Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.5, 265-274 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 265 Review and Perspectives Open Access Breeding Kiwifruit for Enhanced Stress Tolerance: Advances and Challenges Xuming Lv, Wenfang Wang Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: wenfang.wang@jicat.org Plant Gene and Trait, 2024, Vol.15, No.5 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0026 Received: 17 Sep., 2024 Accepted: 22 Oct., 2024 Published: 31 Oct., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Lv and Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Lv X.M., and Wang W.F., 2024, Breeding kiwifruit for enhanced stress tolerance: advances and challenges, Plant Gene and Trait, 15(5): 265-274 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2024.15.0026) Abstract Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is a valuable fruit crop that faces significant challenges due to various environmental stresses, including drought, salinity, heat, cold, and waterlogging. Recent advances in molecular breeding and functional genomics have identified several key genes and regulatory mechanisms that enhance stress tolerance in kiwifruit. For instance, the R1R2R3-MYB transcription factor AcMYB3R has been shown to improve drought and salinity tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants by upregulating stress-responsive genes. Similarly, the heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) gene family has been implicated in high-temperature tolerance, with specific Hsf genes like AcHsfA2a playing crucial roles. Salt stress tolerance has been linked to various physiological and biochemical adaptations, including increased proline content and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Waterlogging tolerance mechanisms involve complex metabolic and transcriptional responses, as demonstrated by the superior performance of certain kiwifruit genotypes and rootstocks under waterlogged conditions. Additionally, melatonin application has been found to mitigate heat stress by promoting antioxidant pathways. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the genetic and molecular bases of stress tolerance in kiwifruit, offering valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at developing more resilient cultivars. Keywords Kiwifruit; Stress tolerance; Molecular breeding; Transcription factors; Antioxidant enzymes 1 Introduction Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is a globally significant horticultural crop known for its high nutritional value, including rich contents of vitamin C, potassium, and various phytochemicals (Kim et al., 2023). Its popularity has surged due to its unique flavor and health benefits, making it a staple in many diets worldwide. The economic importance of kiwifruit is underscored by its extensive cultivation and the development of various cultivars to meet market demands (Wu et al., 2019). The fruit's quality is primarily determined by key metabolites such as sugars, flavonoids, and vitamins, which are crucial for consumer acceptance and marketability (Shu et al., 2023). Kiwifruit production is highly susceptible to a range of environmental stresses, including drought, salinity, heat, cold, and waterlogging, as well as biotic stresses like phytopathogens (Zhang et al., 2019). These stress factors can significantly impact fruit quality and yield, leading to substantial economic losses. For instance, cold stress can cause chilling injury, reducing fruit quality and increasing nutrient loss during storage (Jin et al., 2021). Similarly, heat stress can induce oxidative damage, affecting the overall health and productivity of the plants (Liang et al., 2018). The plant microbiota also plays a crucial role in promoting stress resilience, but the precise interactions between kiwifruit and its associated microorganisms remain to be fully understood (Kim et al., 2023). Given the vulnerability of kiwifruit to various abiotic and biotic stresses, there is a pressing need to develop stress-tolerant varieties to ensure stable production and high fruit quality. Advances in molecular breeding and functional genomics have identified several key genes and transcription factors that enhance stress tolerance in kiwifruit. For example, the R1R2R3-MYB transcription factor AcMYB3R has been shown to enhance drought and salinity tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants (Zhang et al., 2019). Similarly, the bZIP transcription factor AchnABF1 has been implicated in improving cold tolerance by regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and osmotic stress responses (Jin et al., 2021). These findings highlight the potential of genetic interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental stresses on kiwifruit production.
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