Integrative analysis of metabolome and genome-wide transcriptome reveal the flavor changes in apple (Malus pumila Mill) after the novel acaricide cyflumetofen application

Abstract

Pesticide residues were found to interfere the nutrition and flavor of fruits. Apple flavor changes after pesticides application was investigated based on metabolic dynamics and underlying regulatory networks. In this study, cyflumetofen (CYF) systematically affected the nutrition and flavor formation on apple (Malus pumila Mill). CYF alters nutritional composition, but not total content of soluble sugars and organic acids. Palatability-related amino acid content decreased around 15% in CYF-treated apple. The contents of esters and alcohols responsible for fragrance and flavor decreased by approximately 10% in CYF-treated apples compared with controls. Non-target metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis showed that CYF mainly affected amino acid-, organic acid-, polyphenol-, and lipid-metabolism related pathways, leading to altered nutritional and flavor characteristics. In conclusion, the results suggested that CYF affected the primary metabolism of apple, resulting in unpleasant changes in nutritional and flavor composition. This study provided new insight into the metabolic regulation of flavor after pesticides application.