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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the key mechanisms related to the leaf color variation in the xantha mutant of melon (Cucumis melon). The cotyledon and euphylla of normal green C. melon inbred line “baishami NO.1” (wild type, WT) and spontaneous mutant “9388-1” (xantha mutant) were collected and subjected to comprehensive transcriptome analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the WT and the xantha mutant of C. melon in both the cotyledon and euphylla stages. Functional enrichment analysis, transcription factor (TF) prediction, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis for DEGs were then carried out. In total, 234 upregulated and 551 downregulated common DEGs in the cotyledon and euphylla stages of the C. melon xantha mutant were identified. The DEGs were significantly enriched in terms of functions or pathways associated with photosynthesis and chloroplast development. Moreover, 18 common DEGs were identified as TFs that belong to the ERF family. Notably, the identified photosynthesis-related gene MELO3C010813 (ZAT10) was also identified as a TF, belonging to C2H2 family. The PPI network analysis shows that MELO3C023986 had the highest degrees. Our findings reveal that the xantha formation of the mutant may be associated with the abnormal expression of ZAT10, MAPK3, CRD1, PORA and ERF TFs as well as the dysregulation of photosynthesis and chloroplast development.

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