At the core of horticultural crop excellence lies seed biology, serving as the bedrock for plant life and vitality. Horticultural crops, essential for our nutritional sustenance and ecological well-being, flourish due to the pivotal role played by seeds in their growth, development, and reproduction.

In the sphere of horticultural crop production, the significance of seeds is accentuated. The quality of seeds significantly shapes the yield, resilience, and overall health of resulting plants. The judicious selection of seeds ensures the inheritance of desired traits, whether it be disease resistance, productivity, or nutritional value, in the succeeding plant generations. Recognizing and prioritizing the importance of seeds in horticultural practices is imperative for fostering agricultural sustainability, biodiversity, and the continued well-being of our communities.

In acknowledgment of the paramount importance of seeds in horticultural practices, we are thrilled to announce the impending launch of a Special Issue dedicated to "Current Advances in Horticultural Crop Seed Biology" in the esteemed "Seed Biology" journal. This Special Issue seeks to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in horticultural crop seed biology, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and fortifying crop resilience in the face of diverse environmental challenges.

Designed as a comprehensive platform, this Special Issue invites researchers, scholars, and experts in the field of seed biology to share their latest findings and advancements. We warmly welcome contributions of original research, reviews, and perspectives addressing various facets of horticultural crop seed biology. Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

●   Mechanisms of Flower Development in Horticultural Crops

●   Mechanisms of Fruit Development in Horticultural Crops

●   Mechanisms of Seed Development in Horticultural Crops

●   Mechanisms of Reproductive Biology in Horticultural Crops

●   Techniques of Ploidy Breeding in Horticultural Crops

●   Apomixis of Horticultural Crops

Guest Editors

Prof. Qiaohong Duan - Shandong Agricultural University

Her research interests focus on (1) Self-incompatibility in Chinese cabbage; (2) Interspecies barriers in Chinese cabbage; (3) Germplasms Innovation of Chinese cabbage and other Brassicaceae crops.

Prof. Li Yuan - Northwest A&F University

His research interests focus on (1) Reproductive biology of watermelons; (2) Genome editing technologies for watermelons; (3) Innovation in common molecular breeding techniques for cucurbit crops.

Submission Deadline

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is June 30, 2025; however, we are open to considering extensions on a case-by-case basis. Accepted papers will be published as open-access articles.

Submission Instructions

To submit your full manuscript, kindly use the online submission system at Seed Biology (mc03.manuscriptcentral.com/seedbio). Additionally, please select a topic relevant to this Special Issue during submission and explicitly reference it in your cover letter. For any additional inquiries, please reach out to the Guest Editors:

Qiaohong Duan (duanqh@sdau.edu.cn)

Li Yuan (lyuan@nwafu.edu.cn)