Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed the Discrepancy between Early-Ripening ‘Geneva Early’ and Late-Ripening ‘Hanfu’ Apple Cultivars during Fruit Development and Ripening

Apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) can be categorized into early-, medium-, and late-ripening cultivars based on the length of fruit developmental phases. The lengthening apple ripening period has a direct impact its economic worth market competitiveness, although underlying mechanism is mostly unclear. In current study, development maturation early-ripening ‘Geneva Early’ (GE) ‘Hanfu’ (HF) were studied using transcriptomics to detect identify changes differential genes. Results showed that two varieties had different periods, but in both, process required cell division, expansion, starch accumulation, secondary metabolite accumulation. early stages (G1 G2), GE’s size was larger than HF’s, GO analysis revealed an enrichment genes involved metabolism fatty acids carbon molecules. G2 phase, GE numerous regulatory factors hormonal pathways, while HF this phase mainly enriched sugars carbohydrates. results indicated during development, relevant regulating expressed earlier HF, which made enter next earlier, thereby shortening phase. These findings contributed improved understanding molecular basis provide reliable reference for breeding genomics.