Targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic reveal the regulation of UV–C on phenolics biosynthesis of peach fruit during storage

Abstract

Phenolic compounds are important secondary metabolites in peach fruit and play positive roles in plant resilience and human diets. To investigate the regulation of Ultraviolet-C (UV–C) irradiation on phenolics biosynthesis of peach fruit, the targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic were used to analyze polyphenolic metabolites and their gene expression patterns. The metabolomic results showed that a total of 45 phenolics were identified in the peach pulp. Total phenolic content was significantly increased by UV–C irradiation and 35 individual phenolics responded observably to UV–C treatment. In particular, UV–C irradiation dramatically increased the content of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, luteolin, quercitrin, astragalin, narcissin, nicotiflorin, sorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside and hesperidin. The HCT1, CYP98A1/3, COMT1 and CHS2/3 genes in phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway and the CHI1/3, F3′H1/3, P2′GT1/2/3/4, UFGT3 and DFR2/3 genes in flavonoid metabolic pathway were significantly regulated by UV–C irradiation. Overall, the present study revealed that phenolics biosynthesis is regulated by UV–C irradiation at the level of metabolites and molecule supported by targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic results.