Genome-wide perspective reveals the potential mechanism of maturation differentiation in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Sustainable agricultural production is an effective way to address global climate change and the rapid growth of population, among which the multi-maturing crops play a significant role, but its underlying genetic background has rarely been studied. We sequenced the genomes of early, middle, and late-maturing cabbage, and analyzed them comparatively. Phylogenetic and genetic structure analysis showed that the early- and late-maturing varieties had a certain genetic distance, and the early- and late-maturing individuals were likely to have been acquired by the mid-maturing individuals through continuous breeding. Selective-sweep and gene function enrichment analysis revealed candidate genes in early and late-maturing resources were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, and candidate genes in early-maturing resources were associated with cell wall modification and pectinesterase activity. The present study provides initial insights into the mechanism of maturation differentiation in cabbage, and laid an important scientific basis for the future of higher yield and wider human needs of cabbage.