Transcriptional Regulatory Networks Oscillate Seasonal Plasticity of Fruit Metabolism in Melon
Zihui Gong,
Jiejing Zhang,
Xiaodong Yang,
Guancong Deng,
Ji Sun,
Yuelin Xia,
Zhongyuan Hu,
Mingfang Zhang,
Jinghua Yang
Affiliations
Zihui Gong
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jiejing Zhang
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xiaodong Yang
College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Guancong Deng
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Ji Sun
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wenzhou 325006, China
Yuelin Xia
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Zhongyuan Hu
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Mingfang Zhang
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Jinghua Yang
Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Environmental cues profoundly influence the developmental processes of plants that evolve to produce specific phenotypes. However, the developmental plasticity in response to seasonal changes, particularly temperature and day length, has not been fully understood in fruit development and quality. To explore the mechanism by which the transcriptional network adapts to external environmental changes by regulating metabolism during the development of melon fruits, this study selected the fruits grown under spring and fall conditions and focused on specific phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites, including phenolic acids, lignin, and flavonoids. Significant changes in these compounds result in noticeable differences in fruit quality such as texture, flavor, and color, which are of utmost importance to consumers. Employing co-expression analysis complemented by machine learning, we identified hub genes and pathways governing the metabolic changes, highlighting the influence of temperature and photoperiod cues in mediating the transcriptional regulatory networks. These results provide valuable insights into how fruits adapt to seasonal variability, and drive us to innovate broadly adaptable melon cultivars poised for improved climate resilience in the future.
