Heterologous mogrosides biosynthesis in cucumber and tomato by genetic manipulation

Mogrosides are widely used as high-value natural zero-calorie sweeteners that exhibit an array of biological activities and allow for vegetable flavour breeding by modern molecular biotechnology. In this study, we developed an In-fusion based gene stacking strategy for transgene stacking and a multi-gene vector harbouring 6 mogrosides biosynthesis genes and transformed it into Cucumis sativus and Lycopersicon esculentum. Here we show that transgenic cucumber can produce mogroside V and siamenoside I at 587 ng/g FW and 113 ng/g FW, respectively, and cultivated transgenic tomato with mogroside III. This study provides a strategy for vegetable flavour improvement, paving the way for heterologous biosynthesis of mogrosides.