Physiological response and transcriptomic analysis of red-fleshed apple seedlings to low temperature stress
LingYu Meng,
Rui Zhang,
YanPing Wei,
Tingting Gu,
Jiahao Zhao,
Zijing Chen,
Zongying Zhang,
Nan Wang,
Xuesen Chen,
Wenjun Liu
Affiliations
LingYu Meng
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Rui Zhang
College of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Heze University, Heze, Shandong, PR China
YanPing Wei
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Tingting Gu
College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shandong Agriculture And Engineering University, Ji'nan, Shandong, PR China
Jiahao Zhao
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Zijing Chen
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Zongying Zhang
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Nan Wang
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China
Xuesen Chen
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Corresponding authors.
Wenjun Liu
College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, Tai'an, Shandong, PR China; Corresponding authors.
Low temperature (LT) stress negatively impacts the yield and quality of key horticultural crops such as apples. While previous research has predominantly focused on white-fleshed apple varieties with limited cold tolerance, the mechanisms underlying low temperature responses in red-fleshed apples remain largely unexplored. In this study, we used red-fleshed apple seedlings that we developed previously to investigate the biochemical responses to varying temperature conditions. Notably, LT stress significantly enhanced the accumulation of anthocyanins, soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and other metabolites in the red-fleshed apple seedlings. Leveraging RNA-seq data, we identified a potential LT stress-responsive transcription factor, which we designated as MdbHLH51. Functional characterization revealed that overexpression of MdbHLH51 in ‘Orin’ calli significantly promoted anthocyanin accumulation and up-regulated the expression of all MdCBFs genes, thereby bolstering tolerance to cold stress. These findings provide valuable insights into the cold stress response mechanisms in red-fleshed apples, offering a theoretical foundation for the genetic breeding of cold-resistant red apple varieties.
