in pineapple，providing a basis for accurate phenotypic identification and the discovery of elite genes related to leaf pigmentation in Ananas. Based on color differences，pineapple leaf color was classified into seven types：white，light yellow，yellow green，light green，green，red and dark red，accounting for 0.1%，0.1%，3.3%，7.5%，77.3%，4.5%，and 4.2% of the total germplasm，respectively. These color types were mainly determined by differences in the contents and relative proportions of three plant pigments. Chlorophyll was distributed mainly in the mesophyll and vascular tissues，whereas anthocyanins were localized in the epidermal cells and water storage tissues. The color parameter a^* effectively distinguished whether anthocyanins accumulated in pineapple leaves，indicating the presence of red coloration. Cold stress altered the metabolism of chlorophylls，carotenoids，and anthocyanins，and the metabolic responses of the same pigment varied among different cultivars. Although anthocyanins were detected in all leaves，visible red coloration appeared only when anthocyanin content exceeded 0.5 mg · g^-1 while chlorophyll content remained within the normal physiological range（≥ 2.0 mg · g^-1）. Anthocyanin accumulation in leaves was consistent with the expression patterns of AcMYB267 and AcMYB262，confirming that they function as transcription factors regulating anthocyanin accumulation in pineapple leaves.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Identification and Expression Analysis of the β-Carotene Hydroxylase Gene Family of Oncidium hybridum
• CHEN Yan, ZHENG Jinxuan, LUO Yuanhua, CHEN Yiquan, FANG Nengyan, ZHONG Huaiqin
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1637-1651. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0745
• Abstract ( 30 ) HTML ( 22 ) PDF (2692KB) ( 22 ) 　　　

• β-Carotene Hydroxylase（BCH）is a key rate limiting enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Based on the genome data of Oncidium hybridum，the BCH family was identified. The gene structure，chromosome localization，physicochemical properties，phylogenetic and collinear relationships of the BCH family were analyzed. The BCHs expression patterns were analyzed at different stages of flower color change in O. hybridum‘XM-1’and among different Oncidium cultivars. The results showed that nine BCH members were identified in the genome of O. hybridum，distributed on eight chromosomes，and there were fragment duplication events. The phylogenetic tree indicated that OnBCH mainly cluster in two branches. The upstream promoter region contained various regulatory elements involved in light signals，stress responses，growth and development，and hormone regulatory elements. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of OnBCH1/3/4 were significantly down-regulated during the half flowering stage（S2，yellow）to the full flowering stage（S4，white）of‘XM-1’. This trend was consistent with the changes in lutein，zeaxanthin，and β-cryptoxanthin content. It was speculated that OnBCH1/3/4 play an important role in the color dynamics of‘XM-1’. There were significant differences in carotenoid content among 12 cultivars of yellow series O. hybridum. Based on qRT-PCR results，it was speculated that genes OnBCH1/3/4，as well as genes OnBCH6/7/8/9，have similarities in regulating carotenoid mediated coloration function in O. hybridum. An OnBCH transcription factor regulatory network was constructed. It was speculated that the MYB-related transcription factor evm.model.Chr084.732 and the BCH3 regulatory module play important roles in the carotenoid-mediated flower color change process of O. hybridum.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Comprehensive Evaluation of Aroma Characteristics and Selection of Qualified Fragrant Wisteria sinensis Cultivars
• LÜ Jiaxin, YUAN Huihong, PENG Zesi, YI Qixian, YANG Xiting, ZHENG Riru, CHEN Shenghong
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1652-1668. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0213
• Abstract ( 16 ) HTML ( 3 ) PDF (2638KB) ( 3 ) 　　　

• In order to screen the potential aromatic cultivars for industrial application，the volatile components of the flowers in 20 Wisteria sinensis cultivars were detected by headspace solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that there were significant differences of volatile aroma components between different cultivars. A total of 96 volatile compounds were detected，and the fatty acids and their derivatives were proved to be the dominant aroma compounds due to their highest types and contents. The odor activity values（OAVs）and principal component analysis were integrated to reveal that 1-octen-3-one，hexanal，1-hexanol and trans-2-hexenal with high OAVs imparted the unique sweet grass note to flowers in many cultivars. In addition，D-limonene，indole，and phytol acetate were also important aroma compounds with woody and tea notes，causing different olfactory senses in different cultivars.‘Zhaohe Baiteng’‘Zhaohe Hongteng’‘Yinteng’achieved high aroma contents，while‘Shexiangteng’‘Kouhongteng’and‘Zhaohe Baiteng’were the most preferred cultivars. They had outstanding sweet，floral and tea aroma，and were considered as excellent materials for extracting aromatic compounds. The determination of aroma compounds in‘Zhaohe Baiteng’demonstrated that the full blossoming period was the ideal harvest period.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Cultivation · Physiology & Biochemistry

• Study on the Dynamic Accumulation of Soluble Sugars in the Apple Cleft Grafting Healing Process
• MAO Chong, YUAN Ziwen, HUANG Wenting, XIANG Ling, ZHANG Xiao, CHEN Qilu, YU Zhihan, WANG Shengyuan, LI Tianzhong
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1669-1683. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2024-1062
• Abstract ( 29 ) HTML ( 11 ) PDF (8508KB) ( 11 ) 　　　

• The self-grafted seedlings of Malus hupehensis were used as test materials to analyze the changes and dynamic distribution of soluble sugar accumulation in the process of grafting healing. The key period of sugar affecting grafting healing and the key soluble sugar components affecting grafting healing were analyzed，and the regulation of exogenous application of soluble sugar on grafting healing was explored. The results showed that the survival rate of grafting was significantly positively correlated with the leaf area of scion and the soluble sugar accumulation of grafting under the condition of 100% environmental humidity，while the survival rate of grafting was only significantly positively correlated with the ratio of soluble sugar accumulation / transpiration rate under the condition of indoor environment （30% environmental humidity）. When the leaf area of scion was 2-4 cm²，the ratio of soluble sugar accumulation/transpiration rate reached the peak，and the survival rate of grafting was the highest（95%）. According to the development status and differentiation characteristics of callus after grafting，the healing process of grafting was divided into five healing periods：isolation layer period，callus cell occurrence period，callus fusion period，vascular bundle differentiation period and construction period of vascular system. At the initial stage of callus fusion stage（7 days after grafting），soluble sugars were enriched in the new callus of the grafting joint，and the relative change rate of total sugar content and six sugar components content fluctuated significantly at different stages of the healing joint. Based on the contents of sugar components in stems，six kinds of sugar aqueous solutions were prepared to apply exogenous treatment to wounds and leaves during grafting. It was found that 1% raffinose aqueous solution treatment of wounds，1% sucrose aqueous solution treatment of wounds and 1% sucrose aqueous solution treatment of leaves all contributed significantly to the establishment of vascular bundles（VIP value > 1）. All the three aforementioned treatment methods could significantly accelerate the development of callus，thereby facilitating the graft healing process.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• The Effect of Xenia on Fruit Quality and Anthocyanidin Composition in Fruit of‘Donghong’Kiwifruit
• JIA Dongfeng, LIN Liting, YE Bin, HUANG Chunhui, LIAO Guanglian, XU Xiaobiao
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1684-1694. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0396
• Abstract ( 30 ) HTML ( 9 ) PDF (2193KB) ( 9 ) 　　　

• Three male Actinidia chinensis cultivars（‘M11’‘M26’‘MS3’）and one male A. eriantha cultivar（‘MG15’）were used to pollinate the red-fleshed A. chinensis‘Donghong’. The appearance quality，internal quality，soluble sugar composition，organic acid composition，and color difference indexes were evaluated respectively. Composition and contents of anthocyanins were analyzed using targeted metabolome method，and the differentially accumulated metabolites（DAMs）in inner pericarp were identified. Correlation analysis between color difference indexes and the total content of individual anthocyanins or the content of each DAM was conducted. The results indicated that some of the fruit traits were significantly affected by xenia，including fruit weight，soluble sugar content，titratable acidity，sugar-acid ratio，glucose content，sucrose content，and malic acid content. The color quality in the inner pericarp of‘Donghong’was significantly improved by pollination with the pollen of the male‘MG15’kiwifruit as it facilitated the red coloring. In the inner pericarp of‘Donghong’fruits pollinated with pollen from‘M11’or‘MG15’，whose fruit color indicators were significantly different，20 and 23 anthocyanins were respectively detected，and 8 of them were identified to be up-regulated DAMs in inner pericarp pollinated by‘MG15’. The a^* value（reflecting depth of red color when positive）was significantly positively correlated to the content of 6 DAMs of those anthocyanins，especially，cyanidin-3-O-galactoside was the highest in the inner pericarp of fruits pollinated with‘MG15’，implying that its increased accumulation may account for the enhanced red color of the inner pericarp. For the first time，this study revealed that the red coloration in red-fleshed kiwifruit exhibits a clear xenia effect. These findings offer a theoretical basis for elucidating the anthocyanin-mediated mechanism underlying flesh coloration in kiwifruit.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Effects of Exogenous Methyl Jasmonate on the Growth and Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Walnut Seedlings Under Salt Stress
• NIE Ruining, WU Chengxu, LI Ao, ZHENG Xu, JI Xinying, SU Yi, SUN Leyuan, ZHANG Junpei
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1695-1708. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0264
• Abstract ( 31 ) HTML ( 11 ) PDF (3886KB) ( 11 ) 　　　

• This study aimed to investigate the physiological response characteristics of walnut seedlings treated with exogenous methyl jasmonate（MeJA）under salt stress（150 mmol · L^-1 NaCl），so as to provide a basis for walnut production in saline-alkali areas. Using‘Wen 185’walnut（Juglans regia‘Wen 185’）as the experimental material，five treatments were established：an untreated control，and 150 mmol · L^-1 NaCl supplemented with 0，50，100，200，or 400 μmol · L^-1 MeJA. Seedling growth phenotype，photochemical characteristics，antioxidant enzyme activities，osmotic regulators，endogenous hormones，and ion contents were measured. The results showed that exogenous MeJA treatment alleviated the growth inhibition caused by salt stress to varying degrees in a concentration-dependent manner. Among the treatments，50 μmol · L^-1 MeJA exhibited the most significant alleviating effect，manifested as reduced leaf wilting，and significantly increased shoot fresh weight，root fresh weight，and net photosynthetic rate（P_n）compared with the salt-stressed treatment. This treatment also significantly increased the contents of JA，SA，IAA and optimized ion balance（elevated K⁺ content and K⁺/Na⁺）. Correspondingly，the activities of SOD and APX，as well as soluble sugar content，were significantly decreased compared with T0，indicating mitigated oxidative damage and normalized osmotic regulation. 100 μmol · L^-1 MeJA also improved some indicators，whereas the alleviating effects of 200 and 400 μmol · L^-1 MeJA gradually weakened with increasing concentration. In conclusion，an appropriate concentration（50 μmol · L^-1）of exogenous MeJA can effectively enhance the salt tolerance of walnut seedlings through multiple physiological pathways，including improving photosynthetic efficiency，optimizing ion balance，and the antioxidant system.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Research on Grafting Compatibility Between of Taishuu Persimmon on Suzhen 1 and Other Rootstocks
• YU Jiangtao, YE Xialin, LI Haozhen, KANG Qingxuan, YU Xinyi, QU Shenchun
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1709-1721. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0168
• Abstract ( 19 ) HTML ( 12 ) PDF (5242KB) ( 12 ) 　　　

• Persimmon rootstock‘Suzhen 1’（Diospyros kaki Thunb.）is a cultivar in Jiangsu Province，it exhibits robust growth potential and stress resistance. To determine its potential as an elite rootstock cultivar，this study evaluated its graft compatibility with Taishuu persimmon and the subsequent growth performance after grafting. Xiaoguo Tianshi，Wugang Yeshi，Shizhen 4 and Diospyros lotus were used as reference rootstocks for Suzhen 1. Grafting compatibility was assessed by examining survival rates，growth of grafted plants，enzyme activity and lignin content at the graft Union，and nutrient levels in scion leaves. All four rootstocks except Diospyros lotus demonstrated good compatibility with Taishuu persimmon. Notably，when Suzhen 1 was used as the rootstock，the plant height reached an average of 65.5 cm at 90 days after grafting，significantly higher than other grafting combinations. The SOD enzyme activity at the grafting interface of Taishuu/Suzhen 1 was significantly higher than that of the Taishuu/Diospyros lotus at 7 and 21 days after grafting，and the POD enzyme activity was significantly higher than that of multiple grafting combinations at 60 days after grafting. The MDA content at 14 days after grafting was significantly lower than that of multiple combinations. The lignin content at the grafting interface was the highest after 60 days of grafting，along with higher levels of soluble sugar，soluble proteins，and SPAD value in scion leaves. Besides，there were no significant changes in the phenological period，fruit appearance and internal quality of three-year-old Taishuu plants grafted with Suzhen 1，Wugang Yeshi and Xiaoguo Tianshi. The grafting interface of Suzhen 1 and Taishuu persimmon heals rapidly，strong growth vigor，and favorable grafting compatibility. Moreover，it has no impact on the cultivar characteristics of Taishuu persimmon. Taishuu persimmon performed well in the early stage after grafting with Suzhen 1，outperforming several rootstocks currently used in Jiangsu Province，so it has great application potential.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Foliar Spraying of COS Regulate Secondary Metabolism and Promoted Tubers in Potato
• WANG Pengqing, CHEN Fu, ZHU Yan, XIANG Xinyue, WU Xiaowen, FAN Jikai, SONG Yuanming, LI Hanru, LI Yongcai
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1722-1736. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0211
• Abstract ( 16 ) HTML ( 2 ) PDF (5270KB) ( 2 ) 　　　

• ‘Longshu 7’were used as the material，10 g · L^-1 chitosan oligosaccharides（COS）were sprayed on the foliar surface of potato plants during the bulking stage and a metabolomics analysis were combined to investigate its effects on tuber growth and metabolism. The results showed that COS treatment significantly increased plant heightand stem diameter，as well as the tuber weight，tuber diameter，and hundred-seed weight of minitubers. Metabolomics analysis under negative ion mode identified 129 differential metabolites（up-regulated of 32，and down-regulated of 97），of which terpenoids，phenolics，flavonoids，and amino acid compounds showed significant changes. The differential metabolites were mainly enriched in porphyrin metabolism，amino acid metabolism（e.g.，glutamic acid and aspartic acid），and diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways. Correlation analysis showed that up-regulated metabolites including gancaonin Q and L-glutamic acid，were positively correlated with tuber diameter，stem diameter，and plant height. In conclusion，COS promotes potato tuber enlargement and nutrient accumulation，potentially through the regulation of key plant secondary metabolic pathways.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Effects of Continuous Cropping on the Growth and Photosynthesis of Facility-Grown Cut Chrysanthemums
• LIU Huahao, CHEN Jiaying, YU Lizhen, QI Qimo, ZHAO Shuang, FANG Weimin, CHEN Fadi, GUAN Zhiyong
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1737-1752. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0317
• Abstract ( 14 ) HTML ( 7 ) PDF (1299KB) ( 7 ) 　　　

• Unified cultivation experiments were conducted using the cut chrysanthemum cultivar‘Nannong Xiaojinxing’in soils with different continuous cropping histories：facility soils continuously cropped for 6 years，7 years，and 16 years，as well as a native saline soil that had been continuously cropped for 6 years（referred to as native saline soil）. Morphological indices and photosynthetic parameters of the plants were measured after budding. Multivariate linear regression and path analysis were employed to explore the effects of soil physicochemical indicators on the growth and appearance quality of cut chrysanthemums，as well as the interrelationships among these soil properties. The results showed that soil cation exchange capacity（CEC），catalase activity had positive effects on the growth and photosynthesis of cut chrysanthemums，while soil electrical conductivity（EC）and excessive available zinc content exerted inhibitory effects. The variation range of EC values across soil samples（ranging from 1.7-fold to 15-fold）was much greater than that of available zinc content（less than twofold），indicating that in the tested salinized soils，the inhibition of growth and photosynthesis in cut chrysanthemums was primarily attributable to excessively high soil EC values. Aboveground fresh weight，plant height，stem diameter，leaf SPAD value，net photosynthetic rate，stomatal conductance，and transpiration rate of chrysanthemums all decreased with increasing soil EC，whereas intercellular CO₂ concentration increased with increasing EC. Soil EC showed a highly significant negative correlation with soil urease activity and cation exchange capacity. In conclusion，excessive salt accumulation is the primary factor inhibiting growth and reducing quality in continuously cropped soils for cut chrysanthemums. This leads to restricted root growth and photosynthesis，resulting in poorer aboveground growth. The inhibitory effect on cut chrysanthemums intensifies，and the deterioration of cut flower quality becomes more pronounced with increasing salinity.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Plant Protection

• Pathogen Identification，Fungicide Efficacy Assessment，and Germplasm Resistance Evaluation of Anthracnose in‘Docteur Jules Guyot’Pear
• LIU Sitong, YAN Weiwei, SUN Xiaonan, ZHANG Xinnan, TIAN Luming, LI Yunpeng, JIA Xiaohui
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1753-1764. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0529
• Abstract ( 22 ) HTML ( 19 ) PDF (1793KB) ( 19 ) 　　　

• This study aimed to clarify the pathogen responsible for anthracnose in‘Docteur Jules Guyot’pear，screen effective fungicides，and identify resistant pear germplasm to provide a new basis for scientific disease control and breeding of anthracnose-resistant pear cultivars. Pathogen identification was performed through morphological observation，ITS sequencing，and verification using Koch’s postulates. In vitro toxicity determination of 24 fungicides was conducted using the mycelial growth rate method and spore germination inhibition rate method. Additionally，The lesion diameter of 76 pear germplasm accessions was determined via the mycelial disc pin-prick inoculation method. Based on the average lesion diameter method combined with cluster analysis，these germplasm accessions were categorized into five resistance grades（highly resistant，resistant，moderately resistant，susceptible，and highly susceptible）to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. With the Euclidean distance set at 8 as the optimal cut-off point for cluster analysis，the resistance of the 76 pear germplasm accessions to C. gloeosporioides was scientifically classified. The results showed that the causal agent of‘Docteur Jules Guyot’pear anthracnose was C. gloeosporioides. Among the tested fungicides，prochloraz（an imidazole fungicide）exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect，with EC₅₀ values of 0.047 mg · L^-1 for mycelial growth and 0.046 mg · L^-1 for spore germination. This was followed by carbendazim（a benzimidazoles fungicide），with EC₅₀ values of 0.075 mg · L^-1 and 0.040 mg · L^-1，respectively. Comprehensive evaluation using both methods identified 13 highly resistant germplasms，with‘Wansanji’being the most resistant，followed by‘Guanhongxiao’，and 7 highly susceptible cultivars，with‘Huangguan’being the most susceptible，followed by‘Wowo’pear.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Analysis and Molecular Identification of Grapevine Virus and Viroid Genomes in Northern Xinjiang
• LIU Lin, SAI Xiaoling, SANG Haiyang, LU Ruxia, XIANG Benchun, ZHENG Yinying
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1765-1778. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0642
• Abstract ( 12 ) HTML ( 10 ) PDF (3404KB) ( 10 ) 　　　

• In order to systematically investigate the occurrence and infection status of grapevine viruses and viroids in Northern Xinjiang. LncRNA sequencing technology was used to obtain virus and viroid sequences from four mixed and six individual young grape leaf samples. Eleven plant viruses belonging to 7 viral families and 9 genera，along with 3 viroids from 1 viroid family and 2 genera were identified. This study provides the first molecular evidence confirming the presence of grapevine fabavirus（GFabV），grapevine geminivirus A（GGVA），grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus（GRVFV）and cucumber mosaic virus（CMV）in Xinjiang’s viticultural areas. Subsequent RT-PCR testing of 117 samples from five major grape cultivars in the primary viticultural regions of Shihezi and Changji，revealed grapevine berry inner necrosis virus（GINV）as the most prevalent virus（73.5%）infection rate and Hop stunt viroid（HSVd） as the dominant viroid（88.9% infection rate）. Viral infection profiles exhibited significant variation across grapevine cultivars，with distinct dominant virus species observed in each cultivar. Among them，the table grape cultivar‘Thompson Seedless’demonstrated the most comprehensive infection virus，harboring all 11 virus and 3 viroid species identified in this investigation. Notably，mixed infections were widespread in the grape samples, with 95.7% of samples showing co-infection by viruses and viroids. High prevalence of complex infections was observed，with 60 samples harboring co-infections by more than five distinct viral pathogens，and the most common mixed infection type was GINV + grapevine pinot gris virus（GPGV）+ grapevine rupestris stem pitting associated virus（GRSPaV）+ HSVd，accounting for 35%. The presence of the newly identified GPoV-1 in both table and wine grapes cultivars from Shihezi vineyards but was not detected in wine grapes collected from Changji. Phylogenetic analysis of full-length or near full-length viral sequences revealed that GINV，GRSPaV，GPGV and grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1（GYSVd-1）had multiple isolates. Notably，GINV and GPGV exhibited geographic correlations. In contrast，other viral isolates displayed high sequence divergence，with scattered distribution and no geographic correlation. Single nucleotide polymorphism and insertion-deletion analyses revealed that all viruses and viroids exhibited high genetic variability. In Xinjiang vineyards，viroids exhibited a significant preference for Indel，while viral genomes showed a predominant tendency toward single-nucleotide variations.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Bacillus subtilis Regulates the Diversity of Rhizosphere Microorganisms and the Resistance to Clubroot in Cabbage
• WANG Yanhua, SHAO Weixing, AN Dongyan, MEI Xuewen, LI Qinfei, SI Jun
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1779-1792. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0665
• Abstract ( 18 ) HTML ( 5 ) PDF (5138KB) ( 5 ) 　　　

• Clubroot disease，caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae（Pb），severely impacts the yield and quality of cabbage. The regulatory mechanism of Bacillus subtilis（BS）on the rhizosphere microecology，as a biocontrol strain，remains unclear. In this study，by setting up root irrigation with BS，Pb，Pb + BS combined treatments，and a sterile water control，combined with 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing and rhizosphere metabolomics analysis，and measuring physiological indices such as disease index，biomass，and defensive enzyme activity，we systematically revealed the mechanism by which Bacillus subtilis（BS）regulates clubroot resistance in cabbage. The results showed that the Shannon index of the Pb + BS combined treatment increased compared with the Pb group，and the rhizosphere microbial α diversity differed significantly between the Pb group and the Pb + BS group，indicating that BS treatment improved the diversity of the microbial community under Pb stress. Compared with the sterile water control，509 differential metabolites were upregulated after BS treatment；k-means clustering analysis further showed that 364 of these metabolites were upregulated in specific trend clusters. BS treatment significantly increased the number of differential metabolites，enriched in defense-related metabolic pathways such as phenylpropane and flavonoids，and reshaped the microbial-metabolite association network. Association analysis showed that the enrichment of Myxococcota，Nitrospirota，and Methylomirabilis was associated with optimized rhizosphere nitrogen transformation efficiency and reduced reactive nitrogen stress. Meanwhile，BS induced the sequential activation of defense enzymes of POD and SOD（POD peak value reached 10.43 times that of the control group），and the disease index of the combined treatment（Pb + BS）was significantly reduced（54.5% reduction in potted plants），effectively inhibiting the proliferation of clubroot bacteria. This study demonstrates that Bacillus subtilis effectively inhibits clubroot disease in cabbage by reshaping the rhizosphere microbial community structure and periodically activating the plant defense system，thereby creating a synergistic disease resistance effect. This provides an important basis for the theory of plant-microbe interactions and the biological control of diseases.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Establishment of Evaluation System and Screening of Resistant Sources for Fusarium Root Rot in Bottle Gourd Rootstock
• LIU Jinqiu, WEI Xiaoqian, LIU Guang, ZHANG Man, YAO Xiefeng, LOU Lina, XU Jian, ZHU Lingli, HOU Qian, XU Jinhua
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1793-1802. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0433
• Abstract ( 13 ) HTML ( 4 ) PDF (2552KB) ( 4 ) 　　　

• To establish a precise system for identifying root rot resistance in bottle gourd rootstocks and enable efficient screening and evaluation of disease-resistant resources. This study utilized a Fusarium oxysporum strain causing root rot along with resistant and susceptible bottle gourd rootstock germplasms as experimental materials. The research clarified the pathogen’s host specificity and investigated the effects of inoculation methods，spore suspension concentrations，and environmental temperatures on the efficacy of seedling-stage resistance identification. Results showed that the pathogen exhibited no obvious host specificity，as it could infect multiple cucurbit crops including watermelon，bottle gourd，pumpkin，and melon. Among the three resistance identification methods tested，the root-dipping hydroponic method was optimal，with significantly superior performance in terms of disease onset time，disease index stability，and repeatability compared to the root irrigation and stem base injection methods. Under the conditions of a conidial suspension concentration of 1.2 × 10⁷ spores · mL^-1 and an environmental temperature of 20-25  ℃，root rot resistance identification could be completed 14 days post-inoculation. Using this optimized system，resistance assessment of 51 bottle gourd rootstock germplasms/varieties yielded 6 highly-resistant germplasms and 2 highly-resistant cultivars.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

Reviews

• Advances of Accumulation and Regulation of Lignin in Fruits and Vegetables
• JIANG Huixuan, XU Yanping, ZHAO Tong, YU Hongrui, DONG Zhengzhong, REN Xiliang, YU Xiaolin
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1803-1819. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0008
• Abstract ( 27 ) HTML ( 12 ) PDF (1353KB) ( 12 ) 　　　

• Lignin，a pivotal constituent of plant cell walls，exerts a direct influence on the stress tolerance and quality attributes of fruit and vegetable crops through its synthesis and regulation. This paper presents a systematic review of lignin types，biosynthetic pathways，and regulatory mechanisms in fruit and vegetable crops. Studies have revealed that lignin accumulation is subject to the synergistic regulation of MYB/NAC transcription factors，miRNAs，and plant hormones，while also being significantly modulated by environmental cues such as temperature and light. Excessive lignin deposition leads to textural hardening in fruits and vegetables，whereas moderate accumulation facilitates wound healing and promotes ripening processes. Future research endeavors should prioritize the elucidation of the physiological，biochemical，and molecular mechanisms underlying lignin biosynthesis，expand the diversity of research subjects，and enhance the application potential of lignin in fruit and vegetable quality improvement and other agricultural contexts by manipulating lignin synthesis and metabolic pathways.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• Research Progress on Trichoderma in Controlling Soil-Borne Fungal Diseases of Chili Peppers
• DU Xinqi, ZHU Hongxia, ZHAO Yaping, HU Linfeng, FENG Di
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1820-1848. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2025-0626
• Abstract ( 20 ) HTML ( 10 ) PDF (1075KB) ( 10 ) 　　　

• As a globally important economic crop，chili peppers are severely threatened by soil-borne fungal diseases such as Fusarium wilt，Phytophthora blight，anthracnose，and root rot. Traditional chemical control not only induces resistance in pathogenic fungi but also causes environmental pollution，biological control technology to become an important development direction in the field of plant protection. Fungi of the genus Trichoderma，as efficient biocontrol microorganisms，have been fully proven to possess great biocontrol potential. This paper systematically reviews the classification，biocontrol efficacy，mechanisms of action，and research and development progress of Trichoderma-based formulations，and summarizes its mechanisms in controlling soil-borne fungal diseases of chili pepper，mainly including：1） Hyperparasitism（recognizing pathogen signals and secreting degrading enzymes such as chitinase and glucanase to destroy mycelial structures）；2）Competitive action（occupying ecological niches relying on rapid colonization ability）；3）Antibiosis（producing secondary metabolites such as 6-PP and gliotoxin to inhibit pathogen growth）；4）Induced systemic resistance（activating plant jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling pathways to enhance the activity of defense enzymes）；5）Synergistic antagonism（combining with beneficial bacteria and fungi to inhibit pathogens and improve soil microecology）；6）Growth-promoting effect（secreting plant hormones such as auxin and gibberellin to improve nutrient utilization efficiency）. Future research should further explore the interaction mechanisms among Trichoderma，plants，and pathogens，optimize the preparation process and application strategies of microbial agents，so as to promote the large-scale and efficient application of Trichoderma in the green prevention and control of chili pepper diseases.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

New Cultivars

• A New Cultivar of Cymbidium‘Qiantang Qiuyun’
• FU Qiaojuan, ZHAO Fukang, ZHANG Xiaoying, MEI Huan
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1849-1850. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2024-0604
• Abstract ( 17 ) HTML ( 8 ) PDF (994KB) ( 8 ) 　　　

• Cymbidium‘Qiantang Qiuyun’is a new cultivar derived by interspecies crossing female parent C.‘Red Beauty’and male parent C. Goeringii CH2015-1 （The superior strain crossing C. goeringii‘Dafugui’and C. goeringii‘Jinjihuang’）. The plant is medium-sized and semi-erect. The leaves appear twisted. The plant bears racemose inflorescences with erect scapes that exceed the height of the plant. The sepals and petals are partially spreading and partially incurved. The petals are obovate，with orange as the dominant color. The labellum midlobe is round，strongly recurved，yellow in colour and without spots or stripes. Flowers bloom in winter and produces a delicate fragrance. It has a long flowering period，with excellent ornamental value.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics

• A New Cultivar of Hibiscus syriacus‘Xuri’
• LI Yefang, ZHANG Aimin, WU Shangyi, GONG Zhenping, LI Juan, GUAN Wenling
• Acta Horticulturae Sinica. 2026, 53(6): 1851-1852. DOI:10.16420/j.issn.0513-353x.2026-0117
• Abstract ( 21 ) HTML ( 9 ) PDF (2316KB) ( 9 ) 　　　

• Hibiscus syriacus‘Xuri’is a new cultivar selected through artificial pollination and sexual hybridization，using the large-flowered red hibiscus cultivar‘Hongmuqiao’as the female parent and the ‘White Single-Petaled’cultivar as the male parent. It is a deciduous shrub with upright main branches. The flower type is semi-double，with obovate petals. The outer petals spread flat，and the inner surface of the petals is primarily white，featuring a red radiating pattern in the eye zone. The stigma is white，and the flower measures 10.6 cm in diameter. Its blooming period lasts from June to August. This cultivar is cold- and drought-tolerant，making it suitable for garden landscaping and potted cultivation.

• Figure/Table | References | Related Articles | Metrics