Comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal the changes induced by nano-selenium and melatonin in Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Huizao.

Yuting Yuan, Rongrong Wang, Yi Fang, Canping Pan, Defen Liu, Jiefei Mao, Hejiang Liu, Yanjun Ju, Wanjin Sun, Wenzhao Jia, Shengjun Ma, Lu Kang

Journal: Journal of the science of food and agriculture 2025;105(8):4443-4458

PMID: 40047252

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Jujube (Zizyphus jujuba), belonging to the Rhamnaceae, contains various bioactive components including flavonoids and polysaccharides. In our previous study, jujube quality was improved by application of nano-selenium (Nano-Se) and melatonin; however, little research has been conducted on the induced molecular mechanisms. Zizyphus jujuba cv. Huizao was used as experimental materials to compare and analyze the transcriptomics and metabolomics mechanisms.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, 305, 422, and 240 metabolites and 24, 281, and 44 genes were significantly changed at the metabolic and transcriptional levels in Nano-Se, melatonin, and Nano-Se with melatonin treatments, respectively. The metabolomics indicated that the differentially expressed metabolites were involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, fructose, and mannose metabolic pathways. The Nano-Se with melatonin treatment group increased the contents of glucose and total Se by 1.8 and 5.4 times, respectively. Transcriptomics showed that differentially expressed genes of Nano-Se and melatonin treatment were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, pentose, and glucuronate interconversions pathways. In addition, several transcription factors from the NAC, WRKY, MYB, and WRKY families were identified in melatonin versus control and melatonin versus Nano-Se. Furthermore, combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis showed that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, the mutual conversion pathway of pentose, and glucuronate interconversions were the vital pathways in response to Nano-Se and melatonin treatment.

CONCLUSION

Overall, these results provide new insights into jujube response to Nano-Se and melatonin, and improve our understanding of the jujube molecular mechanisms induced by Nano-Se and melatonin. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Address: Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Institute of Agricultural Quality Standards and Testing Technology/Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Urumqi, China.; College of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.; State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China.; Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Institute of Agricultural Quality Standards and Testing Technology/Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Urumqi, China.; Social Affairs Service Center of the Eighth Regiment of the First Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Alar, China.; Agricultural Development Service Center of the Eighth Regiment of the First Division of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Alar, China.; Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Pest Chemical Control and Innovation Center of Pesticide Research, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; College of Food Science and Pharmacy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China.; Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Institute of Agricultural Quality Standards and Testing Technology/Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Urumqi, China.; State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, China.

DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.14203

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https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.14203

MeSH Terms: Ziziphus, Melatonin, Selenium, Metabolomics, Plant Proteins, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Transcription Factors, Transcriptome