Effects of Pollen Sources on Fruit Set and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Fengtangli’ Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) Based on Microscopic and Transcriptomic Analysis

Abstract

Adequate yield and fruit quality are required in commercial plum production. The pollen source has been shown to influence fruit set and fruit characteristics. In this study, ‘Siyueli’, ‘Fenghuangli’ and ‘Yinhongli’ were used as pollinizers of ‘Fengtangli’ plum. Additionally, self-pollination, mixed pollination, and open pollination were performed. We characterized the differences in pollen tube growth, fruit set and fruit quality among pollination combinations. ‘Fengtangli’ flowers pollinated by ‘Fenghuangli’ had more pistils with pollen tubes penetrating the ovary and the highest fruit set rate, while the lowest fruit set rate was obtained from self-pollination. In self-pollinated flowers, 33% of pistils had at least one pollen tube reaching the ovary, implying that ‘Fengtangli’ is partially self-compatible. Pollen sources affected ‘Fengtangli’ fruit size, weight, pulp thickness, soluble solids, and sugar content. Transcriptome analysis of ‘Siyueli’-pollinated and ‘Yinhongli’-pollinated fruits revealed 2762 and 1018 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the response to different pollen sources. DEGs were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathways. Our findings provide a reference for the selection of suitable pollinizers for ‘Fengtangli’ plum and promote future research on the metaxenia effect at the molecular level.