2025/07/01 by Kerui Jing, Ningguang Dong, Jianyi Liu +5 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Botanical Studies and Applications
paper · doi:10.21273/jashs05494-25
Purple hawthorn fruit are a rare trait with considerable market and ornamental value. However, the mechanism of the accumulation of purple peel metabolites remains to be elucidated. This study used targeted metabolomics to characterize anthocyanins, carotenoids, and other flavonoids in the peel of Crataegus pinnatifida ‘Zizhenzhu’ during five developmental periods, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The analysis detected 135 metabolites in ‘Zizhenzhu’ peel, including 35 anthocyanins, 68 flavonoids, 24 carotenoids, six proanthocyanidins, and two chlorophylls. As fruit development progressed, the anthocyanin content increased from 20.09 µg·g −1 at Stage 1 (S1) to 1724.69 µg·g −1 at S5. A marked surge in anthocyanin content was observed at S3. Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside was identified as the predominant anthocyanin in peel, accounting for more than 92% of the total anthocyanin content. Conversely, the carotenoid content gradually declined from 202.26 µg·g −1 at S1 to 73.16 µg·g −1 at S5. Lutein was the major carotenoid, accounting for more than 70% of the total carotenoid content. Furthermore, the chlorophyll content, another pivotal substance influencing color, declined from 297.99 µg·g −1 at S1 to 73.68 µg·g −1 at S5. Phenotype and peel-coloration metabolite analysis indicated that S3 is the color-transfer period for ‘Zizhenzhu’ peel, and the color of hawthorn peel was ended at S5. During this process, the significant accumulation of anthocyanins and the decrease in the carotenoid and chlorophyll contents were the main reasons for the purple coloration of ‘Zizhenzhu’ peel at S5. This study determined the peel-coloration metabolites of ‘Zizhenzhu’ and their accumulation characteristics, thereby elucidating hawthorn peel coloration. Moreover, it provides a theoretical foundation for breeding to alter hawthorn peel color, as well as the development and utilization of functional components.