Hetero-grafting affects flavonoid biosynthesis in sweet orange 'Newhall' (Citrus sinensis) peels: a metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis

Citrus cultivation involves the widespread practice of grafting, which has a significant impact on citrus development and fruit quality yield. However, understanding effect flavonoid compounds after different rootstock grafting have been limited. Flavonoid compounds, found at highest levels in peels, contribute to improving nutritional value. In this study, scion-rootstock interaction was investigated various developmental stages when sweet orange 'Newhall' hetero-grafted with two commonly used rootstocks ( Poncirus trifoliate population, C. junos Siebold ex Tanaka ). Physiological index detection showed higher concentration total content peels grafted population (ct) than (cj). Further metabolomic analysis identified 703 including flavones, flavonols, flavanones. Out 25 flavonoids affected by stages, most were flavones. Transcriptomic 8,562 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Co-expression Pearson's correlation discovered six hub structure 19 transcription factors (TFs) that biosynthesis. addition increasing transcript synthesize flavanones, also expression many TFs. Taken together, our findings suggested hetero-grafting could promote accumulation during stages. These results offered fresh perspectives grafting's application usefulness enhancement nutritive components citrus.