Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars

IntroductionAroma compounds are important flavor components in pear fruit. Among cultivated pears, fruits from Pyrus communis (hereafter referred to as P. communis) cultivars are famous for their abundant aroma, while the fruits of most Pyrus pyrifolia (hereafter referred to as P. pyrifolia) cultiva...

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Main Authors: Jiao Wang, Xianping Guo, Zhongying Wu, Dongsheng Wang, Peng Guo, Yongping Han, Hui Jiang, Zhenzhen Lü
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1559012/full
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_version_ 1850274470760022016
author Jiao Wang
Jiao Wang
Xianping Guo
Xianping Guo
Zhongying Wu
Zhongying Wu
Dongsheng Wang
Dongsheng Wang
Peng Guo
Yongping Han
Hui Jiang
Zhenzhen Lü
author_facet Jiao Wang
Jiao Wang
Xianping Guo
Xianping Guo
Zhongying Wu
Zhongying Wu
Dongsheng Wang
Dongsheng Wang
Peng Guo
Yongping Han
Hui Jiang
Zhenzhen Lü
author_sort Jiao Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAroma compounds are important flavor components in pear fruit. Among cultivated pears, fruits from Pyrus communis (hereafter referred to as P. communis) cultivars are famous for their abundant aroma, while the fruits of most Pyrus pyrifolia (hereafter referred to as P. pyrifolia) cultivars lack aroma compounds. A comparative study on the formation of differential aroma compounds between the two species could provide a theoretical foundation for improving the aroma quality of P. pyrifolia cultivars. However, there is a lack of systematic research on this subject.MethodsAn analysis of volatile and non-volatile metabolites was combined with transcriptome analysis to explore the formation mechanism of differential aroma compounds between three P. communis and three P. pyrifolia cultivars.ResultsIn this study, a total of 510 volatile compounds were identified in the six cultivars. Of these, sixteen ester and alcohol compounds, including butyl acetate, hexyl acetate, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, ethanol, butanol, propanol, and 2-methylbutanol, with higher contents in the P. communis cultivars than in the P. pyrifolia cultivars were identified as the primary differential aroma compounds. Among the possible synthesis pathways for these 16 aroma compounds, certain amino acid degradation processes, including isoleucine, valine, and alanine oxidation and threonine dehydration, were found to provide important intermediate substances for synthesis. Within the key enzyme genes in the synthesis pathway, several critical enzyme genes, including monoacylglycerol lipase (PcMAGL, pycom08g09340), threonine dehydrase (PcTD, pycom12g10020), and acyl CoA dehydrogenase (PcACD, pycom16g13880), might be important factors contributing to the disparity in aromatic compounds between P. communis and P. pyrifolia cultivars.DiscussionThe aforementioned results provide valuable information into the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds and offer novel target sites for enhancing pear aroma quality through gene editing.
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spelling doaj-art-a277eaef6ff64f5080b78139ef7f89a52025-08-20T01:51:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-04-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15590121559012Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivarsJiao Wang0Jiao Wang1Xianping Guo2Xianping Guo3Zhongying Wu4Zhongying Wu5Dongsheng Wang6Dongsheng Wang7Peng Guo8Yongping Han9Hui Jiang10Zhenzhen Lü11Institute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaHenan Horticulture and Floriculture Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaHenan Horticulture and Floriculture Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaHenan Horticulture and Floriculture Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaHenan Horticulture and Floriculture Engineering Research Center, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Horticulture, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaIntroductionAroma compounds are important flavor components in pear fruit. Among cultivated pears, fruits from Pyrus communis (hereafter referred to as P. communis) cultivars are famous for their abundant aroma, while the fruits of most Pyrus pyrifolia (hereafter referred to as P. pyrifolia) cultivars lack aroma compounds. A comparative study on the formation of differential aroma compounds between the two species could provide a theoretical foundation for improving the aroma quality of P. pyrifolia cultivars. However, there is a lack of systematic research on this subject.MethodsAn analysis of volatile and non-volatile metabolites was combined with transcriptome analysis to explore the formation mechanism of differential aroma compounds between three P. communis and three P. pyrifolia cultivars.ResultsIn this study, a total of 510 volatile compounds were identified in the six cultivars. Of these, sixteen ester and alcohol compounds, including butyl acetate, hexyl acetate, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, ethanol, butanol, propanol, and 2-methylbutanol, with higher contents in the P. communis cultivars than in the P. pyrifolia cultivars were identified as the primary differential aroma compounds. Among the possible synthesis pathways for these 16 aroma compounds, certain amino acid degradation processes, including isoleucine, valine, and alanine oxidation and threonine dehydration, were found to provide important intermediate substances for synthesis. Within the key enzyme genes in the synthesis pathway, several critical enzyme genes, including monoacylglycerol lipase (PcMAGL, pycom08g09340), threonine dehydrase (PcTD, pycom12g10020), and acyl CoA dehydrogenase (PcACD, pycom16g13880), might be important factors contributing to the disparity in aromatic compounds between P. communis and P. pyrifolia cultivars.DiscussionThe aforementioned results provide valuable information into the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds and offer novel target sites for enhancing pear aroma quality through gene editing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1559012/fullaroma compoundsvolatile metabolitetranscriptomepear fruitsynthesis pathways
spellingShingle Jiao Wang
Jiao Wang
Xianping Guo
Xianping Guo
Zhongying Wu
Zhongying Wu
Dongsheng Wang
Dongsheng Wang
Peng Guo
Yongping Han
Hui Jiang
Zhenzhen Lü
Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
Frontiers in Plant Science
aroma compounds
volatile metabolite
transcriptome
pear fruit
synthesis pathways
title Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
title_full Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
title_fullStr Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
title_full_unstemmed Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
title_short Integration of volatile and non-volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between Pyrus communis and Pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
title_sort integration of volatile and non volatile metabolites and the transcriptome reveals the formation mechanisms of differential aroma compounds between pyrus communis and pyrus pyrifolia cultivars
topic aroma compounds
volatile metabolite
transcriptome
pear fruit
synthesis pathways
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1559012/full
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