Transcriptome analysis of low-temperature-affected ripening revealed MYB transcription factors-mediated regulatory network in banana fruit

Abstract Low temperature leads to abnormal ripening and poor quality of the harvested banana fruit, which is an urgent problem limiting the development of industry in China. To comprehensively understand the mechanism underlying low-temperature-affected ripening, we performed comparative RNA-Seq analysis of ethylene-induced ripening of banana fruit after 3 days of pre-storage at 7 °C and 22 °C. A total of 986 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in both RT-0 d versus RT-3 d, LT-0 d versus LT-3 d, RT-0 d versus LT-0 d and RT-3 d versus LT-3 d, and the RNA-Seq outputs of 15 randomly selective DEGs were verified using qRT-PCR. Among the 986 DEGs obtained in the four groups, 9 MYB genes (MaMYB75/281/219/4/151/156/3/37 and MaMYB3R1) and 32 genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis (MaPSY1/2a), flavor formation (MaLOX6, MaADH7, MaAAT1), sucrose transport (MaSUS2/4), ethylene production (MaSAM1, MaACO9/10/12, MaACS1/12), starch degradation (MaAMY1A/1B, MaPHS1/2, MaMEX2, MapGlcT1) and cell wall degradation (MaPG3/X1, MaPME25/41, MaXTH5/7/22/23/25, MaEXP2/20/A1/A15) were characterized. Combining transcription factor binding site (TFBS) analysis as well as cis-acting element analysis, the regulatory network of low-temperature-affected ripening mediated by MYBs were constructed. The data generated in this study may unravel the transcriptional regulatory network of MYBs associated with low-temperature-affected ripening and provide a solid foundation for future studies.