Transcriptomics revealed terpinen-4-ol mediated sucrose metabolism and delayed cell wall degradation to maintain blueberry quality

Fumigation with terpinen-4-ol (4OL) could enhance blueberry quality during postharvest storage in advance study. This work investigated the response of blueberry fruits to 4OL treatment based on transcriptomics . VcSPS2 was noticed not only by significant up-regulation but also due to its relation to sucrose metabolic pathways. Following this clue, the enzymes and genes related to sucrose metabolism pathway were tested on blueberry fruits after 4OL fumigation. The result showed that sucrose content 28 % improved, the sucrose synthesis genes expression up-regulated and enzymes activity increased, the sucrose degradation genes expression down-regulated and enzymes activity suppressed. Meanwhile, VcGLU3 associated with cell wall degradation was observed significantly down-regulated in transcriptomics . Moreover, the enzymes and genes related to cell wall degradation were verified and blueberry firmness were checked. The result indicated that firmness maintained well and the cell wall degradation genes expression down-regulated and enzymes activity suppressed. It indicated that 4OL could be a novel preservative in quality enhancement and retardation blueberry postharvest softening. ● First reported by transcriptomics that 4OL treatment activated blueberry starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. ● Higher sucrose levels after 4OL treatment as a reason for maintaining blueberry firmness. ● 4OL inhibited the activity and gene expression of enzymes involved in blueberry cell wall degradation. ● VcSPS was a key gene in maintaining blueberry quality by 4OL treatment.