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The postharvest quality of winter jujubes is prone to deterioration, including inevitable pericarp reddening and rapid nutrient loss from the flesh, significantly impacting its edible quality and commercial value. As a crucial metabolic pathway in plants, phenylpropane metabolism not only regulates plant stress resistance but also closely relates to various coloration effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of luteolin solutions on postharvest color changes and phenylpropanoid metabolism in winter jujube. The results indicated that compared to the control group, winter jujube fruit treated with 200 mg L-1 luteolin exhibited improved quality indexes, increased antioxidant capacity (capability of eliminating ABTS and DPPH radicals), and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)). This led to a reduction in the oxidation of phenolic substances in winter jujube. Furthermore, luteolin treatment inhibited phenylpropanoid metabolism by suppressing the activities of 4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL), phenylalanine ammonilyase (PAL), and cinnamate 4 hydroxylase (C4H), as well as the expression of ZjUFGT, ZjDFT, and ZjPAL genes. Consequently, anthocyanin and quercetin synthesis were limited while the degradation rate of chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis were slowed down after luteolin treatment. This resulted in delayed reddening of winter jujube following luteolin treatment. In conclusion, luteolin exhibits potential application prospects as a preservative for inhibiting reddening and browning in winter jujubes.
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The urgent need to develop efficient, durable, and cost-effective oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for energy conversion and storage has prompted extensive research. Currently available commercial noble metal-based OER catalysts are expensive and exhibit limited long-term stability. In this study, boron-doped diamond composites (BDDCs) consisting of CoFe and CoFe2C nanoparticles supported by boron-doped diamond (BDD) particles have been prepared. The BDDC catalyst, prepared through a straightforward annealing process, exhibits exceptional durability (up to 72 h at 10 mA cm-2), a low overpotential (306 mV at 10 mA cm-2), and modest Tafel slope (58 mV dec-1). The coherent interfaces between CoFe/CoFe2C nanoparticles and the BDD substrate are essential for enhancing the OER performance. The fabrication method and composite structures presented in this study may facilitate the design and production of promising catalysts.
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2D single-phase multiferroic materials with the coexistence of electric and spin polarization offer a tantalizing potential for high-density multilevel data storage. One of the current limitations for application is the scarcity of the materials, especially those combine ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity at high temperatures. Here, robust ferrimagnetism and ferroelectricity in 2D É-Fe2O3 samples with both single-crystalline and polycrystalline form are demonstrated. Interestingly, the polycrystalline nanosheets also exhibit easily switchable ferroelectric polarizations comparable to that of single crystals. The existence of grain boundary does not hinder the switching and retention of ferroelectric polarization. Furthermore, the É-Fe2O3 nanosheets show ferrimagnetic and ferroelectric Curie temperatures up to 800 K, which reaches record highs in 2D single-phase multiferroic materials. This work provides important progress in the exploration of 2D high-temperature single-phase multiferroics for potentially compact high-temperature information nanodevices.
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Ultrasonic-assisted extraction using a natural deep eutectic solvent (UAE-NADES) is an efficient method for extracting grape seed polyphenols (GSPs). In this study, response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction of GSPs with UAE-NADES, and the theoretical extraction rate of GSPs was 139.014 mg GAE/g, the actual extraction rate was 135.78 ± 1.3 mg GAE/g. A pseudo-second-order kinetic extraction fitting was established to simulate the extraction process and mechanism (R2 > 0.99). Analysis of antioxidant capacity, Fourier-infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that UAE-NADES works synergetically to maintain the stability of extracted GSPs. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography showed that catechin (41.14 mg/g) is the main component of GSPs in the extract. The UAE-NADES extraction of GSPs can inhibit the growth of Alternaria alternata at 0.25 mg GAE/g, while the GSPs extracted by other methods can effectively inhibit the growth of Alternaria alternata at 0.35 mg GAE/g. Thus, this study demonstrates that UAE-NADES is a high-efficiency means of extracting GSPs and, in a wider sense, is a promising extraction technology for the green utilization of waste resources.
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Alternaria , Polifenoles , Semillas , Solventes , Vitis , Polifenoles/química , Polifenoles/aislamiento & purificación , Polifenoles/farmacología , Solventes/química , Vitis/química , Semillas/química , Antifúngicos/farmacología , Antifúngicos/aislamiento & purificación , Antifúngicos/química , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Antioxidantes/química , Extracto de Semillas de Uva/química , Extracto de Semillas de Uva/farmacología , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Ultrasonido/métodos , Espectroscopía Infrarroja por Transformada de FourierRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chayote is a high economic crop in the Cucurbitaceae family, playing an important role in food production, disease treatment and the production of degradable materials in industries. Due to the harsh environment, such as high temperature, drought and frost, some chayote resources are gradually disappearing. It is crucial to collect, characterize, and conserve chayote resources. However, the genetic diversity of chayote resources in China has not been studied so far. RESULTS: In this study, we collected 35 individuals of chayote from 14 provinces in China. Subsequently, we found 363,156 SSR motifs from the chayote genome and designed 57 pairs of SSR primers for validation. Out of these, 48 primer pairs successfully amplified bands, with 42 of them showing polymorphism. These 42 primer pairs detected a total of 153 alleles, averaging 3.64 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.03 to 0.78, with an average value of 0.41, indicating a high level of polymorphism. Based on the analysis using STRUCTURE, PCoA, and UPGMA methods, the 35 chayote individuals were divided into two major clusters. Through further association analysis, 7 significantly associated SSR markers were identified, including four related to peel color and three related to spine. CONCLUSIONS: These molecular markers will contribute to the analysis of genetic diversity and genetic breeding improvement of chayote in the future.
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Variación Genética , Genoma de Planta , Repeticiones de Microsatélite , Repeticiones de Microsatélite/genética , China , Marcadores Genéticos , Polimorfismo GenéticoRESUMEN
The combination of pretreatment and vacuum freeze-drying (VFD) technology is an effective technique for extending the shelf life of apricots, reducing costs and energy consumption. However, the impact of pretreatment on the freeze-drying and quality characteristics of apricots is still unclear. The effects of ultrasound (US), freeze-thaw (FT), and their combination (FT-US) on water migration and quality characteristics of apricot slices on VFD were studied. LR-NMR and SEM showed that pretreatment significantly reduced the time (19.05%-33.33%) and energy consumption (17.67%-35.66%) of the VFD process. Compared with the control group, the US, FT, and FT-US improved the color, texture, rehydration ability, and flavor of apricot slices. Among them, FT-US retained the most biologically active substances and antioxidant capacity, with the highest sensory score. Overall, FT-US pretreatment induced changes in the microstructure and chemistry of apricots, which contributed to the production of high-quality VFD apricot slices.
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The changes in the qualities and sweet-substance levels of Junzao jujube during variable-temperature drying (VTD) were investigated. The results showed that VTD retains the original color of jujube, reduces its hardness and chewiness, and decreases its wrinkling while shortening the drying time by 13.2% compared with that of constant temperature drying (CTD). "Electronic-tongue" taste analysis showed that the sweetness of VTD jujube is significantly higher than that for CTD. This is shown to be related to the contents of sucrose, fructose, and glucose, as well as the activities of invertase and sucrose synthase enzymes. In addition, the content trends for sweet amino acids are correlated with the temperature gradient used in VTD. Thus, the present study elucidates the factors governing the transformation of sugar substances in jujube during VTD, as well as providing a practical reference for the application of VTD in the jujube industry.
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Cuticle wax chemicals are cultivar-dependent and contribute to storage quality. Few research reported on wax analysis between melting flesh-type (MF; 'Jinhuami 25') and nonmelting flesh-type (NMF; 'Xizhoumi 17' and 'Chougua') Hami melons. Chemicals and crystal structures of Hami melon cuticular wax, cell wall metabolism related to fruit melting, and fruit physiology were analyzed to observe wax functions. Results showed that Hami melon cuticle wax predominantly consists of esters, alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenoids. MF-type has a lower alkane/terpenoid ratio, concomitant to its higher weight loss and cuticle permeability. Micromorphology of wax crystals appears as numerous platelets with irregular crystals, and the transformation of wax structure in NMF Hami melon is delayed. Waxy components affect cell wall metabolism and physiological quality, which results in the pulp texture difference between MF-type and NMF-type during storage. Results provide a reference for the regulation of wax synthesis in both types of melons.
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Cucumis melo , Frutas , Ceras , Ceras/química , Frutas/química , Cucumis melo/química , Pared Celular/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The genus Pseudoroegneria (Nevski) Löve (Triticeae, Poaceae), whose genome symbol was designed as "St", accounts for more than 60% of perennial Triticeae species. The diploid species Psudoroegneria libanotica (2n = 14) contains the most ancient St genome, exhibited strong drought resistance, and was morphologically covered by cuticular wax on the aerial part. Therefore, the St-genome sequencing data could provide fundamental information for studies of genome evolution and reveal its mechanisms of cuticular wax and drought resistance. RESULTS: In this study, we reported the chromosome-level genome assembly for the St genome of Pse. libanotica, with a total size of 2.99 Gb. 46,369 protein-coding genes annotated and 71.62% was repeat sequences. Comparative analyses revealed that the genus Pseudoroegneria diverged during the middle and late Miocene. During this period, unique genes, gene family expansion, and contraction in Pse. libanotica were enriched in biotic and abiotic stresses, such as fatty acid biosynthesis which may greatly contribute to its drought adaption. Furthermore, we investigated genes associated with the cuticular wax formation and water deficit and found a new Kcs gene evm.TU.CTG175.54. It plays a critical role in the very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) elongation from C18 to C26 in Pse. libanotica. The function needs more evidence to be verified. CONCLUSIONS: We sequenced and assembled the St genome in Triticeae and discovered a new KCS gene that plays a role in wax extension to cope with drought. Our study lays a foundation for the genome diversification of Triticeae species and deciphers cuticular wax formation genes involved in drought resistance.
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Resistencia a la Sequía , Elymus , Mapeo Cromosómico , Cromosomas , Ácidos GrasosRESUMEN
Along with the increasing integration density and decreased feature size of current semiconductor technology, heterointegration of the Si-based devices with diamond has acted as a promising strategy to relieve the existing heat dissipation problem. As one of the heterointegration methods, the microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) method is utilized to synthesize large-scale diamond films on a Si substrate, while distinct structures appear at the Si-diamond interface. Investigation of the formation mechanisms and modulation strategies of the interface is crucial to optimize the heat dissipation behaviors. By taking advantage of electron microscopy, the formation of the epitaxial ß-SiC interlayer is found to be caused by the interaction between the anisotropically sputtered Si and the deposited amorphous carbon. Compared with the randomly oriented ß-SiC interlayer, larger diamond grain sizes can be obtained on the epitaxial ß-SiC interlayer under the same synthesis condition. Moreover, due to the competitive interfacial reactions, the epitaxial ß-SiC interlayer thickness can be reduced by increasing the CH4/H2 ratio (from 3% to 10%), while further increase in the ratio (to 20%) can lead to the broken of the epitaxial relationship. The above findings are expected to provide interfacial design strategies for multiple large-scale diamond applications.
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Achieving high-performance materials with superior mechanical properties and electrical conductivity, especially in large-sized bulk forms, has always been the goal. However, it remains a grand challenge due to the inherent trade-off between these properties. Herein, by employing nanodiamonds as precursors, centimeter-sized diamond/graphene composites were synthesized under moderate pressure and temperature conditions (12 GPa and 1,300 to 1,500 °C), and the composites consisted of ultrafine diamond grains and few-layer graphene domains interconnected through covalently bonded interfaces. The composites exhibit a remarkable electrical conductivity of 2.0 × 104 S m-1 at room temperature, a Vickers hardness of up to ~55.8 GPa, and a toughness of 10.8 to 19.8 MPa m1/2. Theoretical calculations indicate that the transformation energy barrier for the graphitization of diamond surface is lower than that for diamond growth directly from conventional sp2 carbon materials, allowing the synthesis of such diamond composites under mild conditions. The above results pave the way for realizing large-sized diamond-based materials with ultrahigh electrical conductivity and superior mechanical properties simultaneously under moderate synthesis conditions, which will facilitate their large-scale applications in a variety of fields.
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Hami melon is prone to postharvest perishing. Melatonin is a signaling molecule involved in a variety of physiological processes in fruit, and it improves fruit quality. We hypothesized that melatonin treatment would improve the storage quality of Hami melon by altering its respiration and reactive oxygen species (Graphical abstract). Our results indicated that optimal melatonin treatment (0.5 mmol L-1) effectively slowed the softening, weight loss, and respiratory rate of the Hami melon fruit. Furthermore, melatonin markedly improved the antioxidant capacity of the fruit and protected it from oxidative damage by decreasing its contents of superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde. Melatonin significantly enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase. The total phenol, total flavonoids, and ascorbic acid contents were maintained by melatonin treatment. This treatment also repressed the activities of lipase, lipoxygenase, and phospholipase D, which are related to lipid metabolism. Thus, exogenous melatonin can maintain postharvest organoleptic quality of Hami melon fruit by increasing its antioxidant activity and inhibiting reactive oxygen species production.
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Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is the interaction between electron's spin and orbital motion, which could realize a charge-to-spin current conversion and enable an innovative method to switch the magnetization by spin-orbit torque (SOT). Varied techniques have been developed to manipulate and improve the SOT, but the role of the orbit degree of freedom, which should have a crucial bearing on the SOC and SOT, is still confusing. Here, we find that the charge-to-spin current conversion and SOT in W3O8-δ/(La, Sr)MnO3 could be produced or eliminated by ionic liquid gating. Through tuning the preferential occupancy of Mn/W-d electrons from the in-plane (dx2-y2) to out-of-plane (d3z2-r2) orbit, the SOT damping-like field efficiency is nearly doubled due to the enhanced spin Hall effect and interfacial Rashba-Edelstein effect. These findings not only offer intriguing opportunities to control the SOT for high-efficient spintronic devices but also could be a fundamental step toward spin-orbitronics in the future.
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BACKGROUND: Chayote is an underutilized species of Cucurbitaceae. It is rich in nutrients such as protein, minerals, phenols and its extracts have anti-cardiovascular and anti-cancer effects, making it a versatile plant for both medicinal and culinary purposes. Although research on its root tuber is limited, they are rich in starch and have a structure similar to that of potatoes, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Therefore, they can serve as potential substitutes for potatoes and offer promising prospects as agricultural and industrial resources. However, the physiological and cellular mechanisms of chayote root tuber formation and development are still unclear. RESULTS: In this study, we observed the growth habit of 'Tuershao' (high yield of root tuber). The results revealed that the tuber enlargement period of 'Tuershao' lasts approximately 120 days, with the early enlargement phase occurring during 0-30 days, rapid enlargement phase during 30-90 days, and maturation phase during 90-120 days. Physiological indicators demonstrated a gradual increase in starch content as the tuber developed. The activities of sucrose synthase (SUS) and invertase (VIN) showed a consistent trend, reaching the highest level in the rapid expansion period, which was the key enzyme affecting tuber expansion. Moreover, the special petal like structure formed by the secondary phloem and secondary xylem of the tuber resulted in its enlargement, facilitating the accumulation of abundant starch within the thin-walled cells of this structure. Principal component analysis further confirmed that starch content, SUS and VIN activities, as well as the concentrations of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and selenium (Se), were the major factors influencing tuber development. Moreover, the low temperature environment not only promoted the growth of 'Tuershao' tubers but also enhanced the accumulation of nutritional substances. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the formation and developmental mechanisms of 'Tuershao' tubers, providing valuable guidance for cultivation practices aimed at improving crop yield.
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Agricultura , Cucurbitaceae , Calcio , Frío , HierroRESUMEN
Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) containing in situ SiO2 fillers are prepared using an electrostatic spinning method at room temperature. Through the in situ hydrolysis of tetraethyl silicate (TEOS), the generated SiO2 nanospheres are uniformly dispersed in the PEO matrix to form a 3D ceramic network, which enhances the mechanical properties of the electrolyte as a reinforcing phase. The interaction between SiO2 nanospheres and PEO chains results in chemical bonding with a decrease in the crystallinity of the PEO matrix, as well as the complexation strength of PEO chains with lithium ions during the hydrolysis process. Meanwhile, the addition of SiO2 nanospheres can disturb the orderliness of PEO chain segments and further suppress the crystallization of the PEO matrix. Therefore, improved mechanical/electrochemical properties can be obtained in the as-spun electrolyte with the unique one-dimensional high-speed ion channels. The electrospun CPE with in situ SiO2 (10 wt%, ca. 45 nm) has a higher ionic conductivity of 1.03 × 10-3 S cm-1 than that of the mechanical blending one. Meanwhile, the upper limit of the electrochemical stability window is up to 5.5 V versus Li+/Li, and a lithium-ion migration number can be of up to 0.282 at room temperature. In addition, in situ SiO2 electrospun CPE achieves a tensile strength of 1.12 MPa, elongation at the break of 488.1%, and it has an excellent plasticity. All in all, it is expected that the electrospun CPE prepared in this study is a promising one for application in an all-solid-state lithium-ion battery (LIB) with a high energy density, long life cycle, and high safety.
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The MADS-box gene plays an important role in plant growth and development. As an important vegetable of Cucurbitaceae, chayote has great edible and medicinal value. So far, there is little molecular research on chayote, and there are no reports on the MADS-box transcription factor of chayote. In this study, the MADS-box gene family of chayote was analyzed for the first time, and a total of 70 MADS-box genes were identified, including 14 type I and 56 type II MICK MADS genes. They were randomly distributed on 13 chromosomes except for chromosome 11. The light response element, hormone response element and abiotic stress response element were found in the promoter region of 70 MADS genes, indicating that the MADS gene can regulate the growth and development of chayote, resist abiotic stress, and participate in hormone response; GO and KEGG enrichment analysis also found that SeMADS genes were mainly enriched in biological regulation and signal regulation, which further proved the important role of MADS-box gene in plant growth and development. The results of collinearity showed that segmental duplication was the main driving force of MADS gene expansion in chayote. RNA-seq showed that the expression levels of SeMADS06, SeMADS13, SeMADS26, SeMADS28, SeMADS36 and SeMADS37 gradually increased with the growth of chayote, indicating that these genes may be related to the development of root tubers of 'Tuershao'. The gene expression patterns showed that 12 SeMADS genes were specifically expressed in the male flower in 'Tuershao' and chayote. In addition, SeMADS03 and SeMADS52 may be involved in regulating the maturation of male flowers of 'Tuershao' and chayote. SeMADS21 may be the crucial gene in the development stage of the female flower of 'Tuershao'. This study laid a theoretical foundation for the further study of the function of the MADS gene in chayote in the future.
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Cucurbitaceae , Proteínas de Dominio MADS , Proteínas de Dominio MADS/genética , Proteínas de Dominio MADS/metabolismo , Genoma de Planta , Flores/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Cucurbitaceae/genética , Filogenia , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismoRESUMEN
The orbital Hall effect and the interfacial Rashba effect provide new approaches to generate orbital current and spin-orbit torque (SOT) efficiently without the use of heavy metals. However, achieving efficient dynamic control of orbital current and SOT in light metal oxides has proven challenging. In this study, it is demonstrated that a sizable magnetoresistance effect related to orbital current and SOT can be observed in Ni81 Fe19 /CuOx /TaN heterostructures with various CuOx oxidization concentrations. The ionic liquid gating induces the migration of oxygen ions, which modulates the oxygen concentration at the Ni81 Fe19 /CuOx interface, leading to reversible manipulation of the magnetoresistance effect and SOT. The existence of a thick TaN capping layer allows for sophisticated internal oxygen ion reconstruction in the CuOx layer, rather than conventional external ion exchange. These results provide a method for the reversible and dynamic manipulation of the orbital current and SOT generation efficiency, thereby advancing the development of spin-orbitronic devices through ionic engineering.
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Light is one of the important environmental factors affecting the growth and development of facility vegetables. In this experiment, we investigated the effects of different light intensities on the growth, nutritional quality and flavonoid accumulation of celery under hydroponic and full LED light conditions. Four light intensities of 40, 100, 200, or 300 µmol·m-2·s-1 were set up in the experiment, and three harvest periods were set up on the basis of different light intensities, which were 15, 30, and 45 d after treatment (labeled as S1, S2, and S3, respectively). The results showed that the plant height and aboveground biomass of celery increased with the increase of light intensity, and the light intensity of 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 was beneficial to increase the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, total phenols, vitamin C, cellulose, total flavones and apigenin in celery. During the S1-S3 period, the activities of PAL, CHS, CHI and ANS increased gradually under 200 and 300 µmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatments, and the activities of FNS and CHS enzymes were the highest under 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 light intensity treatment. The expression and ANS activity of Ag3GT, a key gene for anthocyanin synthesis, reached the maximum value at 300 µmol·m-2·s-1, and the expression level and FNS activity of AgFNS, a key gene for apigenin synthesis, reached a maximum value at 200 µmol·m-2·s-1. In general, the anthocyanin content was the highest at 300 µmol·m-2·s-1, and the apigenin content was the highest at 200 µmol·m-2·s-1. In conclusion, light intensity of 200 µmol·m-2·s-1 treatment was more favorable for celery growth and nutrient synthesis.
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Annual ryegrass is a widely cultivated forage grass with rapid growth and high productivity. However, drought is one of the abiotic stresses affecting ryegrass growth and quality. In this study, we compared the physiological and transcriptome responses of Chuansi No.1 (drought-tolerant, DT) and Double Barrel (drought-sensitive, DS) under drought stress simulated by PEG-6000 for 7 days. The results showed that Chuansi No. 1 had stronger physiological and biochemical parameters such as root properties, water content, osmotic adjustment ability and antioxidant ability. In addition, RNA-seq was used to elucidate the molecular mechanism of root drought resistance. We identified 8588 differentially expressed genes related to drought tolerance in root, which were mainly enriched in oxidation-reduction process, carbohydrate metabolic process, apoplast, arginine and proline metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. The expression levels of DEGs were consistent with physiological changes of ryegrass under drought stress. We found that genes related to sucrose and starch synthesis, root development, osmotic adjustment, ABA signal regulation and specifically up-regulated transcription factors such as WRKY41, WRKY51, ERF7, ERF109, ERF110, NAC43, NAC68, bHLH162 and bHLH148 in Chuansi No. 1 may be the reason for its higher drought tolerance. This study revealed the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms of root response to drought stress in ryegrass and provided some new candidate genes for breeding rye drought tolerant varieties.
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Sequías , Lolium , Antioxidantes , Arginina , Carbohidratos , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica/métodos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Lolium/genética , Fitomejoramiento , Prolina/genética , Almidón , Sacarosa , Factores de Transcripción/genética , AguaRESUMEN
Chayote (Sechium edule) produces edible tubers with high starch content after 1 year of growth but the mechanism of chayote tuberization remains unknown. 'Tuershao', a chayote cultivar lacking edible fruits but showing higher tuber yield than traditional chayote cultivars, was used to study tuber formation through integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles at three tuber-growth stages. Starch biosynthesis- and galactose metabolism-related genes and metabolites were significantly upregulated during tuber bulking, whereas genes encoding sugars will eventually be exported transporter (SWEET) and sugar transporter (SUT) were highly expressed during tuber formation. Auxin precursor (indole-3-acetamide) and ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, were upregulated, suggesting that both hormones play pivotal roles in tuber development and maturation. Our data revealed a similar tuber-formation signaling pathway in chayote as in potatoes, including complexes BEL1/KNOX and SP6A/14-3-3/FDL. Down-regulation of the BEL1/KNOX complex and upregulation of 14-3-3 protein implied that these two complexes might have distinct functions in tuber formation. Finally, gene expression and microscopic analysis indicated active cell division during the initial stages of tuber formation. Altogether, the integration of transcriptome and metabolome analyses unraveled an overall molecular network of chayote tuberization that might facilitate its utilization.