Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the most nutritional fruits that is widely distributed in the whole world. The nutritional compositions are mainly influenced by the genotype and environment. However, the metabolomics of different domestication status and different flesh colors watermelon types is not fully understood. In this study, we reported an extensive assessment of metabolomic divergence in the fruit flesh among Citrullus sp. and within Citrullus sp. We demonstrate that metabolic profiling was significantly different between the wild and cultivated watermelons, the apigenin 6-C-glucoside, luteolin 6-C-glucoside, chrysoeriol C-hexoside, naringenin C-hexoside, C-pentosyl-chrysoeriol O-hexoside, and sucrose are the main divergent metabolites. Correlation analysis results revealed that flavonoids were present in one tight metabolite cluster. The main divergent metabolites in different flesh-colored cultivated watermelon fruits are p-coumaric acid, 2,3-dihydroflavone, catechin, N-(3-indolylacetyl)-l-alanine, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, and pelargonidin o-hexoside. A total of 431 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified from pairwise comparative analyses. C. lanatus edible-seed watermelon (cultivars) and C. mucosospermus (wild) have similar fruit metabolic profiles and phenotypic traits, indicating that edible-seed watermelon may be a relative of wild species and a relatively primitive differentiation type of cultivated watermelon. Our data provide extensive knowledge for metabolomics-based watermelon improvement of Citrullus fruits meet their enhanced nutritive properties or upgraded germplasm utility values. View Full-Text

Keywords: watermelon; fruits; Citrullus; metabolomics; edible-seed watermelon; domestication

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MDPI and ACS Style

Yuan, P.; He, N.; Umer, M.J.; Zhao, S.; Diao, W.; Zhu, H.; Dou, J.; Kaseb, M.O.; Kuang, H.; Lu, X.; Liu, W. Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication. Metabolites 2021, 11, 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11020078

AMA Style

Yuan P, He N, Umer MJ, Zhao S, Diao W, Zhu H, Dou J, Kaseb MO, Kuang H, Lu X, Liu W. Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication. Metabolites. 2021; 11(2):78. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11020078

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yuan, Pingli, Nan He, Muhammad J. Umer, Shengjie Zhao, Weinan Diao, Hongju Zhu, Junling Dou, Mohamed O. Kaseb, Hanhui Kuang, Xuqiang Lu, and Wenge Liu. 2021. "Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication" Metabolites 11, no. 2: 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11020078

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Muhammad Jawad Umer

Umer MJ, Gao L, Safdar LB, et al., (2020). Expression pattern of sugars and organic acids regulatory genes during watermelon fruit development. Scientia Horticulturae. DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2019.109102 IF: 2.7 Umer MJ, et al., (2020). Integrating metabolite regulation and gene expression using WGCNA identifies key gene-networks for organic acid and sugar metabolism during watermelon fruit development. Horticulture Research DOI: 10.1038/s41438-020-00416-8 IF: 5.404 Raufa Batool, Umer MJ, et al., (2020). Synergistic effect of Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma asperellum to induce Maize (Zea mays L.) defense against the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. DOI:10.3390/ijms21218215 IF: 4.55 Umer MJ†, Safdar LB†, Almas F, et al., (2020). Identification of genetic factors controlling phosphorus utilization efficiency in wheat: a genome-wide association study. Genes DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145301 IF: 2.984 Safdar LB, Umer MJ, Almas F, et al., (2020). Dissecting nickel toxicity in wheat – Health implications and potential loci for nickel uptake. Current Plant Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpb.2020.100175 CS: 3.7

Junling Dou

1. Dou, J.; Lu, X.; Ali, A.; Zhao, S.; Zhang, L.; He, N.; Liu, W. Genetic mapping reveals a marker for yellow skin in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.). PLoS One 2018, 13, e0200617, doi:10.1371/j 2. Dou, J.L.; Yuan, P.L.; Zhao, S.J.; Nan, H.E.; Zhu, H.J.; Gao, L.; Wan-Li, J.I.; Xu-Qiang, L.U.; Liu, W.G. Effect of ploidy level on expression of lycopene biosynthesis genes and accumulation of phytohormones during watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruit development and ripening. Journal of Integrative Agriculture 2017, 16, 1956-1967.

Xuqiang Lu

1. Li, B.; Lu, X.; Gebremeskel, H.; Zhao, S.; He, N.; Yuan, P.; Gong, C.; Mohammed, U.; Liu, W. Genetic Mapping and Discovery of the Candidate Gene for Black Seed Coat Color in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). Front Plant Sci 2019, 10, 1689, doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01689. 2. Li, B.; Lu, X.; Dou, J.; Aslam, A.; Gao, L.; Zhao, S.; He, N.; Liu, W. Construction of A High-Density Genetic Map and Mapping of Fruit Traits in Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus L.) Based on Whole-Genome Resequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2018, 19, doi:10.3390/ijms19103268.

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Comparative Metabolomic Profiling of Citrullus spp. Fruits Provides Evidence for Metabolomic Divergence during Domestication

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