Comparison between two cultivars of longan fruit cv. `Dongbi' and `Fuyan' in the metabolisms of lipid and energy and its relation to pulp breakdown

This work studied the difference in pulp breakdown between two cultivars of longan cv. `Dongbi' and `Fuyan' from the aspect of metabolisms of lipid and energy. The results reflected that, compared to `Fuyan' longan, `Dongbi' longan had higher levels of energy charge, U/S and IUFA, and higher amounts of USFA, PC, PI, ATP and ADP. Moreover, `Dongbi' longan exhibited lower levels of SFA, PA, AMP and cell membrane permeability. Also, lower PLD, LOX and lipase activities, but higher ATPase activity, lower pulp breakdown index, and better pulp appearance were exhibited in `Dongbi' longan. These data revealed that the mitigated pulp breakdown in `Dongbi' longan was due to the comprehensive coordination of metabolisms in lipid and energy through maintaining a higher level of energy, a higher unsaturation degree of fatty acids, delaying the degradation of phospholipids, and better retaining the membrane structural integrity of microsome and entire cell.

Automated summary

This study examined the differences in pulp breakdown between two longan cultivars, "Dongbi" and "Fuyan", focusing on lipid and energy metabolisms. The results showed that compared to "Fuyan" longan, "Dongbi" longan had higher energy levels, unsaturation degree of fatty acids, and contents of phospholipids, ATP, and ADP. Additionally, "Dongbi" longan exhibited lower levels of saturated fatty acids, peroxidized fatty acids, and lipase activity, as well as better ATPase activity, lower pulp breakdown index, and improved pulp appearance. These findings suggest that the mitigated pulp breakdown in "Dongbi" longan is attributed to the coordinated metabolisms in lipid and energy, which maintain higher energy levels, higher unsaturation degree of fatty acids, delay phospholipid degradation, and preserve the structural integrity of microsomes and entire cells.