Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), renowned for its vibrant color and distinctive flavor, enjoys widespread popularity and is planted in temperate climates. This study investigated four short-chilling requirement cultivars in southeast China, which is known as a subtropical climate region, and determined several key fruit qualities, such as color, size, weight, and nutrient attributes (e.g., vitamin C, soluble sugar, organic acid, protein, gibberellin, and brassinolide) at four maturities due to the climate’s effect on the fruit color and the main color substance: anthocyanin accumulation. Therefore, the color index (a*, b*, and L*) and anthocyanin content were determined, and the anthocyanin-related gene expression was quantitative and analyzed using WGCNA. The results showed that the red variety, ‘Jiangnanhong’, exhibited the highest fruit weight and diameter as well as the greatest concentration of cyanidin-3-rutinoside (C3R). Conversely, the yellow variety, ‘Chaoyang 1’, demonstrated higher L* and b* values along with a greater vitamin C content. The research confirmed that C3R is the predominant anthocyanin present in sweet cherries during ripening. Additionally, three genes—LOC110744862, LOC110749842, and LOC110753376—were identified as playing crucial roles in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Anthocyanins significantly influence both the visual appeal and nutritional quality of the fruit. These results provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the differences among sweet cherry varieties in southeast China.

This study aimed to characterize carotenoid profiles and unravel the genetic mechanisms underlying flesh color variation in white and yellow-fleshed peaches, with a focus on the hybrid cultivar ‘ZY29’ derived from two white-fleshed parents (‘Yulu’ and ‘Hujing Honey Dew’). Using UPLC-APCI-MS/MS, we quantified carotenoids in the pericarp (exocarp) and flesh (mesocarp) of parental and hybrid fruits. Results showed that ‘ZY29’ accumulated significantly higher levels of β-carotene and lutein compared to its white-fleshed parents. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of carotenoid biosynthesis genes (PSY, LCYB, and ZDS) and downregulation of the carotenoid cleavage gene CCD4 in ‘ZY29’, explaining enhanced carotenoid accumulation. Integrative metabolome-transcriptome analysis identified core regulatory networks associated with metabolic shifts, including transcription factors (MYB and WRKY). These findings provide novel insights into the molecular basis of yellow flesh formation in peaches, offering potential targets (PSY and LCYB) and metabolic markers (β-carotene and lutein) for breeding nutritionally enriched cultivars. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic factors and parental regulatory mechanisms involved in the formation of yellow flesh color in peaches. Our results have important implications for breeding new peach varieties with desirable color and nutritional qualities and may provide valuable insights for future research in this area.

Anthurium is the second largest tropical flower crop in the world. The international market has urgent demand for anthurium varieties with different spathe colors, which mainly arises from the types and contents of anthocyanin. The flavonoid 3-O-glycosyltransferase (UF3GT) gene is the key enzyme involved in promoting anthocyanin accumulation through glycosylation downstream of the anthocyanin synthesis pathway (ASP). Abnormal functioning of UFGT usually results in a reduction in or loss of anthocyanins. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of one anthurium UFGT gene (AnUFGT1) in ‘Xueyu’ (X), an anthocyanin-deficient mutant of ‘Alabama’. Metabolome analysis was used to analyze the metabolic products in the ASP to determine the possible key link of the anthocyanin deletion mutation. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis UFGT functionally deficient mutant (ufgt) and ‘X’ validated the function of AnUFGT1. The results of comparative metabolome analysis of ‘X’ and ‘Alabama’ showed that there was no significant difference in product levels upstream of ASP. The expression levels of AnUFGT1 were significantly greater in ‘Alabama’ than in ‘X’. The overexpression of AnUFGT1 in ufgt significantly increased its anthocyanin contents. The overexpression of AnUFGT1 in ‘X’, mediated by a new injection method, can only promote the synthesis of trace anthocyanins. These results showed that AnUFGT1 could fully compensate the phenotype of ufgt, but only partially compensate the anthocyanidin-deficient phenotype of anthurium mutant X. This difference suggested that anthocyanin-deletion mutations in anthurium ‘X’ are associated with AnUFGT1, but AnUFGT1 is not the only factor. There should be other factors interacting with AnUFGT1 that cause anthocyanin deficiency.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is popular with the public because of its bright color and unique taste. In order to determine the changes of fruit quality of sweet cherry in southern China, the fruit quality of sweet cherry in southern China was analyzed. The results showed that the red variety 'JNH' had the largest single fruit weight and diameter, and the highest content of C3R. The yellow variety 'CY' has higher L* value, b* value and Vitamin C content. It was determined in this experiment that the main anthocyanin content in sweet cherry fruits during the ripening period was C3R. LOC110744862, LOC110749842 and LOC110753376, which participate in anthocyanin biosynthesis, were finally screened. Anthocyanin plays an important role in the fruit appearance and nutritional quality. The results provided a theoretical basis for the differences among sweet cherry varieties in southern China.