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Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) originates from China and makes a large contribution to the global production of plums. The P. salicina ‘Wushancuili’ has a green coloration and high fruit quality and is economically important in eliminating poverty and protecting ecology in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir. However, rain-induced cracking (rain-cracking, literally skin cracking caused by rain) is a limitation to ‘Wushancuili’ fruit production and causes severe losses. This study reported a high-quality ‘Wushancuili’ genome assembly consisting of a 302.17-Mb sequence with eight pseudo-chromosomes and a contig N50 of 23.59 Mb through the combination of Illumina sequencing, Pacific Biosciences HiFi Ⅲ sequencing, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology. A total of 25 109 protein-coding genes are predicted and 54.17% of the genome is composed of repetitive sequences. ‘Wushancuili’ underwent a remarkable orthoselection during evolution. Gene identification revealed that loss-of-function in four core MYB10 genes results in the anthocyanin deficiency and absence of red color, revealing the green coloration due to the residual high chlorophyll in fruit skin. Besides, the occurrence of cracking is assumed to be closely associated with cell wall modification and frequently rain-induced pathogen enrichment through transcriptomic analysis. The loss of MYB10 genes might render fruit more susceptible to pathogen-mediated cracking by weakening the epidermal strength and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Our findings provided fundamental knowledge regarding fruit coloration and rain-cracking and will facilitate genetic improvement and cultivation management in Chinese plums.

Chinese plum (Prunus salicina) cv. Wushancuili has a green coloration, high fruit quality, and is economically important in eliminating poverty and protecting ecology in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir. However, large-scale production and synchronous ripening times present a huge postharvest storage challenge. This study investigated the effect of different postharvest storage temperatures on the ‘Wushancuili’ plum fruit flavor. The dynamics of soluble sugars, organic acids, and aroma substances were investigated at four temperatures mimicking large-scale commercial storage applications: 0–2 °C, 4–6 °C, 8–10 °C, and 20 °C, for 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 days. Storage under the 0–2 °C regime was the best at preserving fruit flavor and reducing decay compared to the other settings. At 0–2 °C, fruit maintained a stable level of soluble sugars and organic acids during storage. Moreover, this storage temperature facilitated the formation of aroma compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acids, which contributed to the distinct fruit aromatic characteristics. Taken together, our findings indicate that 0–2 °C is the most favorable temperature for commercial storage and maintenance of the ‘Wushancuili’ plum flavor.

Grapefruits ripened in red light-transmitting bags have 62% more carotenoid content than those ripened in natural light, leading to better coloration and higher nutritional quality.

Short-chain esters derived from fatty acid contribute to the characteristic flavor of apricot fruit, and the biosynthesis of these compounds in fruit is catalyzed by alcohol acyltransferase (AAT). In this work, we investigated the AAT gene family via genome-wide scanning, and three AAT loci were identified in different linkage groups (LGs), with PaAAT1 (PARG22907m01) in LG7, PaAAT2 (PARG15279m01) in LG4, and PaAAT3 (PARG22697m01) in LG6. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PaAAT1 belongs to clade 3, while PaAAT2 and PaAAT3 belong to clade 1 and clade 2, respectively. In contrast, the three AAT genes present different expression patterns. Only PaAAT1 exhibited distinct patterns of fruit-specific expression, and the expression of PaAAT1 sharply increased during fruit ripening, which is consistent with the abundance of C4–C6 esters such as (E)-2-hexenyl acetate and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. The transient overexpression of PaAAT1 in Katy (KT) apricot fruit resulted in a remarkable decrease in hexenol, (E)-2-hexenol, and (Z)-3-hexenol levels while significantly increasing the corresponding acetate production (p < 0.01). A substrate assay revealed that the PaAAT1 protein enzyme can produce hexenyl acetate, (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate when C6 alcohols are used as substrates for the reaction. Taken together, these results indicate that PaAAT1 plays a crucial role in the production of C6 esters in apricot fruit during ripening.

Background: The Rh blood group antigens are encoded by the RHD and RHCE genes, which possess a remarkable degree of polymorphism owing to their high homologous structures. These variants of the RH genes can lead to absence or weak expression of antigens. Methods: Analysis of RHCE genotyping by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR‐SSP) method specific to detect c.48G, c.48C, 109 bp insertion of IVS2, c.201A and c.307C and RhCE phenotyping, were conducted in 316 Chinese patients in previous study. One patient with discrepancy typing result was collected for further RhCE serologic typing using microcolumn gel method and tube method in saline using monoclonal antibodies. PacBio sequencing was performed for RHCE, RHD and RHAG complete sequence analysis. 3D molecular models of the protein with the wild‐type and mutant residue were generated using the DynaMut web server. The effect of the mutation on the protein function was predicted by PolyPhen‐2 software. Results: One male patient of Chinese Han was detected with RHCE*C allele showed by PCR‐SSP method but ccEE phenotype. Further PacBio sequencing identified one normal RHCE*cE allele and one RHCE*Ce allele carried a novel c.829G > A (p.Gly277Arg) variant, which the encoded amino acid located in the ninth transmembrane segment of RhCE protein. Crystallisation analysis of 3D molecular models revealed that the substitution at Arg277 leads to the formation of additional hydrogen bonds, including weak hydrogen bonds between multiple atoms. It also results in hydrophobic ion interactions between Arg277 and Ala244. This mutation is predicted to have a damaging effect on protein function. Conclusion: One novel RHCE*Ce allele with c.829G > A (p.Gly277Arg) variant was identified to resulting in the absence or weak expression of C and e antigens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wushan crisp plum is a new cultivar of green crisp plum with dignified fruit shape, crisp and tender flesh, pit separability and sweet taste. It is bred from natural bud mutant of Jiang'an Dabaili, a local green crisp plum cultivar by Wushan County Fruit Industry Development Center, Southwest University and Chongqing Agricultural Technology Extension Station. Wushan crisp plum has won the gold award in the National High-quality Plum and Apricot Appraise and Elect and the the of "the king of fruit" in the "Three-Gorge Cup" High-quality Crisp Plum Appraise and Elect. In the southwestern region of China, the planting area of Wushan crisp plum has been extended to 33 000 ha. The cultivar has strong robust and fast growth. In the area along the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of Chongqing, it ripens from early to middle July. The fruit is ovoid and of medium size, with average longitudinal diameter of 3.3 cm, average horizontal diameter of 4.0 cm, average single fruit mass of 37.2g, carpopodium length of 1.5 cm, and carpopodium diameter of 0.1 cm. The top of the fruit is slightly concave. The peel is green to green-yellow in background color and medium in thickness, with obvious fruit dots and thick white fruit wax. The flesh is light yeUow, compact, short in fiber length, juicy, crisp, tender, pure and sweet, with soluble solids content of 12%-15%, titrat- able acid content of 0.43%-0.72% and vitamin C content of 6.12-8.99 mg/100g. The pit is small, separable, and oblate. The percentage of edible flesh is up to 94.80%-96.88%. There is no obvious pre-harvest cracking and intra-fruit pectin. The cultivar is mid-ripening and high in yield. In the firm ripe stage, the flesh is crunchy; and after entering the soft ripe stage, the flesh becomes powdery, and the hardnes decreases. At room temperature, the fruit is not resistant to storage and transportation. Wushan crisp plum is tolerant to the climate with high temperature, high humidity and lus sunshine, with good adaptability. It is suitable for promoting in the upper reaches of Yangtze River within 180-1 000 m elevation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture, the planting area of citrus would increase steadily, and the yield would decline slightly, 2.5567 million ha and 36.168 million t, respectively. Compared with 2015, the planting area would increase by 1.97% and the yield would increase by 1.17%. According to the production scheduling of Chongqing Agricultural Commission, the citrus production in Chongqing in 2016 would continue to maintain a steady and rapid growth, the estimated area and yield were 0.2067 million ha and 2.8 million t, increasing by 4.27% and 4.48% compared with 2015 respectively. By the end of November 2016, most of mature citrus products in Chongqing would show different degree of rise in purchasing price, while the purchasing price of red orange and some processed raw material fruits would show diiferent amplitude of decline. On the whole, the production and marketing situation of Chongqing citrus would become better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]