Transcriptome Characterization of Pigment-Related Genes in Jujube (Ziziphus Jujuba Mill.) Peel at Different Growth Stages.

One of the most important qualities of jujube fruit is its color. Chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin all play important roles in the coloring of jujube fruit. However, few studies have focused on the pigment molecular mechanism. In the present study, jujube peels of 'Sanbianhong' in three growth stages were evaluated for their gene expression characteristics and gene regulation related to pigment formation using the transcriptome sequencing analysis. A total of 84.86 Gb of clean data were obtained in the analysis. In the FS1 vs. FS3, FS1 vs. FS5, and FS3 vs. FS5, 4,530, 11,012, and 9,072 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, respectively. The inter-group screening among the three comparisons yielded 1430 common DEGs. Among these DEGs, 27, 16, and 28 genes were enriched in chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin metabolic pathways, respectively. Twelve genes were chosen at random, and the accuracy of the transcriptome data were confirmed using qRT-PCR. The molecular mechanism underlying the pigmentation of jujube fruit was elucidated at the transcriptome level, which would provide a scientific basis for the subsequent functional studies on the color-regulating genes of jujube fruits.