# Pre-Chilling CGA Application Alleviates Chilling Injury in Tomato by Maintaining Photosynthetic Efficiency and Altering Phenylpropanoid Metabolism

## TL;DR

Applying chlorogenic acid before cold exposure helps tomatoes by protecting their photosynthesis and changing their metabolism to reduce damage.

## Contribution

This study reveals how pre-treatment with chlorogenic acid mitigates chilling injury in tomatoes by maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and altering phenylpropanoid metabolism.

## Key findings

- Chilling injury reduced photosynthetic efficiency and increased oxidative stress in tomato plants.
- Pre-treatment with CGA mitigated chilling effects by maintaining PSII function and reducing MDA levels.
- CGA altered secondary metabolism by suppressing shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways while enhancing cinnamic acid and indole acetate synthesis.

## Abstract

Chilling injury can limit the productivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), especially in over-wintering greenhouse. We here explored the effect of the pre-application of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in mitigating the impact of chilling on tomato. Flowering plants subjected to either chilling (15 °C/5 °C, day/night) or pre-treatment with CGA followed by chilling for 6 days and then by a two-day control recovery period were compared to plants maintained at control conditions (25 °C/18 °C, day/night). Chilling significantly affected the expression of PSII CP43 Chlorophyll Apoprotein, NAD (P) H-Quinone Oxidoreductase Subunit 5 and ATP Synthase CF1 Beta Subunit, reduced leaf Fv/Fm and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, suggesting elevated oxidative stress. These correlated with reduced shoot biomass. All these aspects were mitigated by pretreatment with CGA. Transcriptomic and metabolomic co-analysis indicated that CGA also suppressed the shikimate pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine accumulation but enhanced cinnamic acid and indole acetate synthesis. Hence, the pre-chilling CGA protected the tomato plant from chilling injury by maintaining light energy utilization and reprograming secondary metabolism. This study describes the mechanism through which CGA pre-treatment can be used to maintain tomato productivity under chilling conditions.