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Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is climacteric fruit with a short ripening period and postharvest shelf life, leading to a rapid softening. In this study, transcriptome analysis of soursop fruits was performed to identify key gene families involved in ripening under postharvest storage conditions (Day 0, Day 3 stored at 28 ± 2 °C, Day 6 at 28 ± 2 °C, Day 3 at 15 ± 2 °C, Day 6 at 15 ± 2 °C, Day 9 at 15 ± 2 °C). The transcriptome analysis showed 224,074 transcripts assembled clustering into 95, 832 unigenes, of which 21, 494 had ORF. RNA-seq analysis showed the highest number of differentially expressed genes on Day 9 at 15 ± 2 °C with 9291 genes (4772 up-regulated and 4519 down-regulated), recording the highest logarithmic fold change in pectin-related genes. Enrichment analysis presented significantly represented GO terms and KEGG pathways associated with molecular function, metabolic process, catalytic activity, biological process terms, as well as biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, plant hormone signal, starch, and sucrose metabolism, plant–pathogen interaction, plant–hormone signal transduction, and MAPK-signaling pathways, among others. Network analysis revealed that pectinesterase genes directly regulate the loss of firmness in fruits stored at 15 ± 2 °C.

Morphological variation is useful in conservation and genetic improvement programs. Euphorbia fulgens, a range-restricted local endemic species of Mexico, is used locally during the altars in the festivities of different saints and is also cultivated as an ornamental plant mainly in Europe. Thus, in the present study, morphological variation was evaluated in wild populations and cultivated populations. Characterization of 90 individuals from three wild populations (the only ones recorded to date) was done by measuring 30 morphological traits both vegetative and reproductive. Thereafter, seeds were collected, and established under greenhouse conditions, and 39 morphometric variables were evaluated in adult plants. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done for wild and cultivated groups independently, and when significant differences were found, Tukey’s comparison of means was applied (p < 0.05). To identify the traits responsible for the differences between wild and cultivated groups, a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was conducted. Morphological variation was found among wild populations, and this variation decreased in cultivated populations, mainly in reproductive structures. The LDA separated the wild populations from the cultivated groups, according to inflorescence length, petiole length/blade length ratio, and leaf roundness. The variables that determined the separation of individuals between wild and cultivated populations were cyme number, foliar Feret diameter, and inflorescence length, variables that can be important for breeding strategies and artificial selection.