This study conducted a genome-wide identification and systematic evolutionary analysis of the banana WRKY gene family using bioinformatics, transcriptomics, and molecular biology approaches. A total of 153 WRKY genes were identified in the banana genome, with significant differences in the amino acid count, molecular weight, and other physicochemical properties of their encoded proteins. The subcellular localization of these proteins is primarily in the nucleus. These genes are unevenly distributed across 11 chromosomes, with the highest density on chromosome 7. WRKY gene family members exhibit diverse expression patterns during fruit development and ripening, and some can respond to multiple abiotic and biotic stresses. Systematic evolutionary analysis classified them into three major groups (I, II, and III), with Group II having the highest number of members, which are further divided into five subgroups. Conserved motif analysis revealed that Motif1, Motif2, and Motif4 are key structural elements in the family’s evolution, with some members having a WRKYGKK variant. The gene structure shows a wide range of exon numbers (1–22), and the promoter regions are rich in cis-elements related to light response, hormone signaling, and stress response, indicating their potential for integrating light signals, hormone networks, and multiple stress responses. Collinearity analysis identified 116 segmental duplication events, with Ka/Ks values all less than 1, indicating purifying selection. After ethylene treatment, 51 genes showed significant changes in expression, which can be categorized into four patterns: sustained upregulation, sustained downregulation, initial upregulation followed by downregulation, and delayed upregulation. Among these, MaWRKY10, MaWRKY88, and MaWRKY137 exhibited significant expression changes and may play key roles in fruit ripening. These findings significantly contribute to the theoretical framework regarding the evolution and function of the WRKY family in plants. Moreover, they offer valuable gene resources and regulatory strategies that enhance postharvest banana preservation and molecular breeding efforts.

Red-flowered strawberry possesses both ornamental and edible value, but its short single-flower lifespan severely limits its ornamental potential. In this study, petals of the red-flowered strawberry cultivar ‘140’ were collected at five developmental stages (large bud, half-bloom, full-bloom, initial withering, and withered) to systematically analyze the senescence process from morphological characteristics, physiological, and ethylene-related gene expression perspectives. The results showed that the epidermal cell breakage rate increased continuously during petal senescence, with lower epidermal cells consistently exhibiting higher breakage rates than the upper epidermal cells. Moisture content decreased progressively, while relative electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion contents increased continuously. Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities, as well as glutathione content, exhibited unimodal responses, peaking at different stages. Both ethylene and abscisic acid contents increased and then decreased, with ethylene showing greater amplitude and faster rate of change. The ethylene biosynthesis gene FaACO1 and signaling genes FaETR1, FaETR2, FaEIN2, FaEIN7, FaERF13, and FaERF118 were significantly upregulated at full-bloom or initial withering stages, with FaERF118 showing the highest and continuously increasing expression. These findings indicate that water loss, membrane lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species accumulation synergistically drive petal senescence, with the ethylene signaling pathway playing a key regulatory role.

Red-flowered strawberries possess both floral and foliage ornamental characteristics, making them highly promising as landscape groundcovers and potted ornamental plants. To establish a standardized ornamental evaluation system and screen for superior germplasm, this study used 18 strawberry accessions from China and abroad as experimental materials. Twelve core ornamental indicators were selected across three dimensions: flowering period, morphological traits, and disease resistance. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to construct a multi-level ornamental value evaluation model. The results indicate the following weight rankings across the constraint layers: morphological traits (60.66%) > flowering period (27.71%) > disease resistance (11.63%). Among these, flower color (21.96%), plant flowering period (16.41%), corolla diameter (15.69%), and single-flower flowering duration (11.30%) were the core indicators determining ornamental value. The comprehensive score rankings showed that the accessions ‘140’, ‘Pink Panda’, ‘Summer Breeze-Cherry’, and ‘Summer Breeze-Rose’ exhibited the best overall ornamental performance. These accessions feature vibrant flower colors, a prolonged flowering period, abundant blooms, and good disease resistance. ‘Frisan’ and ‘246’ had the lowest composite scores, exhibiting significant shortcomings in ornamental traits. The AHP-based evaluation system established in this study provides a quantitative tool for ornamental trait assessment in red-flowered strawberries. The four elite accessions identifed using this system—‘140’, ‘Pink Panda’, ‘Summer Breeze-Cherry’, and ‘Summer Breeze-Rose’—can serve as priority candidates for protected landscape applications and container gardening in subtropical southern China.