Table_1_Transcriptional profiling of two muscadine grape cultivars “Carlos” and “Noble” to reveal new genes, gene regulatory networks, and pathways that involved in grape berry ripening.XLSX

In commercial fruit production, synchronized ripening and stable shelf life are important properties. The loosely clustered or non-bunching muscadine grape has unrealized potential as a disease-resistant cash crop, but requires repeated hand harvesting due to its unsynchronized or long or heterogeneous maturation period. Genomic research can be used to identify the developmental and environmental factors that control fruit ripening and postharvest quality. This study coupled the morphological, biochemical, and genetic variations between “Carlos” and “Noble” muscadine grape cultivars with RNA-sequencing analysis during berry maturation. The levels of antioxidants, anthocyanins, and titratable acids varied between the two cultivars during the ripening process. We also identified new genes, pathways, and regulatory networks that modulated berry ripening in muscadine grape. These findings may help develop a large-scale database of the genetic factors of muscadine grape ripening and postharvest profiles and allow the discovery of the factors underlying the ripeness heterogeneity at harvest. These genetic resources may allow us to combine applied and basic research methods in breeding to improve table and wine grape ripening uniformity, quality, stress tolerance, and postharvest handling and storage.

在商业果品生产中，果实同步成熟与稳定的货架期是两项关键性状。松散簇生或非簇生的圆叶葡萄（Muscadine Grape）作为抗病经济作物拥有尚未被充分发掘的应用潜力，但因其成熟周期不同步、周期过长或成熟不均一，需要反复人工采收。基因组学研究可用于解析调控果实成熟与采后品质的发育及环境因子。本研究结合了"卡洛斯"与"诺布尔"两个圆叶葡萄品种在浆果成熟过程中的形态学、生物化学及遗传学差异，并开展了RNA测序（RNA-sequencing）分析。在成熟过程中，两个品种的抗氧化剂、花青素及可滴定酸含量均存在显著差异。本研究还鉴定出了调控圆叶葡萄浆果成熟的新基因、代谢通路及调控网络。上述研究结果可为构建圆叶葡萄成熟与采后性状的大规模遗传因子数据库提供支撑，并有助于揭示采收时成熟不均一性的内在调控因子。这些遗传资源可助力我们结合育种中的应用与基础研究手段，提升鲜食与酿酒葡萄的成熟一致性、品质、抗逆性及采后储运性能。