Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and small RNA reveals that 1-MCP inhibits lignocellulosis of fresh common beans by regulating secondary cell wall metabolism

Postharvest 1-MCP treatment effectively inhibits the lignofibrosis of fresh common beans, but its underlying regulatory mechanism is not well understood. The results showed that 1-MCP inhibited the metabolism of ethylene and cell wall component at 15 d of storage. These results showed that the 15 d of storage is critical time for 1-MCP to regulate the lignofibrosis of fresh common beans. 5882 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 59 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in the response to 1-MCP were identified by transcriptome and microRNAs analysis of fresh common beans harvested and stored for 15 d in control and 1-MCP treatment. 1-MCP inhibits the fresh common beans lignocellulosis by inhibiting the genes related to cell wall component biosynthesis, including lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, and by promoting the degradation genes of intermediate products and monomer decomposition. Besides, an integrated analysis of transcriptome and microRNAs revealed that the DEMs miR170−5p, miR319a-3p, miR397a-3, miR399e and miR408d might participate in the regulation of lignofibrosis by mediating hormone signal transduction, secondary cell wall metabolism and transport. We further found the regulatory effect of miR319a-3p on TCP4. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide new knowledge strengthening our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism of 1-MCP regulating common beans postharvest lignocellulosis.