Comparative analysis of fruit microbiota and metabolites in two bayberry cultivars: implications for fruit quality and postharvest disease control.

The fruit microbiome is crucial for fruit quality and postharvest characteristic. This study characterized the microbiome and metabolome of two bayberry cultivars ( cv. DongKui and Dingao) across three orchardsusing high-throughput sequencing and GC-MS metabolomics. The results indicated Dongkui showed lower microbial diversity dominated by and and bacterial genus , whereas Dingao exhibited greater microbial diversity with , , and . Fungal diversity was cultivar-dependent, while bacterial composition varied by orchard. Metabolomics revealed higher amino acid in Dingao and elevated myricetin in Dongkui correlating with microbiome differencs. GC-MS identified 16 differntial metabolites between cultivars, linked to microbial variations. Notably, core microbiome analysis identified as a potential biocontrol agent. However, Dingao hosted more phytopathogens (, ), implying heightened disease susceptibility and the need for targeted postharvest interventions. These findings provide insights for improving bayberry quality and developing microbiome-based strategies for crop improvement and preservation.