Open AccessIntegrating transcriptome and metabolome analyses of the response to cold stress in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Author(s) -
Fengmei Li,
Xiaoxuan Lu,
Pengfei Duan,
Yanjiao Liang,
Jian Cui
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0249108
Subject(s) - cucurbita maxima , transcriptome , wrky protein domain , metabolome , myb , biology , transcription factor , cucurbita , biochemistry , botany , gene expression , gene , metabolite
Cucurbita maxima belong to the genus Cucurbita and are of nutritional and economic importance. Physiological activity, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses of leaf samples from the C . maxima inbreding line IL7 treated at 5 °C and 25 °C were performed. Cold stress resulted in a significant increase in the malondialdehyde content, relative electrical conductivity, soluble protein, sugar content, and catalase activity. A total of 5,553 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 2,871 were up-regulated and 2,682 down-regulated. In addition, the transcription of differentially expressed genes in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway and transcription factor families of AP2/ERF, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, and HSF was activated. Moreover, 114 differentially expressed metabolites were identified by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry, particularly through the analysis of carboxylic acids and derivatives, and organooxygen compounds. The demonstration of a series of potential metabolites and corresponding genes highlighted a comprehensive regulatory mechanism. These findings will provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with the response to cold stress in C . maxima .