Temporal Changes in Flavonoid Components, Free Radical Scavenging Activities and Metabolism-Related Gene Expressions during Fruit Development in Chinese Dwarf Cherry (Prunus humilis)

Temporal changes in total flavonoid content (TFC), composition, free radical scavenging activity and metabolism-related gene expression of three Prunus humilis cultivars with distinctively different fruit colors were investigated this study. The highest TFCs all observed at the initial sampling stage (young-fruit stage, YFS), which then declined gradually until ripening. dark-red-fruited cultivar ‘Jinou 1’ had TFC, followed by yellow-red-fruited ‘Nongda 3’ yellow-fruited 5’. Thirteen compounds found using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), most decreased throughout fruit-ripening process, exception cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G). C3G, as main anthocyanin P. fruits, increased drastically during fruit-coloring process 3’, while it was not detected developing fruits antioxidant assay (DPPH, FRAP ABTS) revealed that YFS also activities, activities. Correlation analysis activities significantly positively correlated contents such catechin, proanthocyanidin B1 phloretin-2′,4-O-diglucoside (p < 0.01). Moreover, showed biosynthetic genes patterns cultivars. levels ChCHS, ChCHI, ChF3H, ChDFR, ChLDOX ChUFGT ripening 1’, flavonoid-related 5’ development. results from our study could contribute to deeper understanding accumulation mechanisms help facilitate targeted development utilization a functional food species.