The early-ripening peach industry has undergone rapid development in the Panxi region of the Sichuan Basin in recent years. However, after the introduction of some new peach varieties to the high-altitude peach-producing areas in Panxi, the titratable acid content in peach fruit has significantly increased. This study compared the fruit quality indicators of early-ripening peach varieties cultivated in Xide County (a high-altitude peach-producing area) and Longquanyi District (a low-altitude peach-producing area) in Sichuan Province and analyzed the differences in organic acid metabolism by combining primary metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches. The results showed that the ‘Zhongtaohongyu’ fruit from the high-altitude peach-producing area had a much higher accumulation of malic acid and, accordingly, a significantly higher organic acid content than the other samples. The lower annual average temperature and stronger ultraviolet radiation in high-altitude peach-producing areas may lead to the increased expression of genes (PpNAD-ME1, PpNADP-ME3, and PpPEPC1) in the organic acid synthesis pathway and the decreased expression of genes (PpACO2, PpNAD-MDH2/3/4/5, and PpPEPCK2) in the organic acid degradation pathway in peach fruit, ultimately resulting in the accumulation of more organic acids. Among them, the downregulation of the key genes PpNAD-MDH3/4/5 involved in malic acid metabolism may be the main reason for the higher malic acid accumulation in peach fruit from high-altitude peach-producing areas. Overall, this study elucidates the mechanism by which environmental factors enhance the accumulation of organic acids in peach fruit from high-altitude peach-producing areas from a multi-omics perspective, as well as providing a theoretical basis for screening key genes involved in organic acid metabolism in peach fruit.
Kiwifruit canker disease, caused by different bacterial pathogens, was observed in Sichuan Province, China. Specifically, in the winter and spring seasons, Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) was identified as the primary pathogen, causing reddish-brown exudates, branch dieback, and phloem decay. In contrast, during the summer months, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. actinidiae (Pca) emerged as the primary causal agent of kiwifruit canker, exhibiting similar symptoms to those caused by Psa, such as exudates from leaf scars and lenticels, xylem necrosis, and branch desiccation. From 55 symptomatic samples, 34 bacterial isolates were obtained, with 28 identified as Psa and 6 as Pca. Pathogenicity tests revealed significant variation in virulence, with Psa isolate G5 and Pca isolate M5 showing the highest pathogenicity on leaves and branches, respectively. Both pathogens caused characteristic necrosis and lesion expansion, fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the distinct evolutionary relationships of Psa and Pca isolates. These findings highlight the seasonal variability of kiwifruit canker pathogens and emphasize the need for targeted disease management strategies.
Blueberry fruit quality is characterized by multi-dimensional traits such as color, sugar-acid flavor, and volatile aroma. However, variations in progeny metabolites during seedling selection need further study. This research used the blueberry variety ‘Baldwin’ (BW) and its seedling offspring (BWSO) to compare fruit appearance, as well as sugar and acid components, anthocyanin monomers, and volatile metabolites. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze anthocyanins, sugars, and acids, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze volatile compounds. The results showed that, compared with BW, BWSO had a blacker skin and a lower L* value. Its total anthocyanin content increased by 35.90%, with delphinidin increasing the most (52.70%); component ratios were reconstructed. The main organic acids in BWSO decreased; titratable acid dropped by 29.82%, and the total soluble solids–acid ratio rose by 37.49%, indicating a good low-acid, high-sugar flavor. Forty-three differential volatile metabolites were found, and BWSO differed from BW in its green, fruity, and floral flavors. Notably, BWSO’s vitamin C (Vc) content decreased by 70.45% compared to BW, and Vc was negatively correlated with anthocyanin components. In conclusion, BWSO exhibits a black phenotype due to elevated total anthocyanins and restructured component ratios. Its low-acid trait yields better taste, but the antagonism between anthocyanin and Vc means balanced nutritional quality selection is crucial in dark-blueberry breeding. These findings offer new insights into the mechanism of color variation and provide a reference for balanced quality trait selection in seedling selection.