Creation, Precise Identification, and Utilization of Male Sterility Resources in Horticultural Crops

Male sterile materials are crucial for achieving hybrid breeding, seed production, and utilizing heterosis in crops. In horticultural crops, the creation and utilization of male sterile materials have already been implemented in vegetables, flowers, medicinal herbs, fruit trees, and other horticultural crops. The development, precise identification, and utilization of male sterile materials in new horticultural crops will be key to advancing hybrid breeding in horticulture. Mutagenesis, gene editing, cell fusion, and distant hybridization are used to create sterile materials, while genetics, omics, molecular markers, and gene knockout serve as comprehensive and precise methods for identifying sterile materials. The application of male sterility primarily involves seed production, breeding, and scientific research. The creation and mechanistic analysis of male sterility in horticultural crops will drive the development of the horticultural industry.This Research Topic aims to consolidate the latest advances in creating, precisely identifying, and utilizing male sterility resources specifically in horticultural crops in the section. We particularly welcome contributions on male sterility germplasm creation approaches well suited to horticultural species, including radiation and chemical mutagenesis, somatic cell fusion, near and distant hybridization, and gene editing, together with precise identification strategies spanning morphology, physiology, cytology, molecular markers, multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics), and gene function validation. The Topic also seeks studies on practical utilization, such as hybrid seed production, industrial use, and mechanistic basic research. The Topic intends to attract a defined community of horticultural breeders, geneticists, and germplasm scientists rather than competing for the same author pool as broader plant-breeding collections.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, and Brief Research Reports addressing, but not limited to:· Creation of horticultural germplasm with reproductive system traits in male sterility for hybrid vegetable seed production; · Creation of male sterility horticultural germplasm with biotic resistance to diseases, insects, and weeds; · Precise identification of male sterility traits using molecular markers, multi-omics, cytology, physiology, and gene-function validation; · The utilization of male sterile horticultural germplasm in variety cultivation, industrial breeding, and mechanistic basic research; · Mechanisms underlying the formation and inheritance of male sterility traits in horticultural species.-------We welcome contributions from researchers across the field, and we are glad to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like early feedback on whether your planned manuscript fits the scope of this Research Topic, please write to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. A quick check at this stage helps confirm your work is a strong fit and can save you time later in the process.To take part, click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page, then confirm through the “Participate” link in the follow-up email. This lets us know to expect your contribution, keeps you informed of key deadlines, and gives you access to resources that guide you through submission. We would also be glad to talk with you about possible routes for support with the Article Processing Charge (APC).We look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant, cohesive Research Topic together. Topic editors: Guo-Fei Tan, Mengyao Li, Jian Zhang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82198/creation-precise-identification-and-utilization-of-male-sterility-resources-in-horticultural-crops