UV-B irradiation enhances the accumulation of beneficial glucosinolates induced by melatonin in Chinese kale sprout

Cruciferous sprout is a new form of vegetable product rich in bioactive compounds, especially glucosinolates. Previous studies have focused on increasing the accumulation of glucosinolates in cruciferous sprouts by applying different chemical regulators, with a particular focus on their contribution to nutritional quality and health benefits. Nevertheless, the effects of melatonin and UV-B irradiation on glucosinolate biosynthesis remain unclear. In this study, it was found that changes in melatonin concentrations significantly affected the contents of individual as well as total aliphatic and indolic glucosinolates. The 5 μmol·L-1 melatonin was decided as the optimum concentration that could increase the content of beneficial glucosinolates including glucoraphanin and 4-methoxy glucobrassicin in Chinese kale sprouts. Notably, the enhancement of glucosinolate accumulation by melatonin treatment could be further amplified by UV-B irradiation. Furthermore, our results showed that R2R3-MYB transcription factor BoaMYB28 and BoaMYB51, which are central regulators of aliphatic and indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis respectively, were both involved in the regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis by melatonin and UV-B irradiation. Additionally, the expression of glucosinolate biosynthetic genes, including BoaCYP79F1, BoaCYP83A1, BoaSUR1, BoaUGT74B1, BoaCYP79B2, BoaCYP79B3, and BoaCYP83B1 participated in the formation of core structures and BoaFMOGS-OX5, BoaAOP2, BoaCYP81F2, and BoaIGMT1 involved in the side-chain modification of aliphatic and indolic glucosinolate, was regulated by melatonin or UV-B irradiation. Taken together, these findings provide a potential strategy for improving the nutritional quality and resistance of Chinese kale sprouts.