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Fruit shape is an important trait for fruit appearance and commercial value. Diversity of fruit-shape has been utilized in the breeding of pummelo (Citrus maxima), a basic species in Citrus. However, little is known about genetic basis of fruit shape in citrus. In this study, we identified 16 OVATE family protein (OFP) genes in the pummelo genome. Phylogenetically, they were classified into three subfamilies, which was consistent with the classification of their Arabidopsis orthologs. Synteny analysis suggested that segment and tandem duplications were responsible for their expansion in pummelo. Expression pattern analysis of Citrus OFPs (CitOFP s) showed that CitOFP19 had significantly higher expression level in the ovaries of round pummelo than in those of pear-shaped pummelo. Heterologous overexpression of CitOFP19 in tomato resulted in pear-shaped ovary and fruit shape. Taken together, this study characterized OVATE gene family in Citrus genome and assessed the function of CitOFP19. • We summarized the distribution pattern of the fruit shape index in the natural pummelo populations. • We identified the OVATE gene family in Citrus and segment and tandem duplications responsible for their expansion. • Heterologous overexpression of CitOFP19 in tomato resulted in pear-shaped ovary and fruit shape, which provided the basis for investigating its function in Citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel biological postharvest treatment by staying with apple (SWA) is proposed. • SWA treatment promotes peel coloration and maintain fruit freshness. • SWA treatment has similar effects to ethylene treatment on citrus peel coloration. • SWA treatment significantly alleviates calyx senescence caused by ethylene treatment. A novel biological treatment of staying with commercially mature apple fruits was proposed to promote the peel coloration of 'Newhall' navel orange fruit (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), which could conduce to the formation of uniform orange red peel color. At 15 days after treatment (DAT), the staying with apple (SWA) treatment led to a nearly 4-fold increase in the total carotenoid content compared with the control. Specifically, the red color apocarotenoid β-citraurin showed the highest degree of enhancement (~6 fold) under SWA treatment. Simultaneously, the expression level of β-citraurin biosynthetic gene carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4b (CCD4b) was dramatically induced (about 35 folds). Furthermore, SWA had the same effect of promoting coloration and obviously alleviate calyx senescence of citrus fruit compared with ethylene treatment. In conclusion, SWA treatment is a potential environment-friendly and recyclable postharvest technology to improve peel color and maintain fruit freshness for citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]