Integrated transcriptomic and physiological analysis highlights the candidate genes regulating enzymatic browning, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism in pomegranate aril browning

IF 6.8 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Postharvest Biology and Technology Pub Date : 2025-09-09 DOI:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113889

Yawen Shen , Sen Wang , Ran Wan , Jian Jiao , Yujie Zhao , Liu Cong , Kunxi Zhang , Pengbo Hao , Yu Liu , Wanyu Xu , Miaomiao Wang , Jiangli Shi , Xianbo Zheng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Pomegranate fruit is highly susceptible to chilling injury during cold storage, resulting in aril browning and the decline of nutritional value and fruit quality. However, the underlying transcriptomic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. In this study, the physiological traits and transcriptomic data in arils were investigated after 0 h (S0), 48 h (S1), and 120 h (S2) of cold storage at 4 °C. Compared to S0, the arils in S1 and S2 exhibited significantly higher browning rate and weight loss with lower sensory quality, and contained significantly lower phenolic and flavonoid contents. In S2, arils showed oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation and elevated activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD), potentially leading to quality deterioration. Transcriptomic analysis identified 33,822 genes, including 3397 novel genes, and highlighted coordinated changes in the key pathways, including controlling antioxidant defense, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and membrane lipid metabolism during aril browning. Notably, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification genes (PgSOD and PgAPX4) were downregulated, while oxidative enzyme–encoding genes, including PgAAO, PgGLO4-like, PgPPO, and PgPODs, were upregulated, indicating weakened antioxidant capacity and accelerated enzymatic oxidation in aril browning. Downregulation of membrane- and cuticle-related genes (PgSYT5-like, PgPSD1, PgFAR2/3, and PgCER1) suggested that lipid biosynthesis was retarded, and cell membrane integrity was damaged. Together, aril browning during cold storage was driven by ROS imbalance, membrane damage, and oxidation. Especially, these valuable candidate genes shed light on the mechanism of fruit browning.

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综合转录组学和生理学分析强调了在石榴外皮褐变过程中调节酶促褐变、抗氧化能力和脂质代谢的候选基因

石榴果实在冷藏过程中极易受到冷害，导致果皮褐变，营养价值和果实品质下降。然而，潜在的转录组机制仍然没有得到充分的了解。本研究研究了4°C冷藏0 h （S0）、48 h （S1）和120 h （S2）后的果实生理性状和转录组学数据。与S0相比，S1和S2的果皮褐变率和失重率显著提高，感官品质显著降低，酚类和类黄酮含量显著降低。在S2中，由于过氧化氢（H₂O₂）积累和多酚氧化酶（PPO）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性升高，arils表现出氧化应激，可能导致品质恶化。转录组学分析确定了33,822个基因，其中包括3397个新基因，并强调了在假种皮褐变过程中控制抗氧化防御、苯丙类生物合成和膜脂代谢等关键途径的协调变化。值得注意的是，活性氧（ROS）解毒基因（PgSOD和PgAPX4）下调，而氧化酶编码基因（PgAAO、pgglo4样、PgPPO和pgpod）上调，表明抗氧化能力减弱，酶促氧化加速了假种皮褐变过程。细胞膜和角质层相关基因（pgsyt5样、PgPSD1、PgFAR2/3和PgCER1）的下调表明脂质生物合成迟缓，细胞膜完整性受损。总之，假种皮在冷藏过程中的褐变是由活性氧失衡、膜损伤和氧化驱动的。特别是，这些有价值的候选基因揭示了果实褐变的机制。

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来源期刊

Postharvest Biology and Technology 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

12.00

自引率

11.40%

发文量

309

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： The journal is devoted exclusively to the publication of original papers, review articles and frontiers articles on biological and technological postharvest research. This includes the areas of postharvest storage, treatments and underpinning mechanisms, quality evaluation, packaging, handling and distribution of fresh horticultural crops including fruit, vegetables, flowers and nuts, but excluding grains, seeds and forages. Papers reporting novel insights from fundamental and interdisciplinary research will be particularly encouraged. These disciplines include systems biology, bioinformatics, entomology, plant physiology, plant pathology, (bio)chemistry, engineering, modelling, and technologies for nondestructive testing. Manuscripts on fresh food crops that will be further processed after postharvest storage, or on food processes beyond refrigeration, packaging and minimal processing will not be considered.