Transcriptome analysis of Litchi chinensis pericarp during colour development in response to plant growth regulators

The quality of litchi fruit is negatively impacted by poor pericarp coloration in the warm, subtropical temperature of the North Indian plains, costing fruit growers money. We were interested in finding out how pre-harvest applications of chemicals and plant growth regulators, and their combination affect the pericarp color and fruit quality of litchi (cv. Deshi), as well as evaluate any potential impacts on chlorophyll degradation in fruit and leaves. However, it is uncertain what molecular processes regulate the maturity of these non-climacteric fruits. In this aspect, as well as in the development of litchi fruit research at the molecular level, the lack of gene sequence information has been a particularly restricting factor, with even the most thorough studies to date often containing only a few hundred gene sequences. The absence of genomic and transcriptome data has made it difficult to conduct genetic studies on the litchi's pericarp in terms of fruit coloring.