Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal novel mechanisms underlying the long-storage trait of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Apricot is a climacteric fruit, whose respiration increases rapidly after harvest, and thus, it can generally not be stored for a long period. However, the 'Pearl' variety was identified as a long-storage variety, but the mecha-nisms underlying long-storage remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the physiological phenotype, transcriptome, and plant hormones of the 'Pearl' and 'Sungold' (short-storage) varieties. The results showed that 'Sungold' respiratory intensity increased from 37.33 to 58.07 mg/kg*h during postharvest storage (D1 similar to D6), while 'Pearl' respiratory intensity fluctuated from 28.50 to 36.03 mg/kg*h during the same period and did not show a sig-nificant increase. Furthermore, glycolytic pathway genes in 'Pearl' were found to be generally down-regulated. The hub-gene with the highest K-score in the 'MEblack' module was determined to be an auxin response gene, and the expression pattern of this module was contrary to the trend for respiratory intensity. The auxin content of 'Pearl' was consistently higher than that of 'Sungold' during storage. The genetic transformation experiment of tomato showed that the SNP variation of PaYUC10 gene resulted in high auxin content, thus inhibiting respi-ratory intensity and prolonging fruit storage time. Our findings could help ensure longer storage of apricot, thereby reducing waste and improving economic returns.