Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis

Zhang, Xin; Wen, Xurui; Xu, Wendi; Ren, Yufeng; Wei, Tianjun; Li, Hui; Zhou, Jun; Bei, Zhanlin

doi:10.3390/agronomy15061337

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Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis

by

Xin Zhang

¹,

Xurui Wen

¹,

Wendi Xu

¹,

Yufeng Ren

¹,

Tianjun Wei

²,

Hui Li

²,

Jun Zhou

^1,* and

Zhanlin Bei

^1,*

¹

School of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China

²

Institute of Horticulture, Ningxia Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Yinchuan 750002, China

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061337

Submission received: 17 April 2025 / Revised: 23 May 2025 / Accepted: 26 May 2025 / Published: 29 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Industrial Crops Physioecology and Sustainable Cultivation)

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Abstract

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) flavor synthesis, we integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on the ‘Lingwuchangzao’ cultivar across seven developmental stages. Our multi-omics approach detected 750 metabolites, categorized into 11 primary and 35 secondary classes, with K-means clustering revealing significant stage-specific variations in sugars, alcohols, and organic acids. KEGG enrichment analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in key metabolic pathways, including carbohydrate metabolism and plant hormone signal transduction, showing dynamic changes during development. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) further pinpointed gene networks related to starch/sucrose and carbon metabolism, and eight novel genes linked to starch and fatty acid metabolism. Notably, the white ripening stage (BS) emerged as the critical phase for flavor compound accumulation, offering new molecular insights and targets for quality improvement.

Keywords: Ziziphus jujuba; metabolomics; gene expression; flavonoids; carbohydrate metabolism; plant hormone signaling

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MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, X.; Wen, X.; Xu, W.; Ren, Y.; Wei, T.; Li, H.; Zhou, J.; Bei, Z. Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis. Agronomy 2025, 15, 1337. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061337

AMA Style

Zhang X, Wen X, Xu W, Ren Y, Wei T, Li H, Zhou J, Bei Z. Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis. Agronomy. 2025; 15(6):1337. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061337

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Xin, Xurui Wen, Wendi Xu, Yufeng Ren, Tianjun Wei, Hui Li, Jun Zhou, and Zhanlin Bei. 2025. "Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis" Agronomy 15, no. 6: 1337. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061337

APA Style

Zhang, X., Wen, X., Xu, W., Ren, Y., Wei, T., Li, H., Zhou, J., & Bei, Z. (2025). Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis. Agronomy, 15(6), 1337. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061337

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Identification of Key Genes Controlling Flavor Changes During Jujube Fruit Development by Integrating Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis

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