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Post-Harvest Quality Changes and Molecular Responses of Epidermal Wax in ‘Munage’ Grapes with Botrytis cinerea Infection

Summary

‘Munage’ grapes from Xinjiang are susceptible to a fungus called Botrytis cinerea that causes gray mold during storage. The fungus dissolves the protective waxy coating on the grape surface, leading to faster deterioration. The study identified specific genes and proteins that control wax production, which could help scientists develop better storage methods and disease prevention strategies to keep grapes fresher longer.

Background

‘Munage’ grapes are a popular local variety from Xinjiang, China, but are susceptible to fungal infection during post-harvest storage. Botrytis cinerea is a major pathogenic fungus causing gray mold that significantly impacts grape quality. Cuticular wax serves as a critical barrier against pathogen invasion and affects fruit shelf life.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of B. cinerea on post-harvest quality of ‘Munage’ grapes and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying wax changes. The research focused on understanding how B. cinerea affects wax structure, composition, and gene expression related to wax synthesis and transport.

Results

B. cinerea significantly reduced post-harvest quality by increasing disease incidence, decay rate, weight loss, and color difference while decreasing firmness. The pathogen caused wax dissolution and reduced wax content by 18.47% at 15 days and 43.54% at 30 days. RNA-seq identified 49 differentially expressed genes related to wax synthesis and 12 transcription factors including WRKY24, bHLH41, and ERF98 that regulate wax metabolism.

Conclusion

B. cinerea infection significantly compromises post-harvest quality of ‘Munage’ grapes through degradation of epicuticular wax and altered expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, wax biosynthesis, and transport. Transcription factors WRKY24, bHLH41, and ERF98 play important roles in regulating the wax-related genes in response to pathogen infection. These findings provide scientific basis for developing disease prevention and quality maintenance strategies for table grapes.
  • Published in:International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40331966, DOI: 10.3390/ijms26083468
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