Dandan Huang¹ , Xingzhu Feng¹ , Haimei Wang^1,2

1 Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
2 Hainan Institute of Tropical Agricultural Resources, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 5   doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0023
Received: 03 Sep., 2025    Accepted: 09 Oct., 2025    Published: 18 Oct., 2025

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.

Huang D.D., Feng X.Z., and Wang H.M., 2025, Integrative breeding approaches of Nelumbo nucifera: balancing ornamental traits and edible values, Plant Gene and Trait, 16(5): 215-224 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0023)

 

This study summarizes the genetic basis and molecular regulatory mechanisms of lotus in ornamental traits such as flower color, flowering period, and plant type, as well as edible qualities such as tubers and seeds. It introduces the process of flower color formation, elaborates the role of key genes such as MUDS-box in the development of floral organs, and the localization of QTL related to tuber yield and the mining of functional genes. It revealed the accumulation patterns of functional components such as flavonoids in different tissues, providing a theoretical basis for simultaneously improving ornamental and edible traits, and explored comprehensive strategies such as the protection of lotus germplasm resources, the utilization of genetic diversity, and molecular marker-assisted breeding. This study aims to provide a molecular basis and technical support for the synergistic improvement of the ornamental and edible quality of lotus and their industrial application.

Nelumbo nucifera; Molecular breeding; Ornamental traits; Edible quality; Multiomics integration