Comparative transcriptomic analysis of peach fruits in common and high temperature conditions

Purpose: This study was to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of temperature effects on fruit quality during shelf life. The transcriptome data of peach fruits stored in high temperature (HT, 35 °C) and common temperature (CT, 25 °C) conditions were measured and compared. Methods: Red flesh peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch cv. Tianxianhong) fruits with consistent color, shape and weight were selected and kept at 5 °C for 2 days after the day of harvest. Then, these fruits were randomly divided into two groups. One group was stored at CT for 7 days, and the other was stored at HT for 7 days. During storage, fruits were sampled at day 1, 2 and 3 as early stage as well as day 5, 6 and 7 as later stage. Total RNA of each sample was extracted and used to construct 24 RNA libraries. RNA sequencing was performed on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The differences in transcriptome, ethylene production, pulp softening of postharvest peach fruits were compared between CT and HT storage conditions Results: Our results showed that HT conditioning after 5 °C is better than CT to maintaining fruit quality during shelf life due to MEKK1-MKK2-MPK4/6 signal transduction and low level of ethylene and auxin biosynthesis enzymes which may affect genes related to softening and membrane stability through ethylene response factors (ERFs) and auxin response factors (ARFs). The mRNA profiles of postharvest peach fruits in 25 °C and 35 °C conditions at 6 time points using Illumina HiSeq.