Effects of postharvest methyl jasmonate treatment on main health-promoting components and volatile organic compounds in cherry tomato fruits

Intraspecific variation in tomato: Impact on production quality and cadmium phytoremediation efficiency in intercropping systems with hyperaccumulating plant

Intercropping with hyperaccumulators can facilitate the safe utilization of cadmium-contaminated soil. However, the effectiveness of this approach is influenced by plant species and varieties, which necessitates research on optimal plant consortia. In this study, 8 tomato varieties (3 cherry tomatoes and 5 common large-fruit tomatoes) were intercropped with Sedum alfredii in a moderately Cd-contaminated vegetable field. The results showed that the Cd concentration in the fruits of common large-fruit tomato varieties under monoculture was 1.03-1.50 mg/kg, while that in the fruits of cherry tomato varieties was 0.67-0.71 mg/kg. After intercropping with S. alfredii, the fruit Cd concentrations of Hangza 501, Hangza 503, and Hangza 108 decreased by 16.42 %, 19.72 %, and 6.76 %, respectively, while those of the other varieties significantly increased, except for those of Hangza 8. In contrast, the shoot Cd concentration of cherry tomatoes was greater than that of large-fruit tomatoes under monoculture. Furthermore, a significant increase in the shoot Cd concentration was noted in the Hangza 501, Hangza 503 and Hangza 603 plants following intercropping. Additionally, intercropping with S. alfredii increased the concentration of soluble sugars in the fruits of Hangza 8, Hangza 501, Hangza 503 and Hangza 603 by 4.66 %, 17.91 %, 10.60 % and 17.88 %, respectively. Intercropping with tomatoes resulted in a decrease in both the biomass and Cd uptake of S. alfredii. Interestingly, the inhibitory effect on S. alfredii was less pronounced when intercropped with cherry tomatoes than when intercropped with large-fruit tomatoes. Among the intercropping treatments, S. alfredii exhibited the greatest total Cd accumulation (0.06 mg/plant) when intercropped with Hangza 503. In conclusion, the cherry tomato variety Hangza 503 was the most suitable for intercropping with S. alfredii and can be used safely for vegetable production and simultaneous phytoremediation of polluted soil. Our findings suggest that strategic selection of tomato varieties can optimize the effectiveness of "phytoextraction coupled with agro-safe production" technology for managing soil Cd concentrations.

Fruit Quality Analysis and Flavor Comprehensive Evaluation of Cherry Tomatoes of Different Colors

Cherry tomatoes are popular vegetables worldwide owing to their variety of colors and nutrients. However, an integrated evaluation of color and flavor has rarely been reported. This study examined the differences among red, brown, yellow, and green cherry tomatoes grown in the Jiuquan area. A comprehensive analysis of the flavor quality of these tomatoes, including sensory evaluation, electronic nose analysis, nutritional and flavor quality measurements, targeted metabolomics, and chemometrics, was conducted. Red tomatoes had the highest lycopene content, and green tomatoes had the highest soluble protein and vitamin C content. In cherry tomatoes, K is the most abundant macro element and Fe and Zn are the most abundant trace elements. Brown cherry tomatoes had significantly higher K, P, Mg, Cu and Fe contents than other colored tomatoes, and red tomatoes had significantly higher Zn content than other cherry tomatoes (218.8-724.3%). Yellow cherry tomatoes had the highest soluble sugar content, followed by red, brown and green tomatoes. A total of 20 amino acids of tomatoes were simultaneously determined by LC-MS. Yellow cherry tomatoes have the highest content of essential amino acids, aromatic amino acids and sweetness amino acids. Red tomatoes have the highest levels of non-essential and sourness amino acid contents. An analysis of 30 flavor indicators revealed that yellow tomatoes had the best flavor, followed by red, brown, and green tomatoes. Our work lays the foundation for future research on color and flavor formation in cherry tomatoes.

Effects of Pelletized and Coated Organic Fertilizers on Flavor Compounds of Tomato Fruits and Leaves

The application of organic fertilizers is one of the most important agricultural measures aimed at improving the flavor and productivity of Lycopersicon esculentum, with the granulation and coating of organic fertilizers, which can reduce seepage losses of great significance to the ecosystem. In this study, Jingcai 8 tomato was selected as the test material. Headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) methods were used to investigate the effects of different pelletized organic fertilizers and various coating materials on the flavor profile of the tomatoes. The results indicated that 67 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified in the tomato fruits and 62 volatile compounds were identified in the leaves under different fertilizer treatments. The volatile compound content of the fruits in the BP treatment group was 35.38 μg/g, which was higher than that in other treatment groups, and the volatile compound content of the leaves was lower. A differential compound analysis with log2|fold change| ≥ 1 and variable important in projection (VIP) > 1 highlighted styrene, 3-methyl-1-butanol, and (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal as the major up-regulated compounds and methyl salicylate as the major down-regulated compound in the tomato fruit BCK (control) vs. BP. Moreover, the α-phellandrene content decreased in the tomato leaves. In addition, an analysis of the tomato fruit differential compounds and compounds with odor activity values (OAV) of ≥ 1, considering the OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds, identified key compounds affecting the flavor of the tomato fruits under the BP treatment. These included 2-nonenal, (E)-2-pentylfuran, trans-β-ionone, 1-penten-3-one, (E, E)-2,4-hexadienal, and 3-hexenol (fruity, floral, and herbaceous odors), (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal (fatty odor), and hexanal (green odor). The combined results analysis of the volatile compound content, differential compounds, and OAV values of characteristic aroma compounds aimed to clarify that the BP treatment group, which applied pelletized, large-grain organic fertilizer with polyurethane (pozzolanic + small-grain oil-coated + 2% paraffinic + 4% polyurethane) as a coating material, proved to be most effective in influencing the flavor of the tomato fruits. This finding lays the foundation for its potential commercial application in artificial orchards.

Detection and Analysis of VOCs in Cherry Tomato Based on GC-MS and GC×GC-TOF MS Techniques

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a significant role in influencing the flavor quality of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). The scarcity of systematic analysis of VOCs in cherry tomatoes can be attributed to the constraints imposed by detection technology and other contributing factors. In this study, the cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' was chosen due to its abundant fruit flavor. Two detection technology platforms, namely the commonly employed headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and the most advanced headspace solid-phase microextraction-full two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC×GC-TOFMS), were employed in the analysis. The VOCs of cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' fruits at red ripening stage were detected. A combined total of 1544 VOCs were detected using the two aforementioned techniques. Specifically, 663 VOCs were identified by through the HS-SPME-GC-MS method, 1026 VOCs were identified by through the HS-SPME-GC×GC-TOFMS, and 145 VOCs were identified by both techniques. The identification of β-ionone and (E)-2-nonenal as the principal VOCs was substantiated through the application of the relative odor activity value (rOAV) calculation and subsequent analysis. Based on the varying contribution rates of rOAV, the analysis of sensory flavor characteristics revealed that cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1' predominantly exhibited green and fatty attributes, accompanied by elements of fresh and floral flavor characteristics. In conclusion, our study conducted a comprehensive comparison of the disparities between these two methodologies in detecting VOCs in cherry tomato fruits. Additionally, we systematically analyzed the VOC composition and sensory flavor attributes of the cherry tomato cultivar var. 'Zheyingfen1'. This research serves as a significant point of reference for investigating the regulatory mechanisms underlying the development of volatile flavor quality in cherry tomatoes.

The roles of brassinosteroids and methyl jasmonate on postharvest grape by regulating the interaction between VvDWF4 and VvTIFY 5 A

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) are known for the regulation of plant development, and the crosstalk between them is important for plant growth. However, the interaction between them in the development of postharvest fruit is unresolved. We found that BR treatment enhanced the accumulation of sugar composition and aroma content, reduced the content of organic acids (such as tartaric acid) and promoted the coloring of grape callus. After the application of MeJA, the acidity increased and the sugar content decreased. The physiological data showed that exogenous BR also attenuated the JA inhibition of postharvest ripening in grape. DWF4 is a key enzyme in the BR biosynthetic pathway, and it can effectively regulate the content of endogenous BRs. TIFY 5 A, which belongs to the Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) family, can be baited by DWF4 through the Y2H experiment. TIFY 5 A represses the expression of dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR) which plays a key role in the synthesis of anthocyanins, while this will be alleviated by VvDWF4. The interaction between TIFY 5 A and DWF4 contributes to the cross talk between JA and BR signalling pathways. This is also verified by the transgenic experimental results. The results in this paper provides a new insight into the relationship between BR and JA signalling pathways, which is important to the regulation of the postharvest ripening of grape.

Controlling water deficiency as an abiotic stress factor to improve tomato nutritional and flavour quality

Water deficit (WD) irrigation techniques to improve water use efficiency have been rapidly developed. However, the effect of WD irrigation on tomato quality has not been sufficiently studied. Here, we investigated the effects of varying water irrigation levels [T1-T4: 80%, 65%, 55%, and 45% of maximum field moisture capacity (FMC)] and full irrigation (CK: 90% of maximum FMC) on tomato fruits from the mature-green to red-ripening stages, to compare the nutritional and flavour qualities of the resulting tomatoes. The proline, aspartic, malic, citric, and ascorbic acid contents increased, phenylalanine and glutamic acid contents decreased, and the total amino and organic acid contents increased by 18.91% and 26.12%, respectively, in T2-treated fruits. Furthermore, the T2-treated fruits exhibited higher K and P contents alongside improved characteristic aromas. These findings provide novel insights for further improvements in tomato quality while also developing water-saving irrigation techniques.

Effects of replacement partial sodium chloride on characteristic flavor substances of bacon during storage based on GC×GC-MS and non-targeted metabolomics analyses

Comprehensive 2D gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-MS) and non-targeted metabolomics were employed to investigate the differences in key volatile flavor substances between bacon salted with alternative salt and traditional bacon during storage. The GC × GC-MS analysis revealed that among 146 volatile compounds in both types of bacon, alcohol, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, and alkenes were the most abundant. Additionally, non-targeted metabolomics indicated that the changes in amino acids and the oxidation degradation of lipids could be the main reasons for the flavor differences among the two kinds of bacon. Furthermore, the acceptability scores of both bacon types showed a general upward trend as the storage time increased, indicating that the metabolic of substances occurring during bacon storage significantly impact its overall quality. By partially substituting sodium chloride with 22% potassium chloride and 11% calcium ascorbate, coupled with appropriate storage conditions, the quality of bacon can be improved.

Effects of Storage Temperature at the Early Postharvest Stage on the Firmness, Bioactive Substances, and Amino Acid Compositions of Chili Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The commercial and nutritional quality of chili peppers deteriorates rapidly after harvest. So far, little is known about the effect of temperature on postharvest chili pepper quality. This study elucidated the effects of two temperatures (20 °C and 30 °C) on chili peppers' postharvest firmness, flavor, and nutritional attributes. We found that compared to 20 °C, 30 °C escalated the decline in fruit firmness, capsaicin content, and dihydrocapsaicin content, while enhancing the increment in water loss and electrical conductivity, as well as total carotenoids and ascorbic acid content. The contents of most amino acids (AAs) decreased significantly during postharvest storage compared to their initial values, whether stored at 20 °C or 30 °C; however, 30 °C had a more substantial impact than 20 °C. Meanwhile, as for soluble protein and amino acid compositions, the effect of storage temperature was genotype-dependent, as reflected by differential changes in total AA contents, single AA contents, essential AA ratio, delicious AA ratio, etc., under the 20 °C or 30 °C treatments. In conclusion, our findings reveal the influence of temperature on pepper quality, showing that the storage temperature of 20 °C was better for maintaining chili quality than 30 °C from the perspective of overall commercial attributes.

Effect of Methyl Jasmonate on the Biosynthesis of Volatile Compounds Associated with the Ripening of Grape Tomato Fruits

The present work aims to evaluate the roles of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in the formation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from grape tomatoes during ripening. Fruits were treated with MeJA, ethylene, 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene), and MeJA+1-MCP, with analyses of the VOC and levels of the gene transcripts for the enzymes lipoxygenase (LOX), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and hydroperoxide lyase (HPL). An intimate relationship between MeJA and ethylene in aroma formation was detected, mainly among the VOC from the carotenoid pathway. Expression of the fatty acid transcripts, LOXC, ADH, and HPL pathway genes, was reduced by 1-MCP, even when associated with MeJA. In ripe tomato, MeJA increased most of the volatile C6 compounds, except 1-hexanol. The MeJA+1-MCP treatment followed most of the increases in volatile C6 compounds that were increased by MeJA alone, which evidenced some ethylene-independent mechanism in the production of the volatile C6 compounds. In ripe tomato, MeJA and MeJA+1-MCP increased the levels of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, which is derived from lycopene, evidencing an ethylene-independent biosynthetic process.

From the First to Third Generation of Neonicotinoids: Implication for Saving the Loss of Fruit Quality and Flavor by Pesticide Applications

Neonicotinoids can control crop pests with high efficiency and low cost and have quickly swept one-fourth of the global insecticide market since the launch of imidacloprid in 1991. Imidacloprid and acetamiprid, the first generation of neonicotinoids, and dinotefuran, the representative of third generation of neonicotinoids, were applied on tomato plants individually to investigate neonicotinoid effects on tomato fruit quality, especially on appearance parameters, sugar, acid, and aroma compounds. Compared with the control, fewer differences in the transcriptome profile, sugar, acid, and volatile organic compound (VOC) contents, and sensory analysis results were shown in dinotefuran treatments than in the other two treatments. Therefore, dinotefuran was more recommended to control pests of tomatoes with less loss of fruit flavor and quality as well as lower ecological risks.

Methods of application of salicylic acid as attenuator of salt stress in cherry tomato

Salt stress caused by excess salts present in irrigation water, is one of the biggest barriers in agricultural production, especially in semi-arid regions. Thus, the use of substances, such as salicylic acid, that minimize the deleterious effects of salinity on plants can be an alternative to ensure satisfactory production. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different methods of application of salicylic acid on the growth, production and water use efficiency of cherry tomato plants under salt stress. The study was conducted in a greenhouse, using an Entisol soil with a sandy loam texture. The treatments were distributed in a completely randomized design, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement, corresponding to two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water - ECw (0.6 and 2.6 dS m-1) and four methods of application of salicylic acid (Control - without application of SA; via spraying; via irrigation and via spraying and irrigation), with five replicates and one plant per plot. The salicylic acid concentration used in the different methods was 1.0 mM. Application of salicylic acid via foliar spraying increased the growth, production and water use efficiency of cherry tomato plants. The salt stress induced by the electrical conductivity of 2.6 dS m-1 was attenuated by the foliar application of salicylic acid. The use of water of 2.6 dS m-1 associated with the application of salicylic acid via irrigation water further intensified the adverse effects of salinity on cherry tomato plants.

SlMYC2 interacted with the SlTOR promoter and mediated JA signaling to regulate growth and fruit quality in tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major vegetable crop cultivated worldwide. The regulation of tomato growth and fruit quality has long been a popular research topic. MYC2 is a key regulator of the interaction between jasmonic acid (JA) signaling and other signaling pathways, and MYC2 can integrate the interaction between JA signaling and other hormone signals to regulate plant growth and development. TOR signaling is also an essential regulator of plant growth and development. However, it is unclear whether MYC2 can integrate JA signaling and TOR signaling during growth and development in tomato. Here, MeJA treatment and SlMYC2 overexpression inhibited the growth and development of tomato seedlings and photosynthesis, but increased the sugar-acid ratio and the contents of lycopene, carotenoid, soluble sugar, total phenol and flavonoids, indicating that JA signaling inhibited the growth of tomato seedlings and altered fruit quality. When TOR signaling was inhibited by RAP, the JA content increased, and the growth and photosynthesis of tomato seedlings decreased, indicating that TOR signaling positively regulated the growth and development of tomato seedlings. Further yeast one-hybrid assays showed that SlMYC2 could bind directly to the SlTOR promoter. Based on GUS staining analysis, SlMYC2 regulated the transcription of SlTOR, indicating that SlMYC2 mediated the interaction between JA and TOR signaling by acting on the promoter of SlTOR. This study provides a new strategy and some theoretical basis for tomato breeding.

Post-Harvest LED Light Irradiation Affects Firmness, Bioactive Substances, and Amino Acid Compositions in Chili Pepper (Capsicum annum L.)

Chili pepper is an important vegetable and spice crop with high post-harvest deteriorations in terms of commercial and nutritional quality. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are eco-friendly light sources with various light spectra that have been demonstrated to improve the shelf-life of various vegetables by manipulating light quality; however, little is known about their effects on the post-harvest nutritional quality of chili peppers. This study investigated the effects of different LED lightings on the post-harvest firmness and nutritional quality of chili peppers. We found that red and blue light could increase the content of capsaicinoids, whereas white and red light could increase the essential and aromatic amino acid (AA) content in pepper. Nonetheless, the influence of light treatments on AA contents and compositions depends strongly on the pepper genotype, which was reflected by total AA content, single AA content, essential AA ratio, delicious AA ratio, etc., that change under different light treatments. Additionally, light affected fruit firmness and the content of nutrients such as chlorophyll, vitamin C, and total carotenoids, to varying degrees, depending on pepper genotypes. Thus, our findings indicate that LED-light irradiation is an efficient and promising strategy for preserving or improving the post-harvest commercial and nutritional quality of pepper fruit.

Integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis of the regulatory network of volatile ester formation during fruit ripening in pear

'Nanguo' pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) is a typical climacteric fruit with an attractive aroma after postharvest ripening. Esters are the key volatile compounds determining the typical aroma formation. However, the mechanism of aroma-related ester formation remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed transcriptome and metabolome analyses to reveal the changes of aroma-related compounds during pear ripening in the optimal taste period (OTP). During the pear ripening process, typical fatty acid-derived volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are transformed from aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones to esters, where ethyl hexanoate, hexyl acetate, and ethyl butanoate are the dominant esters in the OTP. Rich aroma-related esters in the OTP are associated with the accumulation of important precursors of aroma volatiles, including linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and oleic acid. Genes encoding key biosynthetic enzymes are associated with the altered levels of aroma-related esters. The candidate genes associated with the high levels of aroma-related esters in 'Nanguo' pears are PuFAD2, PuLOX2, PuLOX5, and PuAAT. Additionally, transcription factor (TF) genes such as PuWRKY24, PuIAA29, and PuTINY may play crucial roles in aroma formation during fruit ripening. Hence, we summarized the TFs that regulate VOC metabolism in different fruit species. The results provided a foundation for further research on aroma-related esters in 'Nanguo' pears and could help to elucidate the mechanisms regulating fruit quality improvement.

Exogenous methyl jasmonate modulates antioxidant activities and delays pericarp browning in litchi

Pericarp browning (PB) is a serious problem in harvested litchi and drastically affects consumer acceptability and marketability. Postharvest PB and subsequent decay in fruit are linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in tissues. Antioxidants neutralize or scavenge ROS and maintain the shelf-life of fruit, especially in non-climacteric ones such as litchi. This work was aimed to assess the effect of vacuum infiltrated methyl jasmonate (MeJA; 1 and 2 mM) on the quality of harvested litchi fruit (cv. Purbi) during ambient storage (28 °C, RH 70-75%). The exogenous MeJA infiltration (2 mM) significantly retained quality attributes of litchi fruit as evident by lowered PB, weight loss, disease occurrence, quinone, and ROS (H₂O₂ and O₂ ^-) accumulation. Moreover, MeJA infiltrated fruit suppressed the activity of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase resulting in higher anthocyanin, phenolics, antioxidant potential, phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity as well as membrane integrity throughout the storage. Control fruit showed an early quality deterioration marked by prominent PB and other biochemical degradative changes. Thus, exogenous MeJA infiltration (2 mM) could be suggested to increase the shelf life of litchi by four days under ambient conditions.

Metabolism and Regulation of Ascorbic Acid in Fruits

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a vital antioxidant widely found in plants. Plant fruits are rich in ascorbic acid and are the primary source of human intake of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid affects fruit ripening and stress resistance and plays an essential regulatory role in fruit development and postharvest storage. The ascorbic acid metabolic pathway in plants has been extensively studied. Ascorbic acid accumulation in fruits can be effectively regulated by genetic engineering technology. The accumulation of ascorbic acid in fruits is regulated by transcription factors, protein interactions, phytohormones, and environmental factors, but the research on the regulatory mechanism is still relatively weak. This paper systematically reviews the regulation mechanism of ascorbic acid metabolism in fruits in recent decades. It provides a rich theoretical basis for an in-depth study of the critical role of ascorbic acid in fruits and the cultivation of fruits rich in ascorbic acid.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Unravels the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Styrax tonkinensis Seeds under Methyl Jasmonate Treatment

As the germ of a highly productive oil tree species, Styrax tonkinensis seeds have great potential to produce biodiesel and they have marvelous fatty acid (FA) composition. In order to explore the molecular regulatory mechanism of FA biosynthesis in S. tonkinensis seeds after methyl jasmonate (MJ) application, transcriptomic and metabolomic techniques were adopted so as to dissect the genes that are related to FA biosynthesis and their expression levels, as well as to discover the major FA concentration and composition. The results revealed that 200 μmol/L of MJ (MJ200) increased the crude fat (CF) mass fraction and generated the greatest impact on CF accumulation at 70 days after flowering. Twenty FAs were identified, among which palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid were the major FAs, and the presence of MJ200 affected their concentrations variously. MJ200 could enhance FA accumulation through elevating the activity of enzymes that are related to FA synthesis. The number of differentially expressed genes increased with the seeds’ development in general. Fatty acid biosynthesis, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, fatty acid elongation and glycerolipid metabolism were the main lipid metabolism pathways that were found to be involved. The changes in the expression levels of EAR, KAR, accA, accB and SAD2 were consistent with the changes in the CF mass fraction, indicating that they are important genes in the FA biosynthesis of S. tonkinensis seeds and that MJ200 promoted their expression levels. In addition, bZIP (which was screened by weighted correlation network analysis) also created significant impacts on FA biosynthesis. Our research has provided a basis for further studies on FA biosynthesis that is regulated by MJ200 at the molecular level and has helped to clarify the functions of key genes in the FA metabolic pathway in S. tonkinensis seeds.

Response of Tomato Fruit Quality Depends on Period of LED Supplementary Light

Light is an important environmental factor that regulates the activity of metabolism-related biochemical pathways during tomato maturation. Using LED to improve lighting conditions during the process of tomato growth and development is a feasible and efficient method to improve the quality of tomato fruit. In this study, red and blue LEDs were used to supplement light on “MicroTom” tomato plants for different periods of time in the morning and evening, and the differences between the primary and secondary metabolites and other nutrient metabolites in the tomato fruit were analyzed using liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and other methods. Supplementing light in the morning promoted the accumulation of vitamin C, organic acids, amino acids, carotenoids, phenolic acids, and other health-promoting substances in the tomato fruits. Supplementing light in the evening significantly increased the content of sugars, flavonoids, and aromatic substances in tomato fruits, whereas the promoting effect of LED on the accumulation of amino acids and carotenoids was lower in the evening than in the morning. Both morning and evening light supplementation reduced the mineral content of fruit. In conclusion, morning light supplementation improved the nutritional quality of tomato fruits, while evening light supplementation improved their flavor.

Induction of Metabolic Changes in Amino Acid, Fatty Acid, Tocopherol, and Phytosterol Profiles by Exogenous Methyl Jasmonate Application in Tomato Fruits

Methyl jasmonate hormone can stimulate the production of several metabolites responsible for improving fruit quality and nutritional attributes related to human health. In this context, efforts to manipulate tomatoes, such as using hormonal treatment to increase metabolite levels essential to plant growth and human nutrition, have received considerable attention. The aim of this study was to show the impact of metabolic profile on fruit quality and nutritional properties under exogenous methyl jasmonate during fruit ripening. The treatments were performed using 100 ppm of methyl jasmonate and 100 ppm of gaseous ethylene over 24 h. Ethylene emission, fruit surface color and metabolomics analysis were measured at 4, 10, and 21 days after harvest, considering the untreated fruits as control group. Methyl jasmonate induced the production of amino acids—mainly glutamine, glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (at least 14-fold higher)—and fatty acids—mainly oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids (at least three-fold higher than untreated fruits); while exogenous ethylene predominantly affected sugar metabolism, increasing the levels of fructose, mannose and glucose to at least two-fold that levels in the untreated fruits. Additionally, methyl jasmonate significantly affected secondary metabolites, inducing by at least 80% the accumulation of α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol in fully ripe fruits. Our results suggest that the postharvest application of the hormone methyl jasmonate can contribute to the sensory characteristics and increase the nutritional value of the fruits since important changes related to the tomato metabolome were associated with compounds responsible for the fruit quality and health benefits.

Different regulatory mechanisms of plant hormones in the ripening of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits: a review

This review contains the regulatory mechanisms of plant hormones in the ripening process of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, interactions between plant hormones and future research directions. The fruit ripening process involves physiological and biochemical changes such as pigment accumulation, softening, aroma and flavor formation. There is a great difference in the ripening process between climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits. The ripening of these two types of fruits is affected by endogenous signals and exogenous environments. Endogenous signaling plant hormones play an important regulatory role in fruit ripening. This paper systematically reviews recent progress in the regulation of plant hormones in fruit ripening, including ethylene, abscisic acid, auxin, jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellin, brassinosteroid (BR), salicylic acid (SA) and melatonin. The role of plant hormones in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits is discussed, with emphasis on the interaction between ethylene and other adjustment factors. Specifically, the research progress and future research directions of JA, SA and BR in fruit ripening are discussed, and the regulatory network between JA and other signaling molecules remains to be further revealed. This study is meant to expand the understanding of the importance of plant hormones, clarify the hormonal regulation network and provide a basis for targeted manipulation of fruit ripening.

Rosmarinic Acid Delays Tomato Fruit Ripening by Regulating Ripening-Associated Traits

Fruits are excellent sources of essential vitamins and health-boosting minerals. Recently, regulation of fruit ripening by both internal and external cues for the improvement of fruit quality and shelf life has received considerable attention. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a kind of natural plant-derived polyphenol, widely used in the drug therapy and food industry due to its distinct physiological functions. However, the role of RA in plant growth and development, especially at the postharvest period of fruits, remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that postharvest RA treatment delayed the ripening in tomato fruits. Exogenous application of RA decreased ripening-associated ethylene production and inhibited the fruit color change from green to red based on the decline in lycopene accumulation. We also found that the degradation of sucrose and malic acid during ripening was significantly suppressed in RA-treated tomato fruits. The results of metabolite profiling showed that RA application promoted the accumulation of multiple amino acids in tomato fruits, such as aspartic acid, serine, tyrosine, and proline. Meanwhile, RA application also strengthened the antioxidant system by increasing both the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the contents of reduced forms of antioxidants. These findings not only unveiled a novel function of RA in fruit ripening, but also indicated an attractive strategy to manage and improve shelf life, flavor, and sensory evolution of tomato fruits.

Postharvest Quality Evolution in Long Shelf-Life “Vesuviano” Tomato Landrace

“Vesuviano” or “piennolo” tomato is among the most famous Italian small tomato landraces and is cultivated on the slopes of Vesuvio volcano (Southern Italy). The “piennolo” tomato is an interesting case with regard to its potential sustainability, as it is traditionally grown in water-deficit conditions with a low fertilizer input. Fruits with a high firmness and a thick skin can be stored for 3–4 months at room temperature (“long shelf-life” or LSL tomato) without postharvest fungicide applications. The aim of this research was to study the retention, changes in quality, and nutritional traits of “Vesuviano” tomatoes over 120 days of “natural” storage. The dry matter, soluble sugar, organic acids, volatile compounds, and carotenoid contents were evaluated at harvesting and in fruits stored for 40, 80, and 120 days. Slight decreases in dry matter content, soluble sugars, and sweetness index were found, while the organic acids levels remained relatively stable. Moreover, interesting increases in the concentrations of certain flavor volatiles, alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenes were detected. Regarding carotenoids, the total lycopene levels exhibited a 1.5-fold increase from harvest to 120 days. The unchanged lycopene cis-isomer levels and the β-carotene/total lycopene ratio is characteristic of relatively stable isomerization activity and indicated an optimal ripening pattern up until the end of the “natural” storage period. These results, which demonstrate good overall quality retention of this LSL tomato, represent a well-grounded reason to enhance the cultivation and marketing of this genetic resource, the fruits of which can be appreciated by consumers during the winter–early spring, when high-quality fresh tomatoes are not available on the markets.

Network response of two cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) cultivars to Cadmium stress as revealed by transcriptome analysis

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination severely threatens human health. Therefore, screening and breeding low-Cd absorption cultivars of cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is essential to restrict human Cd intake. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to perform a comparative transcriptome analysis of the leaves of two cherry tomato cultivars with different Cd contents under different Cd stress (0, 10, and 50 μM), for the purpose of exploring the differences in the transcriptional responses to Cd stress between the two cultivars. Our results revealed that the Cd content in the leaves of HLZ (Hanluzhe; a low-Cd accumulation cultivar) was significantly lower than that in the leaves of LFC (Lvfeicui; a high-Cd accumulation cultivar). Transcriptome analysis showed that the different expression genes (DEGs) were mainly involved in plant hormone signal transduction, antioxidant enzymes, cell wall biosynthesis, and metal transportation. In the LFC leaves, DEGs in the IAA signal transduction and antioxidant enzymes exhibited higher transcription levels. However, the DEGs in the ETH signal transduction demonstrated a lower transcription level compared to that of HLZ. Over-expressed genes in the pectin biosynthesis and pectin methylesterase (PME) of the LFC leaves might result in the trapping of Cd by increased levels of low-methylated pectin around the cell wall. Furthermore, Cd transporter genes, such as HMA5, NRAMP6, CAX3, ABCC3, and PDR1, were up-regulated in the HLZ leaves, indicating that the HLZ cultivar comprised an active Cd transport capacity from apoplast to vacuolar. This may contribute to the low Cd concentration observed in the HLZ leaves. Overall, our study provides a molecular basis for tomato screening and breeding.

Over-expression of SlWRKY46 in tomato plants increases susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea by modulating ROS homeostasis and SA and JA signaling pathways

WRKY, as one of the largest families of transcription factors (TFs), binds to cis-acting elements of downstream genes to regulate biotic and abiotic stress. However, the role of SlWRKY46 in fungal disease response induced by Botrytis cinerea (B.cinerea) and potential mechanism remains obscure. To ascertain the role of SlWRKY46 in response to B.cinerea, we constructed SlWRKY46-overexpression plants, which were then inoculated with B.cinerea. SlWRKY46-overexpression plants were more susceptible to B.cinerea and accompanied by the inhibited activities of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), chitinase (CHI), and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU). Additionally, SlWRKY46-overexpression plants showed the decreased activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of H₂O₂, and the increased content of O₂^•-. Moreover, over-expression of SlWRKY46 suppressed the salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) marker genes, pathogenesis related protein (PR1), and proteinase inhibitors (PI Ⅰ and PI Ⅱ) and consequently aggravated the disease symptoms. Therefore, we speculated that SlWRKY46 played negative regulatory roles in B. cinerea infection probably by inhibiting the activities of antioxidants and disease resistance enzymes, regulating SA and JA signaling pathways and modulating reactive oxygen (ROS) homeostasis.

SlBES1 promotes tomato fruit softening through transcriptional inhibition of PMEU1

Fruit softening indicated by firmness determines the texture, transportability, and shelf life of tomato products. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying firmness formation in tomato fruit is poorly understood. Here, we report the regulatory role of SlBES1, an essential component of brassinosteroid hormone signaling, in tomato fruit softening. We found that SlBES1 promotes fruit softening during tomato fruit ripening and postharvest storage. RNA-seq analysis suggested that PMEU1, which encodes a pectin methylesterase, might participate in SlBES1-mediated softening. Biochemical and immunofluorescence assays indicated that SlBES1 inhibited PMEU1-related pectin de-methylesterification. Further molecular and genetic evidence verified that SlBES1 directly binds to the E-box of PMEU1 to repress its expression, leading to fruits softening. Loss-of-function SlBES1 mutant generated by CRISPR-Cas9 showed firmer fruits and longer shelf life during postharvest storage without other quality alteration. Collectively, our results indicated the potential of manipulating SlBES1 to regulate firmness without negative consequence on visual and nutrition quality.

•

SlBES1 promotes tomato fruit softening without affecting nutritional quality

•

SlBES1 inhibits PMEU1-related fruit pectin de-methylesterification

•

SlBES1 represses PMEU1 expression through directly binding to the E-box

•

Knockout of SlBES1 by CRISPR-Cas9 enhances fruit firmness and extends shelf life

Effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate on quality and preservation of postharvest fruits: A review

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a volatile hormone involved in a number of plant processes, acting as a signal in response to external stresses and modulating the biosynthesis of other phytohormones. Here, we are reviewing for the first time all reports related to the effects of exogenous MeJA on postharvest fruits. Application of MeJA during preharvest and postharvest stages has been demonstrated to enhance fruit antioxidant capacity and phenolics content, which in turn extended fruit shelf-life, enhanced fruit quality and reduced chilling injury. The postharvest application of MeJA has been reported to alter volatiles pattern and to enhance the innate disease resistance of postharvest fruits against pathogenic fungi. The results obtained using different treatment conditions, such as temperature, storage time and concentration, have been highlighted and compared along the manuscript in order to provide new insights on the applicability of MeJA for enhancing postharvest fruit quality and preservation.

Metabolite alteration in response to low phosphorus stress in developing tomato fruits

Alteration of fruit quality caused by environmental stress is a common but largely unresolved issue for plant cultivation and breeding practices. Phosphorus (P) deficiency may interfere with a variety of metabolic processes whose intermediate products are correlated with important fruit quality traits. However, how low P stress affects fruit quality has not been investigated in detail. In this study, we assessed the contents of major metabolites associated with tomato fruit quality under two low P treatments that started at the seedling or flowering stage. The major pigments and the key organic acids related to fruit sourness were differentially over-accumulated as fruit ripened under two low P treatments compared to those under the control treatment, while the total content of soluble sugars contributing to fruit sweetness was substantially reduced under both treatments. These changes were largely attributed to the alteration of enzyme activities in the relevant metabolic pathways. In particular, we found that low P stress from different developmental stages had differential effects on the activation of γ-aminobutyric acid shunt that were likely responsible for the preferential accumulation of different organic acids in tomato fruits. Our study suggested that low P stress strongly affected tomato fruit quality and the effects appeared to be variable under different regimes of low P conditions.

Anti-Parasitic Activity of Cherry Tomato Peel Powders

Trichomoniasis in humans, caused by the protozoal parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease, while Tritrichomonas foetus causes trichomonosis, an infection of the gastrointestinal tract and diarrhea in farm animals and domesticated cats. As part of an effort to determine the inhibitory effects of plant-based extracts and pure compounds, seven commercially available cherry tomato varieties were hand-peeled, freeze-dried, and pounded into powders. The anti-trichomonad inhibitory activities of these peel powders at 0.02% concentration determined using an in vitro cell assay varied widely from 0.0% to 66.7% against T. vaginalis G3 (human); from 0.9% to 66.8% for T. foetus C1 (feline); and from 0.0% to 81.3% for T. foetus D1 (bovine). The organic Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (D) peels were the most active against all three trichomonads, inhibiting 52.2% (G3), 66.8% (C1), and 81.3% (D1). Additional assays showed that none of the powders inhibited the growth of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, pathogenic fungi, or non-pathogenic lactobacilli. Tomato peel and pomace powders with high content of described biologically active compounds could serve as functional food and feed additives that might help overcome adverse effects of wide-ranging diseases and complement the treatment of parasites with the anti-trichomonad drug metronidazole.

Odorants of Capsicum spp. Dried Fruits as Candidate Attractants for Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

Simple Summary

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), is an important pest of stored products. It can be monitored using pheromone traps with or without a food source as a synergistic attractant. The study objective was to assess the response of L. serricorne to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from different chili fruit powders to identify semiochemicals involved in this attraction which could be used as synthetic co-attractants in pheromone traps. Olfactometer results indicated that Capsicum annuum and C. frutescens VOCs elicit attraction toward L. serricorne adults, while C. chinense VOCs elicit no attraction. Chemical analysis and behavioral assays indicated a primary role for polar compounds in the attraction toward these sources. α-Ionone and β-ionone, compounds abundant in the attractive species and which elicited positive results in the olfactometer bioassays, may be promising candidates as attractant and/or pheromone synergist in monitoring traps for L. serricorne.

Abstract

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne F. (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) is an important food storage pest affecting the tobacco industry and is increasingly impacting museums and herbaria. Monitoring methods make use of pheromone traps which can be implemented using chili fruit powder. The objective of this study was to assess the response of L. serricorne to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from different chili powders in order to identify the main semiochemicals involved in this attraction. Volatiles emitted by Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens, and C. chinense dried fruit powders were tested in an olfactometer and collected and analyzed using SPME and GC-MS. Results indicated that C. annuum and C. frutescens VOCs elicit attraction toward L. serricorne adults in olfactometer, while C. chinense VOCs elicit no attraction. Chemicals analysis showed a higher presence of polar compounds in the VOCs of C. annuum and C. frutescens compared to C. chinense, with α-ionone and β-ionone being more abundant in the attractive species. Further olfactometer bioassays indicated that both α-ionone and β-ionone elicit attraction, suggesting that these compounds are candidates as synergistic attractants in pheromone monitoring traps for L. serricorne.

Methyl jasmonate induces the resistance of postharvest blueberry to gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea

BACKGROUND

The effects of postharvest methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment (50 μmol L^-1 ) on the control of gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea in blueberry fruit were evaluated by analyzing (i) the levels of disease resistance signals; (ii) the activity of enzymes involved in antioxidant system, disease resistance and phenylpropanoid pathway, and (iii) the secondary metabolite content.

RESULTS

The results indicated that MeJA treatment significantly restrained the development of gray mold decay in blueberries. The treatment induced a nitric oxide (NO) burst and increased the endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) content in the earlier period of storage. The enhanced NO and H₂ O₂ generation by MeJA treatment might serve as a signal to induce resistance against B. cinerea infection. Furthermore, in inoculated fruit, MeJA treatment significantly promoted antioxidant enzymes and defense-related enzyme activity, which included superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, chitinase, and β-1,3-glucanase, and the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation was reduced. The MeJA treatment enhanced the phenylpropanoid pathway by provoking phenylalanine ammonialyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate CoA ligase activity, which was accompanied by elevated levels of phenolics and flavonoids in blueberry fruit.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that MeJA could induce the disease resistance of blueberries against B. cinerea by regulating the antioxidant enzymes, defense-related enzymes, and the phenylpropanoid pathway through the activation of signaling molecules.

Methyl jasmonate pretreatment improves aroma quality of cold-stored 'Nanguo' pears by promoting ester biosynthesis

Cold storage is widely used for delaying ripening and senescence; however, fruit aroma diminishes noticeably after long-term cold storage. The esters synthesized by the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway are responsible for 'Nanguo' pear aroma. As methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is known to act on various fruit qualities, we investigated whether it acts via the LOX pathway in cold-stored 'Nanguo' pears. MeJA treatment increased the content of volatile esters and unsaturated fatty acids and the activities of alcohol acyltransferase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and LOX. It also up-regulated the expression of key genes (PuAAT, PuADH3, PuADH5, PuADH9, PuLOX1, and PuLOX3) in the LOX pathway and that of transcription factors (PuMYB21-like, PuMYB108-like, PuWRKY61, PuWRKY72, and PuWRKY31), whose genes were differentially expressed in preliminary transcriptome analysis. Therefore, considering its effects on LOX pathway-related genes and transcription factors, MeJA may be useful in preventing cold-storage-induced decline in ester biosynthesis, aroma, and consequently the quality of cold-stored 'Nanguo' pears.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated SlMYC2 Mutagenesis Adverse to Tomato Plant Growth and MeJA-Induced Fruit Resistance to Botrytis cinerea

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a natural phytohormone, played a critical role not only in plant growth but also in plant defense response to biotic and abiotic stresses. MYC2, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, is a master regulator in MeJA signaling pathway. In the present work, slmyc2 mutants were generated by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated Cas9 protein (CRISPR/Cas9) system to investigate the role of SlMYC2 in tomato plant growth and fruit disease resistance induced by exogenous MeJA. The results showed that slmyc2 mutants possessed a higher number of flowers and a lower fruit setting rate in comparison with wild-type plants. In addition, the fruit shape of slmyc2 mutant was prolate, while the control fruits were oblate. Knockout of SlMYC2 significantly decreased the activities of disease defensive and antioxidant enzymes, as well as the expression levels of pathogen-related (PR) genes (SlPR-1 and SlPR-STH2) and the key genes related to jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and signaling pathway including allene oxide cyclase (SlAOC), lipoxygenase D (SlLOXD), SlMYC2, and coronatine insensitive 1 (SlCOI1), and consequently aggravated the disease symptoms. By contrast, the disease symptoms were largely reduced in MeJA-treated fruit that possessed higher activities of these enzymes and expression levels of genes. However, the induction effects of MeJA on fruit disease resistance and these enzymes' activities and genes' expressions were significantly attenuated by knockout of SlMYC2. Therefore, the results indicated that SlMYC2 played positive regulatory roles not only in the growth of tomato plants but also in MeJA-induced disease resistance and the antioxidant process in tomato fruits.

Distribution of primary and secondary metabolites among the leaf layers of headed cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

The present study investigated the distribution of several primary metabolites (soluble sugar, protein, and mineral) and secondary metabolites (carotenoids, vitamin C, anthocyanin, flavonoids, and total phenolic compounds) among the leaf layers of headed cabbage. The leaf layers of two cultivars were separated and numbered sequentially from the outer to the inner leaves. The fructose and glucose content of the inner leaf layers was significantly greater than that of the outer layers. Similarly, the level of glucosinolates increased gradually from the outer leaves to the umbilicus of the leaf head. However, the content of antioxidants decreased from the outer leaves to the core of the leaf head, in line with the antioxidant capacity. The levels of soluble protein and mineral shared the similar decreasing trend. These results provide a reference for consumers to choose optimal fractions of whole cabbage heads in order to cater to their particular dietary needs.

Functional Analysis of the Marigold (Tagetes erecta) Lycopene ε-cyclase (TeLCYe) Promoter in Transgenic Tobacco

Lycopene ε-cyclases (LCYEs) are key enzymes in carotenoid biosynthesis converting red lycopene to downstream lutein. The flowers of marigold (Tagetes erecta) have been superior sources to supply lutein. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of LCYe in lutein synthesis are still unclear in marigold. In this work, the expression pattern of the TeLCYe gene in marigold indicated that TeLCYe mainly expressed in floral organs. To gain a better understanding of the expression and regulatory mechanism of TeLCYe gene, the TeLCYe promoter was isolated, sequenced, and analyzed through bioinformatics tools. The results suggested that the sequence of TeLCYe promoter contained various putative cis-acting elements responsive to exogenous and endogenous factors. The full-length TeLCYe promoter and three 5'-deletion fragments were fused to the GUS reporter gene and transferred into tobacco to test the promoter activities. A strong GUS activity was observed in stems of seedlings, leaves of seedlings, middle stems, top leaves, petals, stamens, and stigmas in transgenic tobacco containing full-length TeLCYe promoter LP0-2086. Deletion of - 910 to - 429 bp 5' to ATG significantly increased the GUS activity in chloroplast-rich tissues and floral organs, while deletion occurring from 1170 to 910 bp upstream ATG decreased the TeLCYe promoter strength in stems of seedlings, leaves of seedlings, top leaves and sepals. Functional characterization of the full-length TeLCYe promoter and its' deletion fragments in stable transgenic tobacco indicated that the LP0-2086 contains some specific cis-acting elements, which might result in the high-level expression of in floral organs, and LP2-910 might contain some specific cis-acting elements which improved GUS activities in vegetable tissues.

Ethanol treatment improves the sensory quality of cherry tomatoes stored at room temperature

The effects of ethanol treatment on quality characteristics of cherry tomatoes were investigated over 11 days of storage at room temperature (25 °C). Results showed that sensory quality was improved after ethanol treatment, with redder, softer fruits at the edible stage (11 days) compared with control fruit. In addition, the contents of ascorbic acid, sucrose and fructose were elevated after ethanol treatment as well as the concentration of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. Conversely, decreased levels of methyl salicylate (MeSA), guaiacol, (Z)-3-hexenal and (E)-2-hexenal were observed. Selected consumers showed a preference for ethanol-treated cherry tomato fruits compared with controls. Taken together, 0.1% ethanol application has the potential to improve the quality characteristics of cherry tomatoes stored at room temperature.

Comparative transcriptome analyses revealed differential strategies of roots and leaves from methyl jasmonate treatment Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek and differentially expressed genes involved in tryptophan biosynthesis

Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek (B. cusia) is an effective herb for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and psoriasis in traditional Chinese medicine. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a well-known signaling phytohormone that triggers gene expression in secondary metabolism. Currently, MeJA-mediated biosynthesis of indigo and indirubin in B. cusia is not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the content of indigo and indirubin in leaf and root tissues of B. cusia with high-performance liquid chromatography and measured photosynthetic characteristics of leaves treated by MeJA using FluorCam6 Fluorometer and chlorophyll fluorescence using the portable photosynthesis system CIRAS-2. We performed de novo RNA-seq of B. cusia leaf and root transcriptional profiles to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to exogenous MeJA application. The amount of indigo in MeJA-treated leaves were higher than that in controled leaves (p = 0.004), and the amounts of indigo in treated roots was higher than that in controlled roots (p = 0.048); Chlorophyll fluorescence of leaves treated with MeJA were significantly decreased. Leaves treated with MeJA showed lower photosynthetic rate compared to the control in the absence of MeJA. Functional annotation of DEGs showed the DEGs related to growth and development processes were down-regulated in the treated leaves, while most of the unigenes involved in the defense response were up-regulated in treated roots. This coincided with the effects of MeJA on photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence. The qRT-PCR results showed that MeJA appears to down-regulate the gene expression of tryptophan synthase β-subunits (trpA-β) in leaves but increased the gene expression of anthranilate synthase (trp 3) in roots responsible for increased indigo content. The results showed that MeJA suppressed leaf photosynthesis for B. cusia and this growth-defense trade-off may contribute to the improved adaptability of B. cusia in changing environments.