GC–TOF–MS-based metabolomic and whole-transcriptomic analyses reveal the molecular mechanism of primary metabolite changes in pear fruit after methyl jasmonate treatment

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) regulates plant development and reproductive processes and significantly influences metabolism. Pears are important economic fruits, but there is still limited research on the changes in primary metabolites in pears after MeJA treatment, and their molecular mechanisms are not yet clear. This study employed GC–TOF–MS to analyze primary metabolite changes in the peel and flesh of ‘Nanguo’ pears after MeJA treatment. The results showed that 174 and 156 metabolites were detected in the peel and flesh respectively, from which 7 and 2 differentially altered metabolites were subsequently screened out. We analysed the combined whole-transcriptome data and constructed relevant competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and miRNA–target transcription factor regulatory networks for each differentially expressed compound. Our results provide an informative insight to the molecular regulatory network by which MeJA treatment changes the primary metabolism in pears, providing a theoretical basis for improving fruit quality during storage. • MeJA treatment affects sucrose and galactose metabolism as well as the TCA cycle. • Constructed ceRNA and miRNA-mRNA-Target regulatory networks under MeJA treatment. • Dynamic nature and flexibility of primary metabolite changes through MeJA treatment.