Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal phenolic metabolism regulated by melatonin in pear peel

作者：Shuai Yan, Liangliang Zhao, Deying Zhao, Gongxun Xu, Yu‐Fei Wang, Zhiqin Zhou, Cungang Cheng · 发表于：Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s40538-025-00763-5 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Plant Gene Expression Analysis、Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis、Plant Reproductive Biology

Melatonin is a crucial regulator of fruit growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which pre-harvest application of melatonin regulates the metabolism of phenolic compounds in pear pericarp remain poorly understood. In this study, the effect of pre-harvest spraying of melatonin on the synthesis of phenolics in pear peel and the regulatory mechanism were investigated using a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating physiological and biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolic analyses, and the “Yuluxiang” pear as the test material. The pre-harvest spraying of 100 μM melatonin notably increased the single fruit weight, total soluble solids (TSS) and total soluble solids/titratable acid (TSS/TA) ratio. In addition, the spraying regimen elevated the concentrations of phenolic substances, including anthocyanosides, chlorogenic acid, and lignin, in the fruit peel. Three comparison groups (T0 vs. CK0, T1 vs. CK1, and T2 vs. CK2) showed 354, 1385, and 816 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 240, 411, and 210 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), respectively. Transcriptome results from melatonin treatment significantly affected the key metabolic pathways, including signal transduction, hormone regulation, glucose metabolism, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. Melatonin treatment also influenced the expression of key genes in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, such as PAL, C...