Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals key genes potentially related to soluble sugar and organic acid accumulation in watermelon

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 11;13(1):e0190096. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190096. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Soluble sugars and organic acids are important components of fruit flavor and have a strong impact on the overall organoleptic quality of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit. Several studies have analyzed the expression levels of the genes related to soluble sugar accumulation and the dynamic changes in their content during watermelon fruit development and ripening. Nevertheless, to date, there have been no reports on the organic acid content in watermelon or the genes regulating their synthesis. In this study, the soluble sugars and organic acids in watermelon were measured and a comparative transcriptome analysis was performed to identify the key genes involved in the accumulation of these substances during fruit development and ripening. The watermelon cultivar '203Z' and its near-isogenic line (NIL) 'SW' (in the '203Z' background) were used as experimental materials. The results suggested that soluble sugar consist of fructose, glucose and sucrose while malic-, citric-, and oxalic acids are the primary organic acids in watermelon fruit. Several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to soluble sugar- and organic acid accumulation and metabolism were identified. These include the DEGs encoding raffinose synthase, sucrose synthase (SuSy), sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPSs), insoluble acid invertases (IAI), NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-cyt MDH), aluminum-activated malate transporter (ALMT), and citrate synthase (CS). This is the first report addressing comparative transcriptome analysis via NILs materials in watermelon fruit. These findings provide an important basis for understanding the molecular mechanism that leads to soluble sugar and organic acid accumulation and metabolism during watermelon fruit development and ripening.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Acids / metabolism*
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism*
  • Citrullus / genetics*
  • Citrullus / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Organic Chemicals / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Acids
  • Organic Chemicals

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-25-03) to Wenge Liu, grants from the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ASTIP-2017-ZFRI) to Wenge Liu, the National Nature Science Foundation of China (31672178 and 31471893) to Wenge Liu and Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (NO. 1616032017209 to Xuqiang Lu and NO. 1610192016209 to Shengjie Zhao).