Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages

<i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> (bitter bamboo) shoots are a traditional forest vegetable in China, renowned for its nutritional composition and associated health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in nutritional quality and bitterness-related metabolites, as well a...

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Main Authors: Limei Gong, Weijin Shi, Chunyan Mou, Shixing Zhou, Lin Xiao, Hongling Hu, Lihua Tu, Guirong Hou, Wei Ding, Congde Huang, Gang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/11/1161
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author Limei Gong
Weijin Shi
Chunyan Mou
Shixing Zhou
Lin Xiao
Hongling Hu
Lihua Tu
Guirong Hou
Wei Ding
Congde Huang
Gang Chen
author_facet Limei Gong
Weijin Shi
Chunyan Mou
Shixing Zhou
Lin Xiao
Hongling Hu
Lihua Tu
Guirong Hou
Wei Ding
Congde Huang
Gang Chen
author_sort Limei Gong
collection DOAJ
description <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> (bitter bamboo) shoots are a traditional forest vegetable in China, renowned for its nutritional composition and associated health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in nutritional quality and bitterness-related metabolites, as well as corresponding gene expression in <i>P. amarus</i> shoots at three distinct growth stages, specifically at heights of 10 cm (BT1), 20 cm (BT2), and 40 cm (BT3). The results showed that the content of soluble sugars decreased while the content of total phenols and flavonoids, which contribute to bitterness, increased during the growth of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots. In addition, comparative analysis of BT2 vs. BT1, BT3 vs. BT1, and BT3 vs. BT2 revealed 14, 43, and 36, respectively, differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Notably, BT2 exhibited upregulation of flavonoids, such as apigenin, while bitter amino acids, including phenylalanine and arginine, showed a marked increase in BT3. Moreover, differential gene expression analysis revealed 3161, 13268, and 3742 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the BT2 vs. BT1, BT3 vs. BT1, and BT3 vs. BT2 comparisons, respectively. An integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic data indicated that the metabolites and genes associated with the biosynthesis pathways of phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, arginine, and the branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine were significantly enriched during the growth of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots. The study indicates that early-stage (≤20 cm) <i>P. amarus</i> shoots are mainly bitter due to flavonoids like apigenin, while the bitterness in later-stage (around 40 cm) shoots is largely due to bitter amino acids such as phenylalanine, arginine, valine, and isoleucine. This research highlights key compounds and genes related to bitterness, providing a basis for future research on enhancing the nutritional value and flavor of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots.
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spelling doaj-art-b031bcac6c704bd4998fb4f213a997b22025-08-20T01:53:56ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242024-10-011011116110.3390/horticulturae10111161Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental StagesLimei Gong0Weijin Shi1Chunyan Mou2Shixing Zhou3Lin Xiao4Hongling Hu5Lihua Tu6Guirong Hou7Wei Ding8Congde Huang9Gang Chen10College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaChangning Forestry and Bamboo Industry Bureau, Yibin 644000, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, ChinaCollege of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China<i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> (bitter bamboo) shoots are a traditional forest vegetable in China, renowned for its nutritional composition and associated health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in nutritional quality and bitterness-related metabolites, as well as corresponding gene expression in <i>P. amarus</i> shoots at three distinct growth stages, specifically at heights of 10 cm (BT1), 20 cm (BT2), and 40 cm (BT3). The results showed that the content of soluble sugars decreased while the content of total phenols and flavonoids, which contribute to bitterness, increased during the growth of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots. In addition, comparative analysis of BT2 vs. BT1, BT3 vs. BT1, and BT3 vs. BT2 revealed 14, 43, and 36, respectively, differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Notably, BT2 exhibited upregulation of flavonoids, such as apigenin, while bitter amino acids, including phenylalanine and arginine, showed a marked increase in BT3. Moreover, differential gene expression analysis revealed 3161, 13268, and 3742 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the BT2 vs. BT1, BT3 vs. BT1, and BT3 vs. BT2 comparisons, respectively. An integrated analysis of metabolomic and transcriptomic data indicated that the metabolites and genes associated with the biosynthesis pathways of phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, arginine, and the branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine were significantly enriched during the growth of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots. The study indicates that early-stage (≤20 cm) <i>P. amarus</i> shoots are mainly bitter due to flavonoids like apigenin, while the bitterness in later-stage (around 40 cm) shoots is largely due to bitter amino acids such as phenylalanine, arginine, valine, and isoleucine. This research highlights key compounds and genes related to bitterness, providing a basis for future research on enhancing the nutritional value and flavor of <i>P. amarus</i> shoots.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/11/1161<i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> shootsbitternessdevelopmental stagesphenylpropanoidamino acids
spellingShingle Limei Gong
Weijin Shi
Chunyan Mou
Shixing Zhou
Lin Xiao
Hongling Hu
Lihua Tu
Guirong Hou
Wei Ding
Congde Huang
Gang Chen
Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
Horticulturae
<i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> shoots
bitterness
developmental stages
phenylpropanoid
amino acids
title Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
title_full Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
title_fullStr Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
title_short Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Key Bitter Substances of <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> Shoots at Different Developmental Stages
title_sort integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis reveals the key bitter substances of i pleioblastus amarus i shoots at different developmental stages
topic <i>Pleioblastus amarus</i> shoots
bitterness
developmental stages
phenylpropanoid
amino acids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/11/1161
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