Research Progress of Formation Mechanism of Heat Tolerance and Its Regulation in Chinese Cabbage

XU Yanping^1,2, YU Hongrui¹, JIANG Huixuan^1,2, DONG Zhengzhong³, HU Qizan⁴, REN Xiliang⁵, YU Xiaolin^1,2*

(¹Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; ²Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya 572025, China; ³Agriculture Experimental Station, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; ⁴Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; ⁵Institute of Vegetable Science, Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ningbo 315042, China)

Abstract:

Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. syn. B. rapa L.) is an important vegetable and oilseed crop in China, and its heat tolerance is crucial for ensuring high and stable yields under high-temperature conditions. With global climate change intensifying, heat stress can inhibit growth, reduce photosynthetic efficiency, and exacerbate oxidative damage, severely affecting yield and quality. Thus, screening heat-tolerant germplasm, elucidating heat tolerance mechanisms, and breeding heat-resistant varieties have become critical tasks. This review first systematically summarizes the current evaluation methods, breeding strategies, key QTLs (quantitative trait locis), and candidate genes associated with heat tolerance in Chinese cabbage. It also discusses their potential applications in molecular breeding. Subsequently, the work provides a detailed analysis of the intrinsic mechanisms underlying heat tolerance. This includes physiological processes such as antioxidant activity, osmotic regulation, photosynthesis, and the maintenance of cellular membrane stability, as well as the associated signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. Finally, future research directions are outlined to guide variety improvement and further in-depth studies in this field.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2025.12.0023