Integrated Cytological, Physiological, and Transcriptome Analyses Provide Insight into the Albino Phenotype of Chinese Plum (Prunus salicina)

Albino seedlings that arise during seed reproduction can have a significant impact on plant growth and breeding. In this research, we present the first report of albino occurrences in process Prunus salicina describe cytological, physiological, transcriptomic changes observed seedlings. The which were several plum cultivars exhibited abnormal chloroplast ultrastructure perturbed stomatal structure. Compared to normal seedlings, photosynthetic pigment contents decreased by more than 90%, accompanied reductions chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Furthermore, substantially changed parameters indicated capacity function impaired Additionally, activities antioxidant enzyme drastically altered against background higher proline lower ascorbic acid leaves A total 4048 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified through sequencing, downregulated DEGs greatly enriched pathways for antenna proteins flavonoid biosynthesis. GLK1 Ftsz as candidate responsible development division substantial decline expression levels examined photosystem-related was validated Our findings shed light intricate physiological molecular mechanisms driving seedling manifestation, will contribute improving reproductive breeding efforts plums.