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Flores-León A, Martí R, Valcarcel M, Roselló S, Beltrán J, García-Martínez S, Ruiz JJ, Gisbert C, Cebolla-Cornejo J, Picó B. Sustainable cultivation of melon landraces: Effects of grafting on the accumulation of flavor-related compounds. Food Chem 2024; 444:138709. [PMID: 38350163 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.138709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Melon landraces are highly appreciated by consumers who pay price premiums to compensate for lower yields, enabling on-farm conservation. However, they are highly susceptible to soilborne diseases. This study analyses the impact of Cucurbita and Cucumis rootstocks on the accumulation of flavor-related metabolites in Spanish landraces of the Ibericus melon group, as a strategy to promote their sustainable cultivation. Scion genotype was the main factor conditioning the accumulation of sugars and acids both under standard and saline organic farming conditions. The effects of grafting on organic acid accumulation were negligible, while the effects on sugar content were significant. The latter effects were dependent on specific scion-rootstock combinations, though wild Cucumis (e.g. Fian) rootstocks represent an alternative that should be further studied. The effect on the accumulation of volatiles was limited, and again depended on specific scion-rootstock combinations. The rootstock effect even differed between populations of the same landrace.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Flores-León
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain
| | - R Martí
- Joint Research Unit UJI-UPV Improvement of Agri-food Quality, COMAV, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain
| | - M Valcarcel
- Joint Research Unit UJI-UPV Improvement of Agri-food Quality, COMAV, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain
| | - S Roselló
- Joint Research Unit UJI-UPV Improvement of Agri-food Quality, Universitat Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - J Beltrán
- Instituto Universitario de Plaguicidas y Aguas (IUPA), Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, 12071, Castellón, Spain
| | - S García-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel Km 3,2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
| | - J J Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel Km 3,2, 03312 Orihuela, Spain
| | - C Gisbert
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain
| | - J Cebolla-Cornejo
- Joint Research Unit UJI-UPV Improvement of Agri-food Quality, COMAV, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain.
| | - B Picó
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Cno de Vera s.n. 46022, Spain
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2
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Nie W, Wen D. Study on the Applications and Regulatory Mechanisms of Grafting on Vegetables. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2822. [PMID: 37570976 PMCID: PMC10420990 DOI: 10.3390/plants12152822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Grafting can overcome problems with soil sensitivity, enhance plant stress tolerance, improve product quality, and increase crop yield and value. This paper reviews the various mechanisms of vegetable grafting, the graft survival process and its influencing factors, the practical applications of grafting, and the molecular regulation of grafting in vegetables. The importance of germplasm and rootstock interactions, the mechanization of vegetable grafting, and future aspects, including intelligence and digitalization, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Nie
- Huang-Huai-Hai Region Scientific Observation and Experimental Station of Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable Biology, Shandong Branch of National Improvement Center for Vegetables, Institute of Vegetable Research, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China;
- Yantai Key Laboratory for Evaluation and Utilization of Silkworm Functional Substances, Shandong Institute of Sericulture, Yantai 264001, China
| | - Dan Wen
- Huang-Huai-Hai Region Scientific Observation and Experimental Station of Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Key Laboratory of Greenhouse Vegetable Biology, Shandong Branch of National Improvement Center for Vegetables, Institute of Vegetable Research, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China;
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3
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Kaleem MM, Nawaz MA, Ding X, Wen S, Shireen F, Cheng J, Bie Z. Comparative analysis of pumpkin rootstocks mediated impact on melon sensory fruit quality through integration of non-targeted metabolomics and sensory evaluation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2022; 192:320-330. [PMID: 36302334 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Melon fruits are popular because of sweet taste and pleasant aroma. Grafting has been extensively used for melons to alleviate abiotic stresses and control soil borne diseases. However, use of grafting for vegetable fruit quality improvement is less studies. In modern age fruit quality particularly sensory quality characteristics have key importance from consumer eye lens. We performed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and metabonomic analysis to examine sensory fruit quality of melon grafted onto ten different pumpkin rootstocks. Bases on the result of our study, 478 metabolites were detected and 184 metabolites consisting of lipids, amino acids and organic oxygen compounds were differentially expressed in grafted melon fruits. The results from metabolomic, physiochemical and sensory analysis explain the differences in melon fruit flavor from two contrasting rootstocks. In conclusion the fruits from Tianzhen No. 1 rootstock exhibited better organoleptic characteristics and higher soluble sugars content [glucose (19.87 mg/g), fructose (19.68 mg/g) and sucrose (169.45 mg/g)] compared with other rootstocks used in this study. Moreover, the contents of bitterness causing amino acids such as L-arginine, L-asparagine, Histidinyl-histidine and Acetyl-DL-valine were found lower in Tianzhen No. 1-grafted melon fruits compared with Sizhuang No. 12-grafted melon fruits. These fruit quality characteristics made Tianzhen No. 1 rootstock suitable for commercial cultivation of Yuniang melon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mohsin Kaleem
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Muhammad Azher Nawaz
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Pakistan.
| | - Xiaochen Ding
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Suying Wen
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Fareeha Shireen
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Jintao Cheng
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
| | - Zhilong Bie
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University/ Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
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4
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Mashilo J, Shimelis H, Ngwepe RM, Thungo Z. Genetic Analysis of Fruit Quality Traits in Sweet Watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus): A Review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:834696. [PMID: 35392511 PMCID: PMC8981301 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.834696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fruit quality traits of sweet watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) are crucial for new product development and commercialization. Sweet watermelon fruit quality traits are affected by the compositions of phytochemical compounds, phytohormones, and fruit flesh firmness which are affected by genes, the growing environment and their interaction. These compositions determine fruit ripening, eating quality, and postharvest shelf-life. Knowledge of the genetic profile and analyses of quality traits in watermelon is vital to develop improved cultivars with enhanced nutritional compositions, consumer-preferred traits, and extended storage life. This review aims to present the opportunities and progress made on the genetic analysis of fruit quality traits in watermelon as a guide for quality breeding based on economic and end-user attributes. The first section of the review highlights the genetic mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of phytochemical compounds (i.e., sugars, carotenoids, amino acids, organic acids, and volatile compounds), phytohormones (i.e., ethylene and abscisic acid) and fruit flesh structural components (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin) elicited during watermelon fruit development and ripening. The second section pinpoints the progress on the development of molecular markers and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis for phytochemical compounds, phytohormones and fruit quality attributes. The review presents gene-editing technology and innovations associated with fruit quality traits for selection and accelerated cultivar development. Finally, the paper discussed gene actions conditioning fruit ripening in citron watermelon (C. lanatus var. citroides [L. H. Bailey] Mansf. ex Greb.) as reference genetic resources to guide current and future breeding. Information presented in this review is useful for watermelon variety design, product profiling and development to serve the diverse value chains of the crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Mashilo
- Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agriculture Regulatory and Technology Development Directorate, Crop Science Division, Towoomba Research Station, Bela-Bela, South Africa
- African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Hussein Shimelis
- African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Richard Mantlo Ngwepe
- Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agriculture Regulatory and Technology Development Directorate, Crop Science Division, Towoomba Research Station, Bela-Bela, South Africa
- African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Zamalotshwa Thungo
- African Centre for Crop Improvement, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
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5
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Influence of Seed and Fruit Characteristics of Lagenaria siceraria on Production and Quality of Grafted Watermelon. HORTICULTURAE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae8030242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The use of Lagenaria siceraria rootstocks in watermelon production has favored fruit yield and quality under conditions of environmental stress. However, it is necessary to know if the differential characteristics of fruit and seed L. siceraria are related to watermelon yield and fruit in grafted plant. The objective was to evaluate two dissimilar groups of Mexican L. siceraria as rootstock in Tri-X 33 watermelon variety to relationship the morphological characteristics of rootstock with productive variables and fruit quality. The treatments were Tri-X 313 variety ungrafted and grafted with accessions of group 1 (L46 and L56) and group 2 (L48, L50 and L54). Variables evaluated were fruit and yield and quality parameters. No differences were found between groups of L. siceraria in fruit yield and external quality parameters. With the exception of pulp firmness and luminosity, LG1 surpassed group LG2 by 30.7 and 5.0%, respectively. While, when comparing grafted and ungrafted plants, it was found that grafted plants were superior, with increases of 277.8% in number of fruits per m2, 330.2% in commercial production, 54.6% in rind thickness, 85.2% in external firmness and 36.3% in chroma value of fruit pulp. Meanwhile, pulp percentage and hue were reduced by 13.8% and 15.5%, respectively, in grafted watermelons. Thus, the seed and fruit characteristics are not sufficient criteria to select L. siceraria rootstocks for watermelon production.
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6
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Sorokina M, McCaffrey KS, Deaton EE, Ma G, Ordovás JM, Perkins-Veazie PM, Steinbeck C, Levi A, Parnell LD. A Catalog of Natural Products Occurring in Watermelon- Citrullus lanatus. Front Nutr 2021; 8:729822. [PMID: 34595201 PMCID: PMC8476801 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.729822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sweet dessert watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most important vegetable crops consumed throughout the world. The chemical composition of watermelon provides both high nutritional value and various health benefits. The present manuscript introduces a catalog of 1,679 small molecules occurring in the watermelon and their cheminformatics analysis for diverse features. In this catalog, the phytochemicals are associated with the literature describing their presence in the watermelon plant, and when possible, concentration values in various plant parts (flesh, seeds, leaves, roots, rind). Also cataloged are the chemical classes, molecular weight and formula, chemical structure, and certain physical and chemical properties for each phytochemical. In our view, knowing precisely what is in what we eat, as this catalog does for watermelon, supports both the rationale for certain controlled feeding studies in the field of precision nutrition, and plant breeding efforts for the development of new varieties with enhanced concentrations of specific phytochemicals. Additionally, improved and comprehensive collections of natural products accessible to the public will be especially useful to researchers in nutrition, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, and drug development, among other disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sorokina
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Erin E. Deaton
- Department of Horticulture, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Guoying Ma
- Department of Horticulture, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - José M. Ordovás
- Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer-United States Department of Agriculture (JM-USDA) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Penelope M. Perkins-Veazie
- Department of Horticulture, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Christoph Steinbeck
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Amnon Levi
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Laurence D. Parnell
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer-United States Department of Agriculture (JM-USDA) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
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7
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Aslam A, Zhao S, Lu X, He N, Zhu H, Malik AU, Azam M, Liu W. High-Throughput LC-ESI-MS/MS Metabolomics Approach Reveals Regulation of Metabolites Related to Diverse Functions in Mature Fruit of Grafted Watermelon. Biomolecules 2021; 11:628. [PMID: 33922544 PMCID: PMC8146259 DOI: 10.3390/biom11050628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Grafting has been reported as a factor regulating the metabolome of a plant. Therefore, a comprehensive metabolic profile and comparative analysis of metabolites were conducted from fully mature fruit of pumpkin-grafted watermelon (PGW) and a self-rooted watermelon (SRW). Widely targeted LC-ESI-MS/MS metabolomics approach facilitated the simultaneous identification and quantification of 339 metabolites across PGW and SRW. Regardless of grafting, delta-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride, sucrose, mannose-6-phosphate (carbohydrates), homocystine, 2-phenylglycine, s-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (amino acids and derivatives), malic, azelaic, H-butanoic acid ethyl ester-hexoside isomer 1, (organic acids), MAG (18:3) isomer1, LysoPC 16:0, LysoPC 18:2 2n isomer (lipids) p-coumaric acid, piperidine, and salicylic acid-o-glycoside (secondary metabolites) were among the dominant metabolite. Dulcitol, mono-, and disaccharide sugars were higher in PGW, while polysaccharides showed complex behavior. In PGW, most aromatic and nitrogen-rich amino acids accumulated greater than 1.5- and 1-fold, respectively. Intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), stress-related metabolites, vitamin B5, and several flavonoids were significantly more abundant in PGW. Most lipids were also significantly higher in grafted watermelon. This is the first report providing a comprehensive picture of watermelon metabolic profile and changes induced by grafting. Hence, the untargeted high-throughput LC-ESI-MS/MS metabolomics approach could be suitable to provide significant differences in metabolite contents between grafted and ungrafted plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aslam
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Shengjie Zhao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Xuqiang Lu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Nan He
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hongju Zhu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Aman Ullah Malik
- Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Punjab, Pakistan; (A.U.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Muhammad Azam
- Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Punjab, Pakistan; (A.U.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Wenge Liu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China; (A.A.); (S.Z.); (X.L.); (N.H.); (H.Z.)
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8
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Guo S, Sun H, Tian J, Zhang G, Gong G, Ren Y, Zhang J, Li M, Zhang H, Li H, Xu Y. Grafting Delays Watermel on Fruit Ripening by Altering Gene Expression of ABA Centric Phytohormone Signaling. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:624319. [PMID: 33719297 PMCID: PMC7947309 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.624319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Grafting cultivation is implemented worldwide mainly to resist abiotic and biotic stresses and is an effective method to improve watermelon production. However, grafting may affect fruit development and quality. In our experiment, pumpkin-grafted (PG) watermelon fruits developed slower and the ripening period was extended compared to self-grafted (SG) fruits. We found that the concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) among endogenous phytohormones were dramatically reduced by pumpkin grafting. In order to understand these changes at the gene expression level, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the fruit flesh transcriptomes between PG and SG during fruit development and ripening. A total of 1,675 and 4,102 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between PG and SG. Further functional enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were associated with carbohydrate biosynthesis, phytohormone signaling transmission, and cell wall metabolism categories. ABA centric phytohormone signaling and fruit quality-related genes including ABA receptor, PP2C proteins, AP2-EREBP transcription factors, sucrose transporter, and carotenoid isomerase were co-expressed with fruit ripening. These results provide the valuable resource for understanding the mechanism of pumpkin grafting effect on watermelon fruit ripening and quality development.
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9
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Flores-León A, García-Martínez S, González V, Garcés-Claver A, Martí R, Julián C, Sifres A, Pérez-de-Castro A, Díez MJ, López C, Ferriol M, Gisbert C, Ruiz JJ, Cebolla-Cornejo J, Picó B. Grafting Snake Melon [ Cucumis melo L. subsp. melo Var. flexuosus (L.) Naudin] in Organic Farming: Effects on Agronomic Performance; Resistance to Pathogens; Sugar, Acid, and VOC Profiles; and Consumer Acceptance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:613845. [PMID: 33679829 PMCID: PMC7933694 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.613845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The performance of snake melon [Cucumis melo var. flexuosus (L.)] in organic farming was studied under high biotic and salt stress conditions. Soilborne diseases (mainly caused by Macrophomina phaseolina and Neocosmospora falciformis), combined with virus incidence [Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV)] and Podosphaera xanthii attacks, reduced yield by more than 50%. Snake melon susceptibility to M. phaseolina and Monosporascus cannonballus was proved in pathogenicity tests, while it showed some degree of resistance to Neocosmospora keratoplastica and N. falciformis. On the contrary, salt stress had a minor impact, although a synergic effect was detected: yield losses caused by biotic stress increased dramatically when combined with salt stress. Under biotic stress, grafting onto the melon F1Pat81 and wild Cucumis rootstocks consistently reduced plant mortality in different agroecological conditions, with a better performance compared to classic Cucurbita commercial hybrids. Yield was even improved under saline conditions in grafted plants. A negative effect was detected, though, on consumer acceptability, especially with the use of Cucurbita rootstocks. Cucumis F1Pat81 rootstock minimized this side effect, which was probably related to changes in the profile of sugars, acids, and volatiles. Grafting affected sugars and organic acid contents, with this effect being more accentuated with the use of Cucurbita rootstocks than with Cucumis. In fact, the latter had a higher impact on the volatile organic compound profile than on sugar and acid profile, which may have resulted in a lower effect on consumer perception. The use of Cucumis rootstocks seems to be a strategy to enable organic farming production of snake melon targeted to high-quality markets in order to promote the cultivation of this neglected crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Flores-León
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Vicente González
- Plant Protection Unit/Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Garcés-Claver
- Horticulture Unit/Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Raúl Martí
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Julián
- Plant Protection Unit/Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alicia Sifres
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Pérez-de-Castro
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Díez
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmelo López
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Ferriol
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmina Gisbert
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan José Ruiz
- Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Orihuela, Spain
| | - Jaime Cebolla-Cornejo
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Belén Picó
- Instituto de Conservación y Mejora de la Agrodiversidad Valenciana, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Belén Picó,
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10
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Chen S, Li Y, Zhao Y, Li G, Zhang W, Wu Y, Huang L. iTRAQ and RNA-Seq analyses revealed the effects of grafting on fruit development and ripening of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa). Gene 2020; 766:145142. [PMID: 32911027 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Rootstocks are among the primary factors that influence fruit yield and quality as well as melon development. To understand the differences in the molecular mechanisms and gene expression networks of fruit development between grafted and nongrafted plants in oriental melon, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and proteome dynamic gene/protein expression profiles during fruit development in oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa). Using pairwise comparisons between grafted and nongrafted samples by transcriptome analysis, we identified a large number of candidate genes involved in hormonal signaling pathways, transcription factors, resistance-related biosynthetic pathways and photosynthesis-related metabolic pathways. Many transcription factor-encoded genes were significantly more strongly expressed in the grafted samples, for example, AP2/ERF, C2H2, MYB, bHLH, and AUX/IAA, which are well-known participants in the regulation of developmental processes and hormonal signaling metabolism. Some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and determined plant resistance. In addition, some differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were enriched in photosynthesis-related pathways, which could improve fruit quality and yield. Moreover, through weighted gene coexpression network analyses, we identified modules of coexpressed genes and hub genes specifically related to grafting for different fruit developmental stages. The results suggested that graft-related modules and hub genes were primarily associated with photosynthate metabolism and hormonal signaling pathways. The results obtained in this study provide a valuable resource for dissecting the role of candidate genes governing graft-related metabolism in oriental melon fruit, suggesting an interesting correlation with the effects of rootstock on fruit development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Chen
- Agricultural Bio-resources Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China
| | - Yongyu Li
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yijie Zhao
- Fuzhou Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350018, China
| | - Guanfa Li
- Pingnan Agricultural Bureau, Ningde 352300, China
| | - Weiguang Zhang
- Agricultural Bio-resources Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China
| | - Yufen Wu
- Agricultural Bio-resources Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China.
| | - Lisha Huang
- Beijing Biomics Biotechnology Co., ltd., Beijing, China.
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11
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Fallik E, Ziv C. How rootstock/scion combinations affect watermelon fruit quality after harvest? JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2020; 100:3275-3282. [PMID: 32048293 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Grafting of vegetable seedlings is a unique horticultural technology, practiced for more than five decades, aiming to overcome problems associated with intensive cultivation on limited arable land. Grafting can protect vegetables against soil-borne diseases and nematodes; against abiotic stresses such as high or low temperatures, salinity, drought or excessive soil-water content; and against elevated soil concentrations of heavy metals and organic pollutants. Watermelon is one of the most popular vegetables to be grafted, and more than 90% of the plants worldwide are commercially grafted. This mini review aims to summarize the latest available information about the effects of rootstock/scion combinations with respect to enhancing or impairing watermelon fruit-quality. A better understand of the influence of rootstock/scion compatibility or incompatibility on fruit-quality parameters will facilitate decision-making by growers and direct breeding programs to produce high-quality grafted fruits in a cost-effective manner. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elazar Fallik
- Department of Postharvest Science, ARO - The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZiyyon, Israel
| | - Carmit Ziv
- Department of Postharvest Science, ARO - The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZiyyon, Israel
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12
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Lu X, Liu W, Wang T, Zhang J, Li X, Zhang W. Systemic Long-Distance Signaling and Communication Between Rootstock and Scion in Grafted Vegetables. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:460. [PMID: 32431719 PMCID: PMC7214726 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Grafting is widely used in fruit, vegetable, and flower propagation to improve biotic and abiotic stress resistance, yield, and quality. At present, the systemic changes caused by grafting, as well as the mechanisms and effects of long-distance signal transport between rootstock and scion have mainly been investigated in model plants (Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana). However, these aspects of grafting vary when different plant materials are grafted, so the study of model plants provides only a theoretical basis and reference for the related research of grafted vegetables. The dearth of knowledge about the transport of signaling molecules in grafted vegetables is inconsistent with the rapid development of large-scale vegetable production, highlighting the need to study the mechanisms regulating the rootstock-scion interaction and long-distance transport. The rapid development of molecular biotechnology and "omics" approaches will allow researchers to unravel the physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in the rootstock-scion interaction in vegetables. We summarize recent progress in the study of the physiological aspects (e.g., hormones and nutrients) of the response in grafted vegetables and focus in particular on long-distance molecular signaling (e.g., RNA and proteins). This review provides a theoretical basis for studies of the rootstock-scion interaction in grafted vegetables, as well as provide guidance for rootstock breeding and selection to meet specific demands for efficient vegetable production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Wenna Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Growth and Developmental Regulation for Protected Vegetable Crops, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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13
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Aslam A, Zhao S, Azam M, Lu X, He N, Li B, Dou J, Zhu H, Liu W. Comparative analysis of primary metabolites and transcriptome changes between ungrafted and pumpkin-grafted watermelon during fruit development. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8259. [PMID: 31934503 PMCID: PMC6951286 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Grafting has been reported as a factor that influences fruit quality. However, a comprehensive study of the metabolic profile related to fruit quality and the underlying molecular mechanism in grafted watermelon has not been carried out. Metabolomics and transcriptome analysis were performed on both pumpkin-grafted watermelon and ungrafted watermelon at different developmental stages. In total, 56 primary metabolites were identified with either high or low abundance between ungrafted and pumpkin-grafted watermelon. The results indicated that ornithine, arginine, lysine (amino acids), glucose, sucrose, glucosamine (sugars), malic acid, fumaric acid and succinic acid (organic acids) were among the dominant metabolites influencing fruit quality. Additionally, comparative RNA sequence analysis on grafted and ungrafted watermelon yielded 729, 174, 128 and 356 differentially expressed genes at 10, 18, 26 and 34 days after pollination (DAP), respectively. Functional annotations of these genes indicated that grafting significantly altered the biological and metabolic processes related to fruit quality. Our comparative metabolomics and transcriptome analysis revealed that FBA2, FK, SuSy, SPS, IAI, AI and sugar transporter gene (SWT3b) might play a central role in the accumulation of glucose and sucrose, whereas higher malic acid content was attributed to high down regulation of ALMT13 and ALMT8 in pumpkin-grafted watermelon. Changes in the ornithine, glutamine, alanine, tyrosine, valine, asparagine, phenylalanine, arginine and tryptophan contents were consistent with the transcript level of their metabolic genes such as NAOD, GS, AGT, TaT, aDH1, OGDH, aDC, 4CL 1, PaL, CaT and two nitrate transporter genes (NRT1) in pumpkin-grafted watermelon. This study provides the basis for understanding the graft-responsive changes in the metabolic profile and regulatory mechanism related to fruit quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Aslam
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shengjie Zhao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Muhammad Azam
- Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Xuqiang Lu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Nan He
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Junling Dou
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongju Zhu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenge Liu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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14
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Garcia-Lozano M, Dutta SK, Natarajan P, Tomason YR, Lopez C, Katam R, Levi A, Nimmakayala P, Reddy UK. Transcriptome changes in reciprocal grafts involving watermelon and bottle gourd reveal molecular mechanisms involved in increase of the fruit size, rind toughness and soluble solids. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:213-223. [PMID: 31845303 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-019-00942-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptome landscape reveals the molecular mechanisms involved in the improvement of fruit traits by the grafting of watermelon and bottle gourd. Grafting has been used as a sustainable alternative for watermelon breeding to control soil-borne pathogens and to increase tolerance to various abiotic stresses. However, some reports have shown that grafting can negatively affect the quality of fruits. Despite several field studies on the effects of grafting on fruit quality, the regulation of this process at the molecular level has not been revealed. The aim of this study was to elucidate various molecular mechanisms involved in different tissues of heterografted watermelon and bottle gourd plants. Grafting with bottle gourd rootstock increased the size and rind thickness of watermelon fruits, whereas that with watermelon rootstock produced bottle gourd fruits with higher total soluble solid content and thinner rinds. Correspondingly, genes related to ripening, softening, cell wall strengthening, stress response and disease resistance were differentially expressed in watermelon fruits. Moreover, genes associated mainly with sugar metabolism were differentially expressed in bottle gourd fruits. RNA-seq revealed more than 400 mobile transcripts across the heterografted sets. More than half of these were validated from PlaMoM, a database for plant mobile macromolecules. In addition, some of these mobile transcripts contained a transfer RNA-like structure. Other RNA motifs were also enriched in these transcripts, most with a biological role based on GO analysis. This transcriptome study provided a comprehensive understanding of various molecular mechanisms underlying grafted tissues in watermelon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marleny Garcia-Lozano
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA
| | - Sudip Kumar Dutta
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA
| | - Purushothaman Natarajan
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA
| | - Yan R Tomason
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA
| | - Carlos Lopez
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA
| | - Ramesh Katam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32317, USA
| | - Amnon Levi
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Vegetable Lab, 2700 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Padma Nimmakayala
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA.
| | - Umesh K Reddy
- Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV, 25112-1000, USA.
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15
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Martí R, Sánchez G, Valcárcel M, Roselló S, Cebolla-Cornejo J. High throughput FT-MIR indirect analysis of sugars and acids in watermelon. Food Chem 2019; 300:125227. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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16
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Zhao L, Liu A, Song T, Jin Y, Xu X, Gao Y, Ye X, Qi H. Transcriptome analysis reveals the effects of grafting on sugar and α-linolenic acid metabolisms in fruits of cucumber with two different rootstocks. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2018; 130:289-302. [PMID: 30036858 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Flavor quality in cucumber is affected by different rootstocks, but the molecular mechanism is largely unclean. To clarify the differences of sugar and aromatic compounds, cucumber (cucumis sativus) fruits from plants of self-grafted (SG) or grafted onto figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia; G1) or 'Weisheng No.1' rootstock (Cucurbita moschata ⅹCucurbita moschata hybrids; G2) were performed the transcriptome analysis. We obtained 1013 and 920 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from G1 and G2 compared to SG respectively, in which 453 genes were co-expressed. Functional annotations showed many DEGs were involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolism, fructose metabolism and α-Linolenic acid metabolisms, 20 DEGs were selected from the 3 pathways to validate sequencing accuracy by quantitative real-time PCR. The gene relative expression levels were concurrent with RNA-seq results and sugar and aromatic compounds content phenotypes. Moreover, some vital transcript factors and transport proteins were analyzed. These findings indicate that different rootstocks could induce significantly changes in the physiological profiling and transcripts of sugar- and aromatic flavor-related genes. This study provides a novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of fruit quality regulated by candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhao
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education/Northern National& Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology(Liaoning), Shenyang 110866, China; Institute of Vegetable Research, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China.
| | - Aiqun Liu
- Institute of Vegetable Research, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China.
| | - Tiefeng Song
- Institute of Vegetable Research, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China.
| | - Yazhong Jin
- College of Agriculture, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilong Jiang 163319, China.
| | - Xin Xu
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education/Northern National& Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology(Liaoning), Shenyang 110866, China.
| | - Yang Gao
- Agricultural Technology Extension Centre of Changtu' Country, Tieling, Liaoning 112599, China.
| | - Xueling Ye
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education/Northern National& Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology(Liaoning), Shenyang 110866, China.
| | - Hongyan Qi
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University/Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture, Ministry of Education/Northern National& Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology(Liaoning), Shenyang 110866, China.
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17
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Comparison of SPME Versus SAFE Processes for the Analysis of Flavor Compounds in Watermelon Juice. FOOD ANAL METHOD 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12161-018-1153-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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18
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Kyriacou MC, Rouphael Y, Colla G, Zrenner R, Schwarz D. Vegetable Grafting: The Implications of a Growing Agronomic Imperative for Vegetable Fruit Quality and Nutritive Value. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:741. [PMID: 28553298 PMCID: PMC5427113 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Grafting has become an imperative for intensive vegetable production since chlorofluorocarbon-based soil fumigants were banned from use on grounds of environmental protection. Compelled by this development, research into rootstock-scion interaction has broadened the potential applications of grafting in the vegetable industry beyond aspects of soil phytopathology. Grafting has been increasingly tapped for cultivation under adverse environs posing abiotic and biotic stresses to vegetable crops, thus enabling expansion of commercial production onto otherwise under-exploited land. Vigorous rootstocks have been employed not only in the open field but also under protected cultivation where increase in productivity improves distribution of infrastructural and energy costs. Applications of grafting have expanded mainly in two families: the Cucurbitaceae and the Solanaceae, both of which comprise major vegetable crops. As the main drives behind the expansion of vegetable grafting have been the resistance to soilborne pathogens, tolerance to abiotic stresses and increase in yields, rootstock selection and breeding have accordingly conformed to the prevailing demand for improving productivity, arguably at the expense of fruit quality. It is, however, compelling to assess the qualitative implications of this growing agronomic practice for human nutrition. Problems of impaired vegetable fruit quality have not infrequently been associated with the practice of grafting. Accordingly, the aim of the current review is to reassess how the practice of grafting and the prevalence of particular types of commercial rootstocks influence vegetable fruit quality and, partly, storability. Physical, sensorial and bioactive aspects of quality are examined with respect to grafting for watermelon, melon, cucumber, tomato, eggplant, and pepper. The physiological mechanisms at play which mediate rootstock effects on scion performance are discussed in interpreting the implications of grafting for the configuration of vegetable fruit physicochemical quality and nutritive value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios C. Kyriacou
- Department of Vegetable Crops, Agricultural Research InstituteNicosia, Cyprus
| | - Youssef Rouphael
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico IINaples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Colla
- Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of TusciaViterbo, Italy
| | - Rita Zrenner
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental CropsGroßbeeren, Germany
| | - Dietmar Schwarz
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental CropsGroßbeeren, Germany
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