Endophyte community shifts in Rubus chingii during fruit ripening are associated with key metabolites

This study provides the first evidence of a structured succession in the endophytic microbiome of <i>R. chingii</i> fruit and its close association with the dynamics of medically relevant metabolites. The findings propose that the ripening process is a tripartite interplay between host development, microbial succession, and metabolic reprogramming. The identified keystone taxa represent promising targets for future microbiome-based strategies to manipulate fruit quality, offering novel insights into the role of the microbiome in medicinal plant biology and its potential application in sustainable agriculture.