Chilling-induced peach flavor loss is associated with expression and DNA methylation of functional genes

Wenyi Duan; Can Yang; Xiangmei Cao; Chunyan Wei; Kunsong Chen; Xian Li; Bo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jare.2022.12.003

Chilling-induced peach flavor loss is associated with expression and DNA methylation of functional genes

J Adv Res. 2023 Nov:53:17-31. doi: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.12.003. Epub 2022 Dec 8.

Authors

Wenyi Duan¹, Can Yang², Xiangmei Cao², Chunyan Wei², Kunsong Chen², Xian Li², Bo Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, China.
² Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.
³ Laboratory of Fruit Quality Biology/Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China; Shandong (Linyi) Institute of Morden Agriculture, Zhejiang University, Linyin 276000, China. Electronic address: bozhang@zju.edu.cn.

Abstract

Introduction: Flavor is a major contributor to consumer preference. Despite being effective at extending the fruit's commercial life, cold storage also results in a significant loss of flavor volatiles. To date, there has been few studies on the metabolic dynamics and the mechanism underlying the regulatory networks that modulate flavor loss during cold storage for fruit.

Methods: The volatile contents were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify structure genes and transcription factors (TFs). DNA methylation was analyzed by whole-genome methylation sequencing during cold storage.

Results: We generated a temporal map, over hourly to weekly timescales, for the effects of chilling on flavor volatiles by combining metabolome, transcriptome, and DNA methylome in peach fruit. Based on the big data analysis, we developed a regulatory network for volatile formation and found that a decrease in volatiles during cold storage was significantly correlated with a decrease in the expression of synthesis genes. Moreover, TFs associated with these structure genes were identified. Expression of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis was reduced while cold tolerance pathway was activated in response to low temperature. Functions of those genes were confirmed through transgenic experiments and across peach cultivars, suggesting our dataset is a useful tool for elucidating regulatory factors that have not yet been clarified in relation to flavor and cold tolerance. Genome wide DNA methylation was induced by chilling and peaked at 7 d followed by a decline during 28 d cold storage. Reduction of gene expression was accompanied by major changes in the methylation status of their promoters, including PpACS1, PpAAT1, PpTPS3 and PpMADS2.

Conclusion: Our study revealed the mechanism for chilling-induced flavor loss of peach fruit through time-course transcriptome and DNA methylome analysis.

Keywords: Cold storage; DNA methylome; Fruit flavor; Regulatory network; Transcription factors (TFs); Transcriptome.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cold Temperature
DNA Methylation
Gene Expression Profiling
Prunus persica* / genetics
Transcriptome