There are strong economic drivers for understanding the process of fruit post-harvest softening. In this study, liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze metabolite changes in 'Zaoshu Shanli' fruit after different storage periods; this wild accession of Pyrus ussuriensis presents good fruit quality and relatively low flesh firmness after fruit storage. The lipid metabolites in 'Zaoshu Shanli' fruit were significantly higher at 18 days of storage compared with those at 0 days of storage, and glycerophospholipid metabolism was different metabolic pathway. It was therefore speculated that lipid metabolism play an important role in pear fruit post-harvest processes and softening. Furthermore, the abscisic acid and trans-zeatin contents in 'Zaoshu Shanli' fruit at 18 days of storage were significantly greater than those at 0 days of storage. Therefore, it was speculated that the abovementioned hormones play an important role in pear fruit post-harvest softening. Together, these results provide fundamental insight into the reasonable control of pear fruit post-harvest softening and lay a solid foundation for additional research.
Keywords: carbohydrate metabolism; lipid metabolism; metabolomics; pear fruit; post-harvest softening.
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