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Jiang Y, Qi Y, Chen X, Yan Q, Chen J, Liu H, Shi F, Wen Y, Cai C, Ou L. Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Unveil the Molecular Mechanisms of Fruit Acidity Variation in Litchi ( Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031871. [PMID: 36768192 PMCID: PMC9916176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fruit acidity determines the organoleptic quality and nutritive value of most fruits. In litchi, although the organic acid composition of pulps is known, the molecular mechanisms and genes underlying variation in fruit acidity remain elusive. Herein, developing pulps of two contrasting litchi varieties, Huaizhi (HZ, low-acidity) and Boye_No.8 (B8, high-acidity), were subjected to metabolomics and transcriptomics, and the dynamic metabolome and transcriptional changes were determined. Measurements revealed that the dominant acidity-related organic acid in litchi pulps is malate, followed in low levels by citrate and tartrate. Variation in litchi pulps' acidity is mainly associated with significant differences in malate and citrate metabolisms during fruit development. Malic acid content decreased by 91.43% and 72.28% during fruit ripening in HZ and B8, respectively. The content of citric acid increased significantly in B8, while in HZ it was reduced considerably. Differentially accumulated metabolites and differentially expressed genes analyses unveiled fumarate, succinate, 2-oxoglutarate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), phosphoenolpyruvate, and citrate metabolisms as the key driving pathways of litchi fruits' acidity variation. The drastic malate and citrate degradation in HZ was linked to higher induction of fumarate and GABA biosynthesis, respectively. Thirty candidate genes, including three key genes (LITCHI026501.m2, fumarase; LITCHI020148.m5, glutamate decarboxylase; and LITCHI003343.m3, glutamate dehydrogenase), were identified for functional studies toward genetic modulation of litchi fruit acidity. Our findings provide insights into the molecular basis of acidity variation in litchi and provide valuable resources for fruit quality improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Jiang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yingwei Qi
- Sericultural & Agri-Food Research Institute Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Functional Foods, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Products Processing, Guangzhou 510610, China
| | - Xilong Chen
- Quantitative Genetics and Evolution Laboratory, Paris-Saclay University/INRAE/CNRS/AgroParisTech/GQE–Le Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Qian Yan
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Jiezhen Chen
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hailun Liu
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Fachao Shi
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yingjie Wen
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Changhe Cai
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (L.O.)
| | - Liangxi Ou
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou 510640, China
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (L.O.)
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Improved Understanding of Sugar Transport in Various Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810260. [PMID: 36142167 PMCID: PMC9499003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A few recent reviews have addressed progress and perspectives in the field of sugar transport in plants rather comprehensively [...]
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