Sains Malaysiana 55(7)(2026): 1132-1147

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5507-03

 

Analysis of Sugar Accumulation Patterns and Candidate Gene Mining during Onion Bulb Enlargement

(Analisis Corak Pengumpulan Gula dan Perlombongan Gen Calon semasa Pembesaran Umbi Bawang)

 

JINSHUO LI^1,*, YIREN WANG², GAOYAO SUN¹, JIAYUAN XU¹, YING WANG¹, LEI QIN^1,† & YONG WANG^1,†

 

¹College of Horticulture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, People's Republic of China

²Daqing Agricultural and Rural Social Services Center, Daqing, People's Republic of China

 

Diserahkan: 2 Julai 2025/Diterima: 17 Jun 2026

 

†Jinshuo Li and Yiren Wang contributed equally to this work

 

Abstract

Sugar content is a critical quality determinant in onion (Allium cepa L.), yet the spatio-temporal dynamics and molecular regulation of its accumulation during bulb expansion remain poorly understood. This study showed that soluble sugars in onion bulbs follow a distinct pattern of rapid accumulation followed by a gradual decline, peaking at the rapid expansion stage. This pattern was strongly correlated with the activities of key sucrose-metabolizing enzymes. Through integrated transcriptomic and physiological analyses, we identified three candidate genes namely Cluster-29851.189607 (INV), Cluster-29851.38447 (INV), and Cluster-29851.183626 (SuSy), where their expression patterns (qRT-PCR) were consistent with the observed sugar dynamics. Moreover, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technique showed that Cluster-29851.183626 (SuSy) altered sugar accumulation patterns, supporting its involvement in bulb sugar metabolism. For the two INV genes, the current evidence indicates a strong association with hexose accumulation, and further functional validation is required. Overall, our results provide new spatio-temporal insights into sucrose and fructan-related sugar metabolism in onion bulbs and offer candidate targets for future functional studies and quality-oriented breeding.

Keywords: Bulb enlargement; candidate genes; enzyme activity; onion; sink strength

 

Abstrak

Kandungan gula merupakan penentu kualiti utama dalam bawang (Allium cepa L.), namun dinamik ruang-masa dan pengawalaturan molekul pengumpulan gula semasa pengembangan anak umbi masih kurang difahami. Kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa gula larut dalam anak umbi bawang mengikut corak pengumpulan pantas yang diikuti oleh penurunan beransur-ansur, mencapai kemuncaknya pada peringkat pengembangan pesat. Corak ini berkait rapat dengan aktiviti enzim utama yang terlibat dalam metabolisme sukrosa. Melalui analisis transkriptomik dan fisiologi secara bersepadu, kami mengenal pasti tiga gen calon iaitu Cluster-29851.189607 (INV), Cluster-29851.38447 (INV) dan Cluster-29851.183626 (SuSy) yang corak ekspresinya (qRT-PCR) selaras dengan dinamik gula yang diperhatikan. Tambahan pula, teknik penyenyapan gen teraruhvirus (VIGS) menunjukkan bahawa Cluster-29851.183626 (SuSy) mengubah corak pengumpulan gula, menyokong penglibatannya dalam metabolisme gula anak umbi. Bagi dua gen INV, bukti semasa menunjukkan perkaitan kuat dengan pengumpulan heksosa dan pengesahan fungsi lanjut diperlukan. Secara keseluruhan, hasil kajian kami memberikan pandangan baharu mengenai metabolisme gula berkaitan sukrosa dan fruktosa dalam anak umbi bawang serta menawarkan calon sasaran untuk kajian fungsi dan pembiakan berorientasi kualiti pada masa akan datang. 

Kata kunci: Aktiviti enzim; bawang; calon gen; kekuatan sink; pembesaran anak umbi

 

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