Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach

Shao, Qingqing; Liu, Jianting; Chen, Mindong; Lin, Huangfang; Cheng, Saichuan; Lin, Biying; Qiu, Boyin; Lin, Honghui; Zhu, Haisheng

doi:10.3390/horticulturae12010005

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach

by

Qingqing Shao

^1,†,

Jianting Liu

^1,†,

Mindong Chen

¹,

Huangfang Lin

²,

Saichuan Cheng

¹,

Biying Lin

²,

Boyin Qiu

¹,

Honghui Lin

² and

Haisheng Zhu

^1,*

¹

Fujian Key Laboratory of Vegetable Genetics and Breeding, Crops Research Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350003, China

²

College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Horticulturae 2026, 12(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010005

Submission received: 31 October 2025 / Revised: 14 December 2025 / Accepted: 17 December 2025 / Published: 19 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Genetic Diversity in Vegetable Crops)

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Abstract

As a vital appearance quality trait of broccoli, curd-surface wax powder not only affects its commercial value but also plays a key role in plant resistance to abiotic stresses. However, its formation mechanism remains unclear. Using low-wax variety CK (‘QH18’) and high-wax variety T1 (‘QHMS4’) as materials, this study systematically elucidated the molecular mechanism of wax powder formation via physiological indexes, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), targeted metabolomics, and transcriptomics. Determination of fatty acid (FA) content in broccoli flower bud tissue showed a close association between FA content and wax deposition. SEM observation revealed that T1 had significantly denser wax crystals, mainly granular, than CK. Targeted metabolomics identified 25 fatty acids in the two varieties. And the linolenic and palmitic acids, with high content and significant differences, may be key metabolites regulating wax synthesis. Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics indicated that BolfabG, BolLACS, BolKCS1, BolKCS2 and BolMAH1 genes are involved in wax biosynthesis. Moreover, AP2/ERF-ERF transcription factor (TF)-encoding genes (BolERF018, BolERF1F.1, BolERF1F.2 and BolERF1C) played the primary role in regulating wax biosynthesis, followed by NAC (BolNAC62.1), MYB (BolMYB44), and MADS-MIKC(BolPISTILLATA). These TFs may regulate BolfabG, BolLACS, BolKCS1, BolACOX2 and BolACAA1 to affect linolenic and palmitic acid balance, altering wax precursor synthesis and accumulation, and finally leading to differences in wax morphology and content. This study reveals a “Transcription Factors–Differentially Expressed Genes–Differentially Accumulated Metabolites–Fatty Acids” (TFs-DEGs-DAMs-FA) network, providing a basis for understanding broccoli wax formation.

Keywords: broccoli; wax biosynthesis; transcriptomics; targeted metabolomics; fatty acids; transcription factors

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MDPI and ACS Style

Shao, Q.; Liu, J.; Chen, M.; Lin, H.; Cheng, S.; Lin, B.; Qiu, B.; Lin, H.; Zhu, H. Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach. Horticulturae 2026, 12, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010005

AMA Style

Shao Q, Liu J, Chen M, Lin H, Cheng S, Lin B, Qiu B, Lin H, Zhu H. Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach. Horticulturae. 2026; 12(1):5. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010005

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shao, Qingqing, Jianting Liu, Mindong Chen, Huangfang Lin, Saichuan Cheng, Biying Lin, Boyin Qiu, Honghui Lin, and Haisheng Zhu. 2026. "Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach" Horticulturae 12, no. 1: 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010005

APA Style

Shao, Q., Liu, J., Chen, M., Lin, H., Cheng, S., Lin, B., Qiu, B., Lin, H., & Zhu, H. (2026). Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach. Horticulturae, 12(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12010005

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Unraveling the Formation Mechanism of Wax Powder on Broccoli Curds: An Integrated Physiological, Transcriptomic and Targeted Metabolomic Approach

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