Research on Key Genes in Sugar Metabolism and Flavor Quality Improvement in Sweet Corn

Abstract

Sweet corn is in high demand due to its rich nutrition and excellent taste, but it faces industry bottlenecks such as insufficient sweetness stability, monotonous flavor, and quality degradation under stress. Existing research lacks an understanding of the synergistic regulation of sugar metabolism and flavor synthesis, as well as the environmental impact mechanisms. This study used high-sweetness, fragrant, and soft-waxy sweet corn varieties as materials, and set up conventional, low-potassium, and high-temperature treatments. Quality indicators were measured at key growth stages. Combining transcriptomics, metabolomics, and WGCNA, core genes involved in the synergistic regulation of sugar and flavor were identified. A gene-trait-environment association model was established and validated by qPCR. The results showed significant differences in quality among different varieties. Ten hub genes, including SUS4, SPS2, and LOX3, were screened, and their expression was closely related to sucrose accumulation, aroma compound synthesis, and stress response. An integrated improvement system of "molecular breeding - cultivation optimization - postharvest preservation" was constructed to provide precise targets for sweet corn quality improvement. This study enriches the molecular mechanism of synergistic regulation of sugar and flavor in sweet corn, fills a gap in research on environmental responses, and contributes to the high-quality development of the industry.