Multi-omics insights into the dynamic changes of metabolites during the electron beam irradiation of persimmons

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of electron beam irradiation (EBI) treatment on persimmons and its metabolic regulatory mechanisms. By comprehensively analyzing microstructure, physiology, metabolomics, and proteomics, it was found that EBI treatment causes ultramicroscopic structural changes, cellular membrane damage, and a decrease in tannin cell numbers in persimmons. Physiological results indicate that the activities of enzymes related to membrane lipid metabolism and antioxidant metabolism undergo significant changes. EBI promotes the oxidative reactions of membrane lipids while simultaneously enhancing antioxidant capacity, thereby aiding in the mitigation of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic analyses revealed significant enrichment of lipid and amino acid metabolic pathways, with reprogrammed expression levels of related genes and metabolites. These results demonstrate that ionizing radiation significantly affects the metabolism of persimmons, offering essential theoretical support for a deeper understanding of its role in the deastringency mechanism.