近日，中國農業科學院研究生院2017級巴基斯坦籍博士留學生Muhammad Jawad Umer在中科院JCR農林科學1區Top期刊Horticulture Research(IF=5.404)發表了題為「Identification of key gene networks controlling organic acid and sugar metabolism during watermelon fruit development by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles」的研究性論文，中國農業科學院鄭州果樹研究所劉文革研究員為本文的通訊作者。本研究闡述了西瓜發育過程中糖和有機酸積累的相關調控機制，為西瓜品質育種提供了理論依據，對我國西瓜產業的發展和育種水平的提高具有重要的科學意義。
Recently, a GSCAAS Ph.D. student Muhammad Jawad Umer published an on-line research article entitled 「Identification of key gene networks controlling organic acid and sugar metabolism during watermelon fruit development by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles」 in the CAS-Q1 Top journal Horticulture Research(IF=5.404). Prof. Liu Wenge who is from Zhengzhou Fruit Research institute is the corresponding author of this paper. This study explained the regulation mechanism of sugar and organic acid accumulation during watermelon development, provided the theoretical basis for watermelon quality breeding, and had important scientific significance for the development of watermelon industry and the improvement of watermelon breeding level in China.
西瓜是全球第五大水果，因其鮮美多汁，富含多種營養成分而受廣大消費者的喜愛。西瓜中富含番茄紅素、瓜氨酸、維生素、糖和多種有機酸。其中，糖和有機酸是影響西瓜感官品質的重要成分，在西瓜果實的發育和成熟過程中，糖和有機酸含量決定了西瓜的口感。但是，目前西瓜中糖和有機酸的代謝調控網絡尚未明晰。本論文以甜西瓜（203Z）和酸西瓜（SrW）為試材，研究西瓜果實發育過程中糖和有機酸代謝的調控網絡。
Watermelon is the fifth most consumed fleshy fruit worldwide, because of its delicious juicy and rich in a variety of nutrients, it is popular among consumers. Watermelon fruit is rich in lycopene, citrulline, vitamin, sugar and a variety of organic acids. Among them, sugar and organic acid are important components that affect the sensory quality of watermelon, and the contents of sugar and organic acid determine the taste of watermelon during the development and ripening process of watermelon fruit. However, the metabolic regulatory network of sugar and organic acids in watermelon has not yet been clarified. In this paper, the sweet watermelon (203Z) and sour watermelon (SrW) were used as test materials to study the regulatory network of sugar and organic acid metabolism during fruit development.
通過轉錄組和代謝物數據的WGCNA分析尋找與糖酸代謝共表達的基因和基因網絡。鑑定了3個基因表達網絡，包含2443個基因與西瓜果實中糖酸代謝高度相關。通過顯著性和qRT-PCR分析，篩選到了7個參與西瓜果實糖酸代謝的關鍵基因。其中，Cla97C01G000640、Cla97C05G087120和Cla97C01G018840為糖轉運蛋白；Cla97C03G064990是一種蔗糖合酶；Cla97C07G128420、Cla97C03G068240和Cla97C01G008870與蘋果酸和檸檬酸高度相關，為蘋果酸和檸檬酸轉運蛋白。將這些基因在自然群體中進行驗證，結果表明這7個基因的表達量與西瓜果實中的糖酸含量呈顯著正相關。
The genes and gene networks co-expressed with sugar and organic acids metabolism were searched through WGCNA analysis of transcriptional and metabolite data. Three gene expression networks were identified, including 2443 genes that were highly correlated with sugar and organic acid metabolism in watermelon fruits. Seven key genes involved in sugar and organic acid metabolism of watermelon fruits were screened by significance and qRT-PCR analysis. Among them, Cla97C01G000640, Cla97C05G087120 and Cla97C01G018840 were sugar transporters. Cla97C03G064990 was a sucrose synthase. Cla97C07G128420, Cla97C03G068240 and Cla97C01G008870 were highly correlated with malic acid and citric acid, which were the transporters and regulators of malic acid and citric acid. These genes were verified in the natural population, and the results showed that the expressions of these 7 genes were significantly positively correlated with the contents of sugar and organic acid in watermelon fruit.
圖1西瓜果實中的總可溶性固形物（Brix%）、pH值、可溶性糖（葡萄糖、蔗糖和果糖）和有機酸（蘋果酸、草酸和檸檬酸）（mg/g FW）在果實發育過程中的變化。
Figure 1 Total soluble solids (Brix %), pH, soluble sugars (glucose, sucrose, and fructose), and organic acids (malic, oxalic, and citric acid) (mg/g FW) in watermelon fruit at 10, 18, 26, and 34 DAP.
圖2 WGCNA鑑定的西瓜果實發育過程中參與糖和有機酸調控的基因網絡和關鍵候選基因。
Figure 2 Gene networks and key candidate genes involved in sugar and organic acid regulation during watermelon fruit development as identified by WGCNA.
圖3有機酸和糖的生物合成途徑。
Figure 3 The organic acid and sugar biosynthetic pathway.
原文連結Original link:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41438-020-00416-8本研究得到了中國農業科學院科技創新工程專項經費項目（CAAS-ASTIP-2016-ZFRI）、國家重點研發計劃（2018YFD0100704）、現代產業技術體系建設專項（CARS-25-03）、國家自然科學基金（31672178和 31471893）和河南省科技攻關項目(（202102110197）的資助。
This research was supported by the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(CAAS-ASTIP-2016-ZFRI), National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFD0100704), the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-25-03), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672178 & 31471893), and Scientific and Technological Project of Henan Province (202102110197).
Muhammad Jawad Umer是中國農業科學院研究生院2017年秋季學期巴基斯坦籍留學生，培養單位為中國農業科學院鄭州果樹研究所，專業是蔬菜學（蔬菜遺傳育種方向），導師為劉文革研究員。博士期間，Umer同學以第一作者在Horticulture Research（CAS-Q1 Top，IF=5.404）、Scientia Horticulturae（CAS-Q2 Top，IF=2.769）和Gene（CAS-Q3，IF=2.984）發表了3篇研究論文，累計影響因子為11.16。此外，Umer還以合作作者身份發表了5篇SCI論文。作為2017級新生班班長，Umer同學品學兼優，他曾於2018年和2020年兩次榮獲北京市外國留學生獎學金，2020年9月在鄭州果樹研究所舉辦的三分鐘演講比賽中取得第二名的好成績。
Mr. Muhammad Jawad Umer is a 2017 Autumn Semester batch Pakistani international student, from Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of CAAS, Henan, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS). His major is Vegetable Sciences (Vegetable genetics and Breeding) and working under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Liu Wenge. During his Ph.D., he has published 3 research articles as a first author in Horticulture Research (CAS-Q1 Top, IF=5.404), Scientia Horticulturae (CAS-Q2 Top, IF=2.769), and Gene (CAS-Q3, IF=2.984) with a total impact factor of 11.16. Furthermore, Umer has 5 co-authored publications in the SCI journals. Umer, as the monitor of 2017 Autumn batch, is excelling both in morals and studies. He was awarded with Beijing Government Scholarship for two times i.e. 2018 and 2020, during his PhD. He stood 2nd at three minutes presentation competition held at Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute in September 2020.
Umer 同學發表文章列表：
Muhammad Jawad Umer’s Publications list:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Muhammad_Jawad_Umer
博士論文答辯 During Ph.D Thesis Defense
與導師合影 With Supervisor Prof. Liu Wenge
田間調查工作 During the Field Work
戶外運動 During Outdoor Activities
導師簡介 Supervisor Introduction
劉文革研究員為鄭果所西甜瓜栽培與生理創新團隊首席科學家，現指導來華留學生4名，近兩年已為我院培養優秀博士留學生2名，包括衣索比亞籍留學生HAILESLASSIE GEBREMESKEL KIDANEMARIAM以及巴基斯坦籍留學生ALI ASLAM，課題組畢業留學生科研產出較好，生均能發表2篇以上較高水平一作SCI論文。
As the chief scientist of the watermelon and melon cultivation and physiology team of Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of CAAS, Prof. Liu Wenge currently hosts 4 international students. Over the past two years, he has trained 2 excellent doctoral students, including Ethiopian student HAILESLASSIE GEBREMESKEL KIDANEMARIAM and Pakistani student ALI ASLAM. Students graduated from Prof.Liu’s lab have fairly good scientific research output, can publish more than 2 high-level 1st author SCI papers.
劉文革研究員發表文章列表：
Prof. Dr. Liu Wenge's Publications list:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Liu_Wenge
News coverage about Prof.Liu's resent research progress: The Genetic Mechanism of Three Important Agronomic Traits of Watermelon Was Revealed.
http://www.caas.cn/en/newsroom/research_update/308326.html
快樂大豐收 People celebrating bumper harvest
多倍體西瓜遺傳育種課題組合照
Polyploid Watermelon Genetic and Breeding Research Group ZFRI, CAAS