2026-10-14T03:25:53Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33979126 2026-09-24T04:28:00Z category_133 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

Table 1_Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of the mechanism underlying pericarp variegation in Citrus reticulata ‘Gonggan’.xlsx Congyi Zhu (695087) Pingzhi Wu (166799) Yibo Hu (1675774) Ruimin Zhang (295182) Hongqi Xia (6424850) Zhengyan Fan (25101610) Pengtao Yue (5747129) Chuanhong Ren (6183101) Peihua Lin (11890937) Sai Xu (231586) Yongjing Huang (5112521) Plant Biology chlorophyll degradation differential metabolite differentially expressed genes (DEGs) the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin transcriptomics Introduction<p>Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit color variation is crucial for citrus breeding. The variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) exhibits distinct phenotypic differences compared to the normal cultivar. However, the physiological and genetic basis for this variation remains unclear.</p>Methods<p>In this study, we integrated physiological measurements, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and transcriptome sequencing to characterize the pericarp of the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin during early fruit development stage.</p>Results<p>Compared with the normal ‘Gonggan’ mandarin, lightness and chromaticity values of the pericarp color exhibited significantly elevated in the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin. Physiological assays revealed a drastic reduction in chlorophyll a and b contents (by 75.76% and 58.33%, respectively) and a moderate increase in total carotenoids (28.61%) in the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin. Notably, phytoene accumulation in the pericarp of the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin was 44.35-fold higher than that in the normal fruit, while metabolites in the middle and downstream pathway of carotenoid biosynthesis such as β-carotene and lutein were significantly reduced. Transcriptome analysis identified 1,438 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were predominantly enriched in metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis and photosynthesis. Specifically, 3 chlorophyll degradation genes encoding chlorophyll b reductase gene, chlorophyllase and SGR protein, 23 photosynthesis genes (PsaD, PsaE, PsbO, etc.), and 6 photosynthesis-antenna proteins (Lhca1, Lhca2, Lhcb1, etc.) were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, 13 DEGs associated with plant hormone signal transduction exhibited differential expression patterns.</p>Discussion<p>Our findings demonstrate that the disruption of the chlorophyll degradation pathway and carotenoid biosynthesis pathway are the primary causes of the pericarp color variation in the variegated ‘Gonggan’ mandarin. This study provides novel insights into the regulatory network governing pericarp coloration and establishes a foundation for future molecular breeding strategies targeting citrus appearance quality.</p> 2026-09-24T04:28:00Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fpls.2026.1960602.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_1_Integrated_metabolomic_and_transcriptomic_analysis_of_the_mechanism_underlying_pericarp_variegation_in_Citrus_reticulata_Gonggan_xlsx/33979126 CC BY 4.0