Genomic insights into domestication and genetic improvement of fruit crops

Fruit crops cultivated in almost all countries and regions around the world serve as important agricultural commodities of significant economic value because they contribute to overall food security by providing a diverse food and nutrient supply to sustain human life and human health. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for pursuing genomic and genetic studies of fruit crops. Here, we will review major advances in fruit crop genome sequencing efforts undertaken over the past 15 years that have contributed to significant accumulation of publicly available genomic resources. We will highlight the expanding pool of genomic data that offer unprecedented opportunities to better unravel the genetic origin and domestication of fruit trees, as well as in deciphering the genetics of important horticultural traits of these fruit trees. Furthermore, we will explore how utilization of these genetic features of fruit trees along with new genomic-assisted tools, including genomic selection and gene editing, are informing and guiding plant geneticists and breeders in moving forward in their fruit crop breeding efforts. Finally, we will outline future prospects and unresolved questions that remain in both genomic research and genetic improvement of fruit crops.

Automated summary

Fruit crops are important agricultural commodities cultivated worldwide, contributing to food security and providing diverse food and nutrients for humans. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled genomic and genetic studies of fruit crops, leading to a significant accumulation of publicly available genomic resources. This review highlights the expanding pool of genomic data that offer unprecedented opportunities in unraveling the genetic origin, domestication, and horticultural traits of fruit trees, as well as guiding breeding efforts using genomic-assisted tools. Future prospects and unresolved questions in fruit crop research and genetic improvement are discussed.