Multi-Omics Reveals Protected Cultivation Improves Chinese Plum (<i>Prunus salicina</i> L.) Quality via Light-Regulated Sugar Metabolism.

ABSTRACT: The Chinese plum (Prunus salicina L.), 'Zuili', is a geographically protected cultivar that is valued for its high polyphenol levels and distinctive flavor. Light availability strongly influences sugar accumulation and secondary metabolism in plum fruit, yet the molecular processes associated with quality variation under protected cultivation remain unclear. Here, we compare three cultivation systems-multi-span greenhouse (M), retractable electric rain shelter (R), and conventional open field (CK)-to evaluate their effect on fruit quality using integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Field trials showed that M treatment increased fruit sweetness by 28.10% versus CK (14.68 vs. 11.46 °Brix, p < 0.001) without yield loss and significantly improved vertical fruit diam

SUBMITTER: Cao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12788113 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature