Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)

Background: The Orah mandarin is an economically important variety of <i>Citrus reticulata</i> for citrus growers in Yunnan Province, China. Generally, the fruit peel is smooth, an attractive feature for consumer preferences. Recently, rough peels have been observed in several orchards,...

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Main Authors: Hongming Liu, Chunrui Long, Xiaomeng Fu, Shaohua Wang, Yuqiang Lou, Jianmei Dong, Meichao Dong, Jiamei Mao, Jiandong Yang, Hongxia Yang, Yuxia Du, Xianyan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/496
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author Hongming Liu
Chunrui Long
Xiaomeng Fu
Shaohua Wang
Yuqiang Lou
Jianmei Dong
Meichao Dong
Jiamei Mao
Jiandong Yang
Hongxia Yang
Yuxia Du
Xianyan Zhou
author_facet Hongming Liu
Chunrui Long
Xiaomeng Fu
Shaohua Wang
Yuqiang Lou
Jianmei Dong
Meichao Dong
Jiamei Mao
Jiandong Yang
Hongxia Yang
Yuxia Du
Xianyan Zhou
author_sort Hongming Liu
collection DOAJ
description Background: The Orah mandarin is an economically important variety of <i>Citrus reticulata</i> for citrus growers in Yunnan Province, China. Generally, the fruit peel is smooth, an attractive feature for consumer preferences. Recently, rough peels have been observed in several orchards, making the fruit aesthetically less desirable. Little is known about the mechanism of rough skin development. Methods: In this study, we used global metabolomics and a comparative transcriptomic approach to characterize the differences between smooth (CK) and rough (CP) Orah mandarin peels. Results: Our results indicate that CP fruits have a significantly larger diameter, peel weight and thickness, total soluble solids, and titratable acid content compared to CK. Metabolomic analysis detected 810 metabolites, of which 192 were differentially accumulated in CP and CK. CP is characterized by higher levels of flavonoids, amino acids and derivatives, terpenoids, and alkaloids. We also report nine compounds detected exclusively in CP, including dambonitol, 3-methyl-L-histidine, deacetylnomilinic acid, obacunoic acid, and 6-O-acetylarbutin. The transcriptome results showed that the expression of genes enriched in flavonoids, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and related pathways were consistent with the metabolome profiles. We also discuss the possible involvement of phytohormones in peel roughening. Conclusions: Overall, we present, for the first time, a detailed comparative metabolome and transcriptome profile in smooth and rough Orah mandarin peels. Our data and discussion highlight the potential mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of rough peel Orah mandarins.
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spelling doaj-art-15e4cd638a7b4b7a93e3fcd8a0f13d952025-08-20T03:14:46ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-05-0111549610.3390/horticulturae11050496Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)Hongming Liu0Chunrui Long1Xiaomeng Fu2Shaohua Wang3Yuqiang Lou4Jianmei Dong5Meichao Dong6Jiamei Mao7Jiandong Yang8Hongxia Yang9Yuxia Du10Xianyan Zhou11Tropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaTropical and Subtropical Cash Crops Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Baoshan 678000, ChinaBackground: The Orah mandarin is an economically important variety of <i>Citrus reticulata</i> for citrus growers in Yunnan Province, China. Generally, the fruit peel is smooth, an attractive feature for consumer preferences. Recently, rough peels have been observed in several orchards, making the fruit aesthetically less desirable. Little is known about the mechanism of rough skin development. Methods: In this study, we used global metabolomics and a comparative transcriptomic approach to characterize the differences between smooth (CK) and rough (CP) Orah mandarin peels. Results: Our results indicate that CP fruits have a significantly larger diameter, peel weight and thickness, total soluble solids, and titratable acid content compared to CK. Metabolomic analysis detected 810 metabolites, of which 192 were differentially accumulated in CP and CK. CP is characterized by higher levels of flavonoids, amino acids and derivatives, terpenoids, and alkaloids. We also report nine compounds detected exclusively in CP, including dambonitol, 3-methyl-L-histidine, deacetylnomilinic acid, obacunoic acid, and 6-O-acetylarbutin. The transcriptome results showed that the expression of genes enriched in flavonoids, lipid, and amino acid metabolism and related pathways were consistent with the metabolome profiles. We also discuss the possible involvement of phytohormones in peel roughening. Conclusions: Overall, we present, for the first time, a detailed comparative metabolome and transcriptome profile in smooth and rough Orah mandarin peels. Our data and discussion highlight the potential mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of rough peel Orah mandarins.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/496comparative omicscitrus fruit aestheticsfruit qualitymandarinphytohormone signalingrough peels
spellingShingle Hongming Liu
Chunrui Long
Xiaomeng Fu
Shaohua Wang
Yuqiang Lou
Jianmei Dong
Meichao Dong
Jiamei Mao
Jiandong Yang
Hongxia Yang
Yuxia Du
Xianyan Zhou
Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
Horticulturae
comparative omics
citrus fruit aesthetics
fruit quality
mandarin
phytohormone signaling
rough peels
title Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
title_full Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
title_fullStr Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
title_short Comparative Global Metabolome Profile and Transcriptome Sequence Analysis of the Rough and Smooth Peel of the Orah Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i>)
title_sort comparative global metabolome profile and transcriptome sequence analysis of the rough and smooth peel of the orah mandarin i citrus reticulata i
topic comparative omics
citrus fruit aesthetics
fruit quality
mandarin
phytohormone signaling
rough peels
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/496
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