【目的】桅子(Gardenia jasminoides)果实为我国传统中药,富含栀子苷和西红花苷等有效成分。目前关于其有效成分的时序性积累规律及驱动其积累的内在分子机制不明,深入研究对栀子的生产栽培和采收时机选择具有重要借鉴意义。【方法】采用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测栀子不同发育时期的有效成分含量并分析其积累规律,通过转录组测序鉴定其中的关键基因及转录因子。【结果】①在栀子果实成熟过程中,栀子苷的含量整体呈波动变化,其在果实成熟期显著下降;而西红花苷Ⅰ及西红花苷Ⅱ的含量持续升高,在果实成熟期达到最高。②转录组分析发现GPPPS、G8O、7-DLGT、LAMT、CRTISO、CCD、ALDH等结构基因在果实发育后期表达量显著上调,可能促进了栀子苷和西红花苷的积累。③加权基因共表达网络分析(WGCNA)鉴定出6个与栀子有效成分代谢相关的共表达模块,涉及TFIIIA、MYB、BRF1、AS1、VOZ1、TCP4、GTE8、GT-4、bHLH及WRKY等多个转录因子家族成员,这些转录因子通过调控下游靶基因表达,形成复杂的网络级联,共同参与栀子苷和西红花苷的生物合成途径调控。【结论】栀子成熟过程中,栀子苷与西红花苷的积累呈现时序性特征,该过程主要由相关结构基因时序性上调驱动;MYB、BRF1、bHLH、WRKY等转录因子构成的调控功能模块协同影响3类活性成分的积累。

【Objective】The fruit of Gardenia jasminoides is a traditional Chinese medicine rich in bioactive components including geniposide and crocin. To date, the temporal accumulation patterns of these bioactive compounds in G. jasminoides remain unclear, and the underlying molecular mechanisms driving their accumulation are poorly understood and require further investigation. This research provides an important reference for the cultivation, production, and optimal harvesting of G. jasminoides.【Method】High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to quantify bioactive compound contents in G. jasminoides fruits at different developmental stages. Transcriptome sequencing was further conducted to screen key structural genes and transcription factors associated with their biosynthesis.【Result】During fruit ripening of G. jasminoides, geniposide content fluctuated and decreased significantly at the fully ripe stage. In contrast, the contents of crocin I and crocin II increased continuously and peaked at fruit maturity. Transcriptome analysis revealed that structural genes such as GPPPS, G8O, 7-DLGT, LAMT, CRTISO, CCD, and ALDH were significantly upregulated at the late fruit developmental stage, which may facilitate the accumulation of geniposide and crocins. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified six co-expression modules correlated with the metabolism of bioactive compounds in G. jasminoides, involving members of multiple transcription factor families, including TFIIIA, MYB, BRF1, AS1, VOZ1, TCP4, GTE8, GT-4, bHLH, and WRKY. These transcription factors form a complex regulatory network by modulating the expression of downstream target genes, and cooperatively regulate the biosynthetic pathways of geniposide and crocins.【Conclusion】During the maturation of G. jasminoides, the accumulation of geniposide and crocins exhibit temporal characteristics. This dynamic process is mainly driven by the temporal upregulation of the above-mentioned structural genes. Regulatory modules composed of transcription factors such as MYB, BRF1, bHLH, and WRKY synergistically shape the accumulation of these three bioactive compounds.