Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal molecular mechanisms associated with the natural abscission of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) ripe fruits

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is rich in phenolic compounds and has an extremely high nutritional value. There have been few studies on fruit abscission in the blue honeysuckle, and the lack of knowledge on the regulatory mechanisms involved in the associated pathways significantly limits selective breeding in the future. To comprehensively understand the fruit abscission of the blue honeysuckle at the molecular level, we combined physiological experiments, metabolic changes, and transcriptomics to conduct a comparative analysis of early maturity and late maturity. Changes in metabolites and critical regulatory genes in the FAZ of blue honeysuckle fruit during the abscission process are discussed to analyze the physiological and molecular mechanisms of fruit abscission and to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for effectively preventing fruit abscission during harvesting and achieving breeding goals.