Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage

The Hami melon is a characteristic economic crop in Xinjiang. Long-term storage at low temperatures can cause cold damage and significantly impact the storage quality of Hami melon fruits. This study investigated the cold resistance of two Hami melon varieties under low temperatures, screened key ge...

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Main Authors: Wanqin Liao, Linlu Xiao, Xiangshuai Hao, Chunhui Shan, Zhongkai Zhou, Ming Ning, Fengxian Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1153
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author Wanqin Liao
Linlu Xiao
Xiangshuai Hao
Chunhui Shan
Zhongkai Zhou
Ming Ning
Fengxian Tang
author_facet Wanqin Liao
Linlu Xiao
Xiangshuai Hao
Chunhui Shan
Zhongkai Zhou
Ming Ning
Fengxian Tang
author_sort Wanqin Liao
collection DOAJ
description The Hami melon is a characteristic economic crop in Xinjiang. Long-term storage at low temperatures can cause cold damage and significantly impact the storage quality of Hami melon fruits. This study investigated the cold resistance of two Hami melon varieties under low temperatures, screened key genes, and further explored their resistance mechanisms. By comparing and analyzing the relationship between phenotypic morphology, physiological indicators, and storage time, it was found that the symptoms of cold damage in Hami melons are related to both storage time and variety. To analyze the response mechanisms of Hami melons to cold stress at the molecular level, we conducted transcriptome sequencing analysis on the cold-sensitive Hami melon variety Gold Queen and the cold-resistant variety Jia Shi. The analysis shows that cold stress induces the expression of these differentially expressed genes, which participate in the AsA-GSH cycling system, form the NADPH-P450 pathway, and establish the ERF-WRKY cold resistance pathway. This, in turn, increases the content of free proline in the fruits, clears denatured proteins within the fruit, maintains the stability of the redox system, and inhibits certain differentially expressed genes that regulate cell wall metabolism, thereby alleviating fruit softening and improving cold resistance.
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issn 2223-7747
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Plants
spelling doaj-art-7b8df8e6dc86419fb75be8151efbb84b2025-08-20T02:18:01ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-04-01148115310.3390/plants14081153Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature StorageWanqin Liao0Linlu Xiao1Xiangshuai Hao2Chunhui Shan3Zhongkai Zhou4Ming Ning5Fengxian Tang6Engineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaEngineering Research Center of Storage and Processing of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Education, School of Food Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, ChinaThe Hami melon is a characteristic economic crop in Xinjiang. Long-term storage at low temperatures can cause cold damage and significantly impact the storage quality of Hami melon fruits. This study investigated the cold resistance of two Hami melon varieties under low temperatures, screened key genes, and further explored their resistance mechanisms. By comparing and analyzing the relationship between phenotypic morphology, physiological indicators, and storage time, it was found that the symptoms of cold damage in Hami melons are related to both storage time and variety. To analyze the response mechanisms of Hami melons to cold stress at the molecular level, we conducted transcriptome sequencing analysis on the cold-sensitive Hami melon variety Gold Queen and the cold-resistant variety Jia Shi. The analysis shows that cold stress induces the expression of these differentially expressed genes, which participate in the AsA-GSH cycling system, form the NADPH-P450 pathway, and establish the ERF-WRKY cold resistance pathway. This, in turn, increases the content of free proline in the fruits, clears denatured proteins within the fruit, maintains the stability of the redox system, and inhibits certain differentially expressed genes that regulate cell wall metabolism, thereby alleviating fruit softening and improving cold resistance.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1153Hami melonlow-temperature storagephysiological biochemistrytranscriptome
spellingShingle Wanqin Liao
Linlu Xiao
Xiangshuai Hao
Chunhui Shan
Zhongkai Zhou
Ming Ning
Fengxian Tang
Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
Plants
Hami melon
low-temperature storage
physiological biochemistry
transcriptome
title Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
title_full Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
title_fullStr Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
title_full_unstemmed Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
title_short Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Two Types of Hami Melons in Low-Temperature Storage
title_sort physiological and transcriptomic analysis of two types of hami melons in low temperature storage
topic Hami melon
low-temperature storage
physiological biochemistry
transcriptome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/8/1153
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