Integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data reveals key regulatory defense pathways associated with high temperature stress in cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Abstract

High temperature stress seriously affects the quality and yield of vegetable crops, especially cucumber. However, the metabolic dynamics and underlying regulatory network of cucumber response to high temperature stress remain poorly studied. In this study, we identified a heat-tolerant cucumber Gy14 and a heat-sensitive cucumber 32X. RNA-seq analysis of Gy14 and 32X under high temperature stress showed that some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Metabolomic analysis revealed that there were more phenylpropanoids and their downstream derivatives in Gy14 compared to 32X under HS_R2 condition (2 normal days recovery after heat). Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed that the upregulation of genes plays a pivotal role in flavonoid biosynthesis. Moreover, high temperature stress significantly induced the expression of the gibberellin biosynthesis genes and exogenous application of GA₃ alleviated the damage high temperature to cucumber seedlings. Together, these findings provided new insights into the transcriptome response and metabolomic reprogramming of cucumber against high temperature stress.