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<p>Sponge gourd (<i>Luffa cylindrica</i> (L.) Roem.) is a valuable vegetable crop with diverse fruit shapes, yet the differences in metabolites and the underlying molecular mechanisms in fruits with different shapes remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrated morphological, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the growth dynamics, metabolite profiles, and gene expression patterns in two distinct <i>Luffa</i> varieties—‘S’ and ‘L’—which significantly differ in fruit shape and size. Growth monitoring revealed that the ‘L’ variety reached a maximum length 2.2 times that of ‘S’, while the ‘S’ variety developed a diameter 2.4 times larger than ‘L’. Metabolomic profiling identified 1,835 metabolites across 13 categories, revealing significant differences between the two varieties. A total of 470 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected, with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways showing significant enrichment. Transcriptome analysis identified 4,456 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with marked alterations in the same pathways. In ‘L’ fruits, higher expression of phenylpropanoid-related genes was associated with increased flavonoid accumulation, while in ‘S’ fruits, elevated expression of the <i>INV</i>, <i>glgC</i> and <i>CELB</i> genes correlated with higher levels of D-sucrose and D-trehalose. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating fruit quality in <i>Luffa</i> and highlights potential targets for genetic improvement.</p>

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Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Key Pathways Regulating Fruit Quality in Luffa Varieties with Distinct Shapes

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月19日

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  • Liu Tongjin,
  • Cui Qunxiang,
  • Wang Changyi,
  • Ban Qiuyan

摘要

Sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem.) is a valuable vegetable crop with diverse fruit shapes, yet the differences in metabolites and the underlying molecular mechanisms in fruits with different shapes remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrated morphological, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the growth dynamics, metabolite profiles, and gene expression patterns in two distinct Luffa varieties—‘S’ and ‘L’—which significantly differ in fruit shape and size. Growth monitoring revealed that the ‘L’ variety reached a maximum length 2.2 times that of ‘S’, while the ‘S’ variety developed a diameter 2.4 times larger than ‘L’. Metabolomic profiling identified 1,835 metabolites across 13 categories, revealing significant differences between the two varieties. A total of 470 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected, with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways showing significant enrichment. Transcriptome analysis identified 4,456 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with marked alterations in the same pathways. In ‘L’ fruits, higher expression of phenylpropanoid-related genes was associated with increased flavonoid accumulation, while in ‘S’ fruits, elevated expression of the INV, glgC and CELB genes correlated with higher levels of D-sucrose and D-trehalose. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating fruit quality in Luffa and highlights potential targets for genetic improvement.