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Comparative analysis of sugar, acid, and volatile compounds in CPPU-treated and honeybee-pollinated melon fruits
Haiwen Chen1, Jintao Cheng1, Yuan Huang1
1College of Horticulture and Forestry, Huazhong Agricultural University and Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
Abstract:
Plant growth regulator N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (CPPU) is widely used in fruit production. However, the mechanism in which CPPU affects melon fruit quality, especially aroma compound, remains unclear. Here, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to detect the sugar, citric acid, and aroma content in CPPU-treated and pollinated melon fruit. Results showed that the application of CPPU decreased the sugar and aroma content in melon fruit. The relative content of several important esters, including isobutyl acetate, ethyl acetate, 2-methylbutyl acetate, methyl acetate, benzyl acetate, and phenethyl acetate, in CPPU-treated fruits was significantly lower than that in honeybee-pollinated fruits. The content of many amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, and l-phenylalanine), which could be metabolized into aroma compounds, in CPPU-treated fruits was significantly higher than that in honeybee-pollinated fruits. In conclusion, CPPU application interferes with amino-acid metabolism and affects the production of aromatic esters in melon fruit.
