Mechanism of Tolerance to Head-Splitting of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.): A Review of Current Knowledge and Future Directions

Abstract

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.) is an important cruciferous vegetable, which is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, beta-carotene and even good for cancer prevention. So, it is widely planted around the world. However, in the production of cabbage, the property of head-splitting not only reduces the appearance quality and commercial value of cabbage but also easily infects the area with head-splitting by germs, resulting in yield reduction, even no yield, and economic losses. For the head-splitting of cabbage, this paper introduced the causes, evaluation methods and indexes, and anatomic properties and reviewed some QTLs that have been obtained. But the cabbage molecular research of head-splitting is still in its infancy compared with other vegetable plants. Head-splitting is greatly affected by water. Although the cultivation and management methods can reduce the head-splitting rate, genetic improvement of head-splitting is still the most economic and efficient way in the long run. Therefore, the changes in the substances regulating cell water potential, the development of cell wall, ductility and toughness, calcium ion-regulated pectinase and cellulase activities, expansin genes, and even the ETH and ABA pathways related to maturation and abscission can provide ideas and directions for future gene mining and mechanism analysis for head-splitting tolerance, and thus accelerate the molecular breeding process.