Progress on the mining of functional genes of Lonicera japonica

Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a semi-evergreen climbing shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family, whose dried flower buds or flowers on the verge of blooming are known as Jin Yin Hua in traditional Chinese medicine. This plant is not only a high-value and widely used medicinal material but also possesses characteristics that make it suitable for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Currently, there is a robust market demand for Jin Yin Hua, yet the breeding technology for new varieties of Lonicera japonica lags behind, necessitating the integration of modern breeding techniques. With the advancement of genomics in Lonicera japonica, an increasing number of functional genes have been identified, amassing a rich reservoir of genetic resources for molecular breeding of this species. In this review, we summarize the progress in Lonicera japonica genomics, functional gene mining, and the establishment of genetic transformation systems. In light of the existing challenges and deficiencies in the research of functional genes and quality breeding of Lonicera japonica, it is imperative to establish a germplasm resource bank, a mutant library, and an efficient genetic transformation system for this plant. Intensive research into the mining and identification of functional genes should be conducted, and molecular markers closely linked to the functional genes of Lonicera japonica should be developed. This will lay a foundational basis for the identification and cultivation of breakthrough varieties with superior qualities in Lonicera japonica.