Luffa aegyptiaca Raw sequence reads

Browning is one of the major properties that determine loofah quality. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind loofah browning. In this study, we analysed the gene/metabolite alterations in two cultivars (JD and LQY) at three stages using RNA-seq and metabolomics. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differential metabolites (DEMs) in different stages. Among these DEGs, the genes related to the metabolism of polyphenols and flavonoids were significantly upregulated in the browning strain (LQY).