Physiological and transcriptomic analyses provide new insights into the effects of 1-MCP and ethephon treatments on apricot fruit during storage

Rapid ripening and a short postharvest shelf life are major issues limiting the apricot industry, and ethylene plays a significant role in these processes. In this study, 'Fengyuanhong' apricot fruits were treated with ethephon or 1-MCP and stored under controlled conditions. Physiological quality attributes (color, firmness, weight loss, soluble solids, sugars, and acids) were monitored over time. Multi time point transcriptome sequencing (RNA seq) was performed to compare gene expression profiles. Compared with the control treatment, ethephon treatment significantly altered the physiological characteristics of apricot fruits during storage, including reducing the storage period by 2 days, markedly changing the color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and h°), accelerating yellowing and water loss, and decreasing firmness. In contrast, compared with the control treatment, the 1-MCP treatment extended the storage period by 2 days, delayed fruit yellowing, and maintained firmness and stable water levels. Furthermore, no consistent patterns were observed in the levels of soluble solids, sugars, or acid-related indicators between the two treatments. Transcriptome analysis revealed that both treatments affected key metabolic pathways, including ribosome, energy metabolism, and signal transduction pathways. A co-expression network analysis revealed 16 ethylene pathway-related genes. This study demonstrated that 1-MCP treatment effectively extended both the storage duration and the shelf life of apricots. Furthermore, this study revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of both ethephon and 1-MCP treatments on postharvest apricot fruit, providing valuable scientific reference information for apricot preservation strategies.