Firmness Loss in Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Is Associated With Increased PG Activity, Upregulation of Softening-Related Genes, and Pectin Metabolism

IF 3.4 2区农林科学 Q2 FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Journal of Food Science Pub Date : 2025-07-18 DOI:10.1111/1750-3841.70410

Jinyan Dong, Xueling Li, Yue Li, Lianfei Lyu, Wenlong Wu, Yaqiong Wu, Weilin Li, Chunhong Zhang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Fruit firmness serves as a critical quality parameter in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). However, the interplay between fruit firmness and pectin dynamics during fruit development remains inadequately characterized. This study aims to compare the relationship between pectin composition and firmness variations during the developmental stages of three southern highbush blueberry cultivars: “Legacy”, “Emerald”, and “Jewel”. Throughout fruit development, firmness in all three cultivars declined progressively from stage S3 onward. Notably, “Legacy” and “Emerald” exhibited a transient increase in firmness from stage S3 to S4, achieving peak values of 20.2976 N and 20.6128 N, respectively, followed by a sharp decline from stage S4 to S5. Micromorphology analysis revealed that firm-fruited blueberries are characterized by cells with high inclusion content and well-preserved cellular structures, whereas softer fruits displayed pronounced cell wall deformation. Concurrently, the reduction in firmness was associated with an increase in soluble pectin content and elevated pectinase activity, with polygalacturonase (PG, EC3.2.1.15) activity peaking during the S4–S5 and S8 stages. Transcriptomic profiling identified 20 differentially expressed genes linked to pectin metabolism, among which VcPG3 and VcPG6 exhibited a strong correlation with firmness changes, as confirmed by qRT-PCR validation. Metabolomic analysis further identified N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as a key metabolite contributing to firmness variation across cultivars. In conclusion, the integrated physio-biochemical and multi-omics analyses of these blueberry cultivars not only elucidate the molecular and metabolic basis of firmness differences but also provide a foundation for deciphering the regulatory mechanisms governing pectin-like substance synthesis in blueberries.

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蓝莓（Vaccinium corymbosum）的硬度损失与PG活性增加、软化相关基因上调和果胶代谢有关

果实硬度是蓝莓（Vaccinium corymbosum）的重要品质指标。然而，在果实发育过程中，果实硬度和果胶动力学之间的相互作用仍然没有充分的表征。本研究旨在比较“遗产”、“祖母绿”和“宝石”3个南方高丛蓝莓品种发育阶段果胶组成与硬度变化的关系。在整个果实发育过程中，三个品种的硬度从S3期开始逐渐下降。值得注意的是，“Legacy”和“Emerald”在S3 ~ S4阶段硬度出现了短暂的增加，峰值分别为20.2976 N和20.6128 N，随后在S4 ~ S5阶段硬度急剧下降。显微形态学分析表明，果实坚硬的蓝莓细胞包涵体含量高，细胞结构保存完好，而果实柔软的蓝莓细胞壁变形明显。同时，硬度的降低与可溶性果胶含量的增加和果胶酶活性的升高有关，聚半乳糖醛酸酶（PG, EC3.2.1.15）活性在S4-S5和S8阶段达到峰值。转录组学分析鉴定出20个与果胶代谢相关的差异表达基因，其中VcPG3和VcPG6与果胶硬度变化具有较强的相关性，qRT-PCR验证证实了这一点。代谢组学分析进一步发现n -乙酰氨基葡萄糖（GlcNAc）是导致品种间硬度变化的关键代谢物。综上所述，这些蓝莓品种的生理生化和多组学综合分析不仅阐明了硬度差异的分子和代谢基础，而且为解读蓝莓果胶样物质合成的调控机制提供了基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Food Science 工程技术-食品科技

CiteScore

7.10

自引率

2.60%

发文量

412

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The goal of the Journal of Food Science is to offer scientists, researchers, and other food professionals the opportunity to share knowledge of scientific advancements in the myriad disciplines affecting their work, through a respected peer-reviewed publication. The Journal of Food Science serves as an international forum for vital research and developments in food science. The range of topics covered in the journal include: -Concise Reviews and Hypotheses in Food Science -New Horizons in Food Research -Integrated Food Science -Food Chemistry -Food Engineering, Materials Science, and Nanotechnology -Food Microbiology and Safety -Sensory and Consumer Sciences -Health, Nutrition, and Food -Toxicology and Chemical Food Safety The Journal of Food Science publishes peer-reviewed articles that cover all aspects of food science, including safety and nutrition. Reviews should be 15 to 50 typewritten pages (including tables, figures, and references), should provide in-depth coverage of a narrowly defined topic, and should embody careful evaluation (weaknesses, strengths, explanation of discrepancies in results among similar studies) of all pertinent studies, so that insightful interpretations and conclusions can be presented. Hypothesis papers are especially appropriate in pioneering areas of research or important areas that are afflicted by scientific controversy.