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Biochemical characterization and expression analysis of lignification in two pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) varieties with contrasting stone cell content

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Abstract

As lignified stone cells reduce fruit quality, we investigated lignin deposition, phenolic metabolites, and expression of lignin biosynthetic genes during fruit development to elucidate the molecular mechanism of stone cell lignification using histological, biochemical, and transcriptional data from two Ussurian pear varieties (Jianba and Nanguo) with contrasting stone cell content. Lignin content and distribution coincided with stone cell accumulation. As per LC-MS analysis, Jianba exhibited higher levels of lignin monomers and hydroxycinnamates than Nanguo, consistently with lignin amount in each case. However, flavonoid content was much higher in Nanguo. Transcriptional data showed that most monolignol biosynthesis-related genes were particularly upregulated in Jianba during lignin accumulation; especially CCR and LAC, two monolignol biosynthesis-specific genes, were substantially upregulated in Jianba fruits at critical stages. Therefore, differences in stone cell content between “Jianba” and “Nanguo” may result from differential expression of lignin synthase genes located downstream of the lignin biosynthesis pathway. Taken together, our data may provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism for stone cell lignification in pear fruit.

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Abbreviations

4CL:

4-coumarate: CoA ligase

CAD:

cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase

CCoAOMT:

caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase

CCR:

cinnamoyl-CoA reductase

C4H:

cinnamate 4-hydroxylase

C3H:

p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase

COMT:

caffeic acid O-methyltransferase

DAFB:

days after full bloom

F5H:

ferulate 5-hydroxylase

HCT:

hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase

LAC:

laccase

PAL:

phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

POD:

peroxidase

PCA:

principal component analysis

qRT-PCR:

quantitative real-time PCR

G:

guaiacyl

H:

p-hydroxyphenyl

S:

syringyl

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Funding

The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31701865) and the Research Foundation of Education Bureau of Liaoning Province (LSNFW201705).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoqian Wang, Siqi Liu, Chang Liu, Yang Liu, Guodong Du & Deguo Lyu

  2. Key Lab of Fruit Quality Development and Regulation of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoqian Wang, Guodong Du & Deguo Lyu

  3. Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xingcheng, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaofeng Lu

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  1. Xiaoqian Wang
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  2. Siqi Liu
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  7. Deguo Lyu
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All authors of this manuscript have directly participated in the planning, execution, and/or analysis of this study.

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Correspondence to Guodong Du or Deguo Lyu.

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Wang, X., Liu, S., Liu, C. et al. Biochemical characterization and expression analysis of lignification in two pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) varieties with contrasting stone cell content. Protoplasma 257, 261–274 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-019-01434-7

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