Jujube metabolome selection determined the edible properties acquired during domestication

Abstract

Plants supply both food and medicinal compounds, which are ascribed to diverse metabolites produced by plants. However, studies on domestication-driven changes in the metabolome and genetic basis of bioactive molecules in perennial fruit trees are generally lacking. Here, we conducted multidimensional analyses revealing a singular domestication event involving the genomic and metabolomic selection of jujube trees (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). The genomic selection for domesticated genes was highly enriched in metabolic pathways, including carbohydrates and specialized metabolism. Domesticated metabolome profiling indicated that 187 metabolites exhibited significant divergence as a result of directional selection. Malic acid was directly selected during domestication, and the simultaneous selection of specialized metabolites, including triterpenes, consequently lead to edible properties. Cyclopeptide alkaloids (CPAs) were specifically targeted for the divergence between dry and fresh cultivars. We identified 1080 significantly associated loci for 986 metabolites. Among them, 15 triterpenes were directly selected at six major loci, allowing the identification of a homologous cluster containing seven 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). An OSC gene was found to contribute to the reduction in the content of triterpenes during domestication. The complete pathway for synthesizing ursolic acid was dissected by integration of the metabolome and transcriptome. Additionally, an N-methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of CPA and responsible for inter-cultivar content variation was identified. The present study promotes our understanding of the selection process of the global metabolome subsequent to fruit tree domestication and facilitates the genetic manipulation of specialized metabolites to enhance their edible traits.

Metabolomics Analysis Revealed the Characteristic Metabolites of Hemp Seeds Varieties and Metabolites Responsible for Antioxidant Properties

“…Selection of malic acid and triterpene metabolites during domestication leads to edible properties of Jujube ( Zhang et al, 2021 ), suggesting that genomic selection caused by domestication and/or environment can lead to markedly different varieties. Hemp originated in Central Asia and gradually spread around the world and domesticated into varieties with different characteristics.…”

Integrated genetic and metabolic characterisation of diverse Latin American cassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) germplasm; implications for future breeding strategies

“…The data generated represents an advance to the genetic/biochemical resources available in cassava. For example, the present study has facilitated the further identification of metabolites by clustering of genotypes, and enables future association studies using GWAS approaches (28)(29)(30). Similar approach has been applied in tomato and maize (31,32).…”

A Widely Distributed Biosynthetic Cassette Is Responsible for Diverse Plant Side Chain Cross‐Linked Cyclopeptides**

“…In addition to co‐occurrence, precursor peptides appear to be transcriptionally co‐regulated with a split BURP. Published work from Z. jujuba showed that sanjoinine A content was most closely associated with transcript levels of a genomic locus containing both a split BURP and methyltransferase [21] . We also analyzed the ATTED‐II database [22] for genes co‐expressed with putative precursor peptides from Arabidopsis thaliana , Vitis vinifera, Populus trichocarpa, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula , and Solanum lycopersicum .…”