Dandan Huang , Zhen Li

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Tree Genetics and Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 5   
Received: 29 Aug., 2024    Accepted: 30 Sep., 2024    Published: 08 Oct., 2024

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.

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) has attracted much attention due to its nutritional value and economic benefits. The advancement of molecular breeding technology has promoted the genetic improvement of dragon fruit. This study reviews the applications of chromosome level genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and functional genomics in revealing the evolutionary history and key metabolic pathways of dragon fruit, such as beetroot biosynthesis. Marker assisted selection (MAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping have been used to identify genes related to fruit quality, stress resistance, and yield, while gene editing techniques such as CRISPR Cas systems provide new possibilities for precision breeding. Meanwhile, epigenomic research has revealed the response mechanism of dragon fruit under abiotic stress, laying the foundation for cultivating varieties with stronger stress resistance. Case studies have shown that the combination of traditional breeding and molecular technology has improved the disease resistance, fruit quality, and breeding efficiency of dragon fruit. This study emphasizes that utilizing genetic diversity, expanding genomic resources, and applying modern biotechnology are of great significance for improving the cultivation level of dragon fruit, responding to environmental changes, and meeting market demand. Through sustainable breeding strategies, the global competitiveness and environmental adaptability of dragon fruit cultivation can be further improved.

Pitaya; Molecular breeding; Genomics; Gene editing; QTL mapping