Fruits are vital components of global food systems, providing essential nutrients and economic opportunities for tropical regions. Flagship tropical fruit crops, such as Mango, pineapple, banana, papaya, and passion fruit, exhibit remarkable diversity in flavor profiles, nutritional qualities, and adaptability to diverse agroecological zones. However, these crops face critical challenges, including susceptibility to biotic stresses (fungal/bacterial diseases, pests), abiotic stresses (e.g., drought, salinity, acidification, high temperature), postharvest deterioration, and the need for enhanced phytonutrient content. Recent advances in genomics, gene editing, and precision agriculture offer unprecedented opportunities to address these constraints while unlocking novel agronomic traits.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and short communications that advance our understanding of tropical fruit biology and production systems. We particularly emphasize the following pillar areas:

1) Multi-omics and Functional Genomics

  ● Genome assembly and annotation of underutilized species

  ● Transcriptomic profiling of stress responses and ripening processes

  ● Epigenetic regulation of fruit quality traits

2) Genetic Improvement and Breeding Technologies

  ● Development of genomic selection tools for accelerated breeding

  ● CRISPR/Cas-mediated trait enhancement (disease resistance, shelf-life)

  ● Marker-assisted selection for complex traits

3) Crop Management and Sustainable Production Systems

  ● Precision agronomy for resource-use efficiency

  ● Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies

  ● Research and Application of Green and Sustainable Cultivation Technology

4) Postharvest Physiology and Value Addition

  ● Molecular mechanisms of fruit senescence

  ● Edible coatings and modified atmosphere packaging

  ● Bioactive compound extraction and industrial applications

We explicitly welcome comprehensive reviews that:

  ● Synthesize recent advances in tropical fruit genomics/breeding

  ● Critically evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., single-cell sequencing, AI-driven phenotyping)

  ● Provide strategic roadmaps for sustainable production systems

  ● Manuscripts exploring interdisciplinary connections (e.g., genetics × agronomy × food science) are highly encouraged.

Guest Editors

Dr. Shun Song, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, China

Dr. Minjie Qian, Hainan University, China

Dr. Changjiang Li, Hainan University, China

Dr. Chuanying Fang, Hainan University, China

Submission Deadline

The deadline for manuscript submission is June 30 2026. However, we can accommodate extensions on a case-by-case basis. All papers will be published as open access articles upon acceptance.

Submission Instruction

Please submit the full manuscript to Tropical Plants via our Online Submission System. All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors for submission of manuscripts is available on the For Authors page.

Additionally, please choose the topic of this Special Issue when submitting, and mention it in your cover letter. For further inquiries, please contact Guest Editors:

Shun Song (songs@catas.cn)

Minjie Qian (minjie.qian@hainanu.edu.cn )

Changjiang Li (lichangjiang99@hainanu.edu.cn )

Chuanying Fang (cyfang@hainanu.edu.cn)