Proteomics and Metabolomics Reveal the Regulatory Pathways of Ripening and Quality in Post-Harvest Kiwifruits

Understanding the metabolic modulation
of major quality traits
during ripening is critical for fruit quality improvement in kiwifruits.
Here, integrated proteomic and metabolomic profiling was undertaken
to comprehensively examine the dynamics of kiwifruit ripening. This
data set presents a global view of the critical pathways involved
in fruit ripening, and the contributions of key events to the regulation
of kiwifruit ripening and softening, amino acid metabolism, balance
in sugar accumulation and organic acid metabolism, glycolysis, and
tricarboxylic acid (TCA) pathways were discussed. We suggested key
enzymes for starch synthesis and degradation, including AGPase, SS,
and SBE, especially for BMY, which was considered a key enzyme for
starch degradation. In addition, our analysis implicated the key enzymes
ACO4 and ACS9 in ethylene synthesis and the aspartate aminotransferase
ASP3 in the conversion of amino acids. These results provide new insights
into the modulation of fruit ripening, metabolism, and quality in
post-harvest kiwifruits.