Integrated Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses Reveal the Molecular Mechanisms of Red-light on Carotenoids Biosynthesis in Tomato Fruit

Abstract Carotenoids are the main pigments responsible for coloration and account major antioxidant activity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit. Significant increments in total carotenoids lycopene levels were observed fruit illuminated by red light relative to white previous studies, but mechanism carotenoid biosynthesis regulated is still unclear. In present study, influence on postharvest was conducted using targeted metabolomics transcriptomic methods. A 25 differentially accumulated 1939 expressed genes isolated identified. The results illustrated that contents phytoene considerably higher treated with than those at 12 h. These mainly enriched plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, circadian rhythm. Moreover, from coexpression network analysis, 15 transcription factors light-treated screened; among these, SlERF4, SlbHLH93 SlIAA29, which involved transduction hormones, respectively, may also play important roles It concluded enhanced mechanisms not only associated direct regulation signalling, indirect hormonal signalling.