Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels

Sweet corn is a globally important food source and vegetable renowned for its rich nutritional content. However, post-harvest quality deterioration remains a significant challenge due to sweet corn’s high sensitivity to environmental factors. Currently, low-temperature storage is the primary method...

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Main Authors: Jingyan Liu, Yingni Xiao, Xu Zhao, Jin Du, Jianguang Hu, Weiwei Jin, Gaoke Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4025
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author Jingyan Liu
Yingni Xiao
Xu Zhao
Jin Du
Jianguang Hu
Weiwei Jin
Gaoke Li
author_facet Jingyan Liu
Yingni Xiao
Xu Zhao
Jin Du
Jianguang Hu
Weiwei Jin
Gaoke Li
author_sort Jingyan Liu
collection DOAJ
description Sweet corn is a globally important food source and vegetable renowned for its rich nutritional content. However, post-harvest quality deterioration remains a significant challenge due to sweet corn’s high sensitivity to environmental factors. Currently, low-temperature storage is the primary method for preserving sweet corn; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. In this study, kernels stored at different temperatures (28 °C and 4 °C) for 1, 3, and 5 days after harvest were collected for physiological and transcriptomic analysis. Low temperature storage significantly improved the PPO and SOD activity in sweet corn kernels compared to storage at a normal temperature. A total of 1993 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in kernels stored at low temperatures across all three time points. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and previous metabolomic data revealed that low temperature storage significantly affected flavonoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, 11 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis exhibited differential expression across the three storage periods, including <i>CHI</i>, <i>HCT</i>, <i>ANS</i>, <i>F3′H</i>, <i>F3′5′H</i>, <i>FLS,</i> and <i>NOMT</i>, with Eriodictyol, Myricetin, and Hesperetin-7-O-glucoside among the key flavonoids. Correlation analysis revealed three AP2/ERF-ERF transcription factors (<i>EREB14</i>, <i>EREB182</i>, and <i>EREB200</i>) as potential regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis during low temperature treatment. These results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of flavonoid synthesis in sweet corn kernels during low-temperature storage.
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spelling doaj-art-b1e77ae60a69437a96d96f92e0c626cd2025-08-20T02:55:45ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-12-011324402510.3390/foods13244025Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn KernelsJingyan Liu0Yingni Xiao1Xu Zhao2Jin Du3Jianguang Hu4Weiwei Jin5Gaoke Li6Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Breeding of Major Crops, College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaCrops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Breeding of Major Crops, College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Breeding of Major Crops, College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaCrops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Breeding of Major Crops, College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300384, ChinaCrops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaSweet corn is a globally important food source and vegetable renowned for its rich nutritional content. However, post-harvest quality deterioration remains a significant challenge due to sweet corn’s high sensitivity to environmental factors. Currently, low-temperature storage is the primary method for preserving sweet corn; however, the molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. In this study, kernels stored at different temperatures (28 °C and 4 °C) for 1, 3, and 5 days after harvest were collected for physiological and transcriptomic analysis. Low temperature storage significantly improved the PPO and SOD activity in sweet corn kernels compared to storage at a normal temperature. A total of 1993 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in kernels stored at low temperatures across all three time points. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic and previous metabolomic data revealed that low temperature storage significantly affected flavonoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, 11 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis exhibited differential expression across the three storage periods, including <i>CHI</i>, <i>HCT</i>, <i>ANS</i>, <i>F3′H</i>, <i>F3′5′H</i>, <i>FLS,</i> and <i>NOMT</i>, with Eriodictyol, Myricetin, and Hesperetin-7-O-glucoside among the key flavonoids. Correlation analysis revealed three AP2/ERF-ERF transcription factors (<i>EREB14</i>, <i>EREB182</i>, and <i>EREB200</i>) as potential regulators of flavonoid biosynthesis during low temperature treatment. These results enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of flavonoid synthesis in sweet corn kernels during low-temperature storage.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4025sweet cornlow-temperature storagetranscriptomeintegrated analysisflavonoid synthesis
spellingShingle Jingyan Liu
Yingni Xiao
Xu Zhao
Jin Du
Jianguang Hu
Weiwei Jin
Gaoke Li
Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
Foods
sweet corn
low-temperature storage
transcriptome
integrated analysis
flavonoid synthesis
title Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
title_full Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
title_fullStr Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
title_short Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Mechanism of Flavonoid Synthesis During Low-Temperature Storage of Sweet Corn Kernels
title_sort integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals mechanism of flavonoid synthesis during low temperature storage of sweet corn kernels
topic sweet corn
low-temperature storage
transcriptome
integrated analysis
flavonoid synthesis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/24/4025
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