Table_1_Metabolome and Transcriptome Integration Reveals Insights Into Flavor Formation of ‘Crimson’ Watermelon Flesh During Fruit Development.xlsx

Metabolites have been reported as the main factor that influences the fruit flavor of watermelon. But the comprehensive study on the dynamics of metabolites during the development of watermelon fruit is not up-to-date. In this study, metabolome and transcriptome datasets of ‘Crimson’ watermelon fruit at four key developmental stages were generated. A total of 517 metabolites were detected by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–solid-phase microextraction–mass spectrometry. Meanwhile, by K-means clustering analysis, the total differentially expressed genes were clustered in six classes. Integrating transcriptome and metabolome data revealed similar expression trends of sugars and genes involved in the glycolytic pathway, providing molecular insights into the formation of taste during fruit development. Furthermore, through coexpression analysis, we identified five differentially expressed ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) genes (Cla97C01G013600, Cla97C05G089700, Cla97C01G001290, Cla97C05G095170, and Cla97C06G118330), which were found to be closely related to C9 alcohols/aldehydes, providing information for the formation of fruit aroma. Our findings establish a metabolic profile during watermelon fruit development and provide insights into flavor formation.

已有研究证实，代谢物是影响西瓜果实风味的关键因子，但截至目前，针对西瓜果实发育全过程中代谢物动态变化的系统性研究仍较为匮乏。本研究采集了‘Crimson’西瓜果实4个关键发育阶段的样本，构建了相应的代谢组与转录组数据集。采用超高效液相色谱-电喷雾电离-串联质谱法与气相色谱-固相微萃取-质谱法，本研究共检测到517种代谢物。与此同时，通过K-means聚类分析，将所有差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes）划分为6个表达簇。通过整合转录组与代谢组数据，本研究发现糖类物质与糖酵解通路相关基因的表达趋势高度一致，为解析西瓜果实发育过程中口感形成的分子机制提供了重要见解。此外，通过共表达分析，本研究鉴定出5个差异表达的醇脱氢酶（alcohol dehydrogenase，ADH）基因（Cla97C01G013600、Cla97C05G089700、Cla97C01G001290、Cla97C05G095170及Cla97C06G118330），经分析证实这些基因与C9醇类/醛类物质密切相关，为解析西瓜果实香气形成的机制提供了关键数据支撑。本研究的结果构建了西瓜果实发育过程中的代谢物表达谱，并为深入阐释果实风味形成的分子机制提供了全新视角。