Plant Gene and Trait 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 1-14 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 1 Research Insight Open Access Global Germplasm Flow of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) and Its Impact on Modern Cultivars ChuchuLiu 1,2 , Zhonggang Li 1 1 Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: chuchu.liu@cuixi.org Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol.16, No.1 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0001 Received: 09 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 14 Jan., 2025 Published: 23 Jan., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Liu and Li, 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: Liu C.C., and Li Z.G., 2025, Global germplasm flow of pineapple (Ananas comosus) and its impact on modern cultivars, Plant Gene and Trait, 16(1): 1-14 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0001) Abstract Pineapple (Ananas comosus), as the third largest tropical fruit in the world, relies on global exchange and sharing of germplasm resources for its industrial development. However, due to the main use of asexual reproduction, current cultivated varieties generally have problems such as narrow genetic basis, weak disease and stress resistance. This study systematically reviewed the origin, transmission pathways, and genetic diversity patterns of pineapple germplasm resources, with a focus on analyzing the potential value of wild relatives and local varieties in modern breeding. By combining molecular markers and genomic technology, the genetic structure and classification characteristics of the main cultivated populations were further revealed, and the practical application of SNP markers in germplasm identification and variety breeding was demonstrated through typical cases. Research suggests that promoting the rational utilization of global germplasm resources, integrating cutting-edge methods such as genome selection, gene editing, and low-temperature preservation, is the key to breaking through current breeding bottlenecks and enhancing variety adaptability. This study aims to establish a more stable international cooperation mechanism to achieve sustainable protection and efficient utilization of germplasm resources, laying the foundation for the long-term stable development of the pineapple industry. Keywords Pineapple (Ananas comosus); Germplasm resources; Genetic diversity; Disease resistance; Global dissemination; Germplasm conservation 1 Introduction Pineapple (Ananas comosus) stands out as one of the world’s most beloved tropical fruits- trailing just behind bananas and mangoes in terms of global production and trade. Grown across a wide stretch of tropical and subtropical regions, pineapples are cultivated on everything from small family farms to massive plantations. In countries such as Costa Rica, the Philippines, Thailand, and Brazil, pineapple farming isn't just big business- it’s a vital source of income for countless communities. In Costa Rica, pineapple cultivation covers an area of 44 500 hectares, contributing about 1.7% of the country’s GDP and creating a large number of jobs (Chen et al., 2020). There are still some problems with pineapple cultivation, most pineapples are propagated by cuttings, not seeds. Therefore, their genetic differences are very small. Because of the low genetic diversity, it is more difficult to breed new and stronger varieties. This also means that pineapples are more vulnerable to pests, diseases and climate change (Zhou et al., 2015). Some varieties, like Smooth Cayenne, are almost universally used. But because there are very few differences between these varieties, they are more susceptible to disease or damage. Common problems include wilting, rot and insect pests. Environmental factors such as drought, saline soil and heat waves are also exacerbating these problems. Therefore, it is more important than ever to improve the stress resistance of pineapples. Germplasm resources refer to all the genetic materials in pineapple plants, such as wild types, ancient local varieties, traditional strains, and modern hybrids. These different sources provide rich and useful traits. Some have different flesh textures or flavors, while others are better at resisting pests or coping with bad weather (Chen et al., 2019a). Natural selection and farmer cultivation have shaped this diversity over a long period of time. Today, the variety groups we are familiar with include Smooth Cayenne, Queen, Red Spanish, and Pernambuco, each of
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