Sodium silicate treatment accelerates biosynthesis and polymerization of suberin polyaliphatics monomers at wounds of muskmelon

Suberin polyaliphatics (SPA) is an important component of healing closing layer at fruit wounds. However, few study is available on the effect of sodium silicon treatment on SPA monomers biosynthesis and polymerization at muskmelon wounds. In this study, sodium silicate enhanced PLA₂ (Phospholipase A₂, PLA₂) expression and enzyme activity, increased oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid contents, and degree of fatty acids unsaturation at wounds. Sodium silicate upregulated the expressions of LACS4 (Long chain acyl CoA synthetase, LACS), KCS10 (β-ketoacyl CoA synthase, KCS), CYP86B1 (Cytochrome P450 oxygenase, CYP), FAR3 (Fatty acyl CoA reductase, FAR), GPAT1 (Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, GPAT) and ABCG6 (ATP-binding cassette transporter), as well as their enzymes activities and ABC content. It is suggested that sodium silicate accelerates the deposition of SPA at muskmelon wounds by increasing the degree of fatty acids unsaturation, and promoting SPA monomers biosynthesis.