Changes in carotenoid profiles and in the expression pattern of the genes in carotenoid metabolisms during fruit development and ripening in four watermelon cultivars. (1st May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lv, Pin; Li, Na; Liu, Hui; Gu, Huihui; Zhao, Wen-en
• Is Part Of: Food chemistry. Volume 174(2015)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2015-05-01
• Subjects: Watermelon -- Carotenoids -- Gene expression -- Fruit development; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; 664
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.11.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-8146

Abstract

Highlights: Lycopene appeared at 12 DAP in red and pink fruits. The transcript levels of carotenoid biosynthetic genes in red fruit sharply increased during 18–30 DAP. Violaxanthin and lutein contents were positively correlated with transcription levels of CHYB and ZEP in yellow fruit. Abstract: Changes in carotenoid profiles during fruit ripening were investigated in four watermelon cultivars: red-fleshed "CN66", pink-fleshed "CN62", yellow-fleshed "ZXG381" and white-fleshed "ZXG507". The expression pattern of twelve genes ( GGPS, PSY, PSY-A, PDS, ZDS, CRTISO, LCYB, CHYB, ZEP, NCED1, NCED2 and NCED3 ) was analysed. In "CN66" and "CN62", lycopene appeared at 12 DAP and became a main carotenoid increased at the later stages. The transcript levels of carotenogenic genes in "CN66" sharply increased during 18–30 DAP, and concomitantly, fruit accumulated the massive amounts of carotenoids. In "ZXG381", violaxanthin and lutein contents were positively correlated, respectively, with CHYB and ZEP transcript levels during fruit ripening. The trace amounts of carotenoids in "ZXG507" were accompanied with the low transcript levels of most biosynthetic genes. The results suggest that differential transcriptional regulation of carotenoid metabolic genes is very important in determining the amount and type of specific carotenoids accumulated during fruit development and ripening.