Decoding the DNA of a culinary favorite: the genetic story of flowering Chinese cabbage
image: Genome-wide analysis of selective sweeps during modern flowering Chinese cabbage breeding.
Credit: Horticulture Research
A new genomic study has unlocked the genetic secrets behind the breeding of flowering Chinese cabbage—a popular leafy vegetable in Asian cuisine. By analyzing the DNA of over 400 cabbage varieties, scientists traced how key agronomic traits such as yield, adaptability, and plant structure have been shaped through decades of breeding. Using genome-wide association studies and transcriptome data, the team linked more than 600 genetic loci to traits like stalk thickness and plant height. These discoveries offer a powerful genetic toolkit for accelerating future breeding and ensuring that this staple vegetable continues to thrive under changing agricultural demands.
Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. parachinensis), known for its tender stalks and vibrant greens, has long been a dietary mainstay in southern China and beyond. Despite its commercial success, the crop's breeding has largely relied on traditional selection methods, often targeting one trait at a time. Modern demands for higher yield, broader adaptability, and improved quality now call for more efficient strategies. While genomic tools have transformed breeding in crops like rice and maize, similar large-scale studies for flowering Chinese cabbage have been scarce. Due to these challenges, a systematic exploration of its genetic foundation is both timely and necessary.
In a study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae299) published on October 18, 2024, in Horticulture Research, researchers from South China Agricultural University and partners unveiled the genetic architecture driving modern flowering Chinese cabbage breeding. By resequencing 403 accessions and integrating transcriptomic and phenotypic data, the team mapped the crop's evolutionary journey from landraces to elite cultivars. Their findings reveal not only how breeding has sculpted the cabbage's physical traits, but also which genes hold the key to future improvements.
The study identified two distinct phases in the crop's modern breeding history: an initial push for environmental adaptability, followed by a focus on yield improvement. Sequencing efforts revealed over 2.5 million SNPs, allowing the team to classify the accessions into three breeding-stage groups. Genetic diversity declined with each stage, but many beneficial variants were retained.
Genome-wide association studies pinpointed 642 loci linked to 11 key traits. Among these were genes like WRKY53 (linked to leaf senescence) and CUC2 (involved in organ development), which showed changes in allele frequency across breeding stages. Candidate genes such as PDCB1 and SRF3 were found to control traits like plant height and stalk thickness—both crucial for yield and mechanical harvesting. Notably, 113 GWAS loci overlapped with regions under selective pressure, reinforcing their relevance to trait improvement. The researchers also constructed a genetic regulatory network that connects core traits through pleiotropic loci, offering a systems-level view of trait coordination.
“Our findings offer a rare, genome-level look at how selective breeding has fine-tuned flowering Chinese cabbage over the years,” said Dr. Yi Liao, corresponding author of the study. “By linking genes to traits across breeding phases, we've created a roadmap that breeders can use to develop more resilient and productive cultivars—faster and with greater precision.”
The study delivers critical insights for accelerating the breeding of flowering Chinese cabbage through marker-assisted selection and molecular design. With the crop's cultivation expanding beyond traditional regions, the identification of genes related to environmental adaptability and yield becomes especially valuable. The genetic markers and candidate genes identified here can also be applied to related Brassica vegetables, broadening the impact of the findings. As food security and climate resilience grow increasingly urgent, studies like this pave the way for smarter, data-driven crop improvement across global agriculture.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae299
Funding information
This work was funded by the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province (2022B0202080001), the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (202206010173, 2023B03J1270), the Seed Industry Revitalization Project of Guangdong Province Rural Revitalization Strategy Special Fund in 2022 (2024-NPY-03-001), the Guangdong Province Seed Industry Revitalization Project (2022-NJS-03-001), and the Guangzhou Agricultural Support Fund Project (Sui Cai Bian [2023] No. 1).
About Horticulture Research
Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2023. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.