Fig. 5: 2D-PCA plot of the four samples based on the expression of the 12 candidate genes.

In panel a is depicted the distribution of the samples representing the entire experimental design (on-tree maturity + postharvest) on a 2D-PCA plot. The stage of the sample was indicated by color, with dark green for harvest (T0), yellow (T1ctrl) for 1 month of cold storage in control condition, red (T1 + 5ctrl) for 5 days of shelf-life ripening after cold storage in control condition, pale green (T11-MCP) for 1 month of cold storage 1-MCP treated and purple (T1 + 51-MCP) for 5 days of shelf-life ripening after cold storage 1-MCP treated. The four harvesting stages are instead depicted with a different shape, according to the legend reported on the top-left of panel a. The orientation of the expression profile of this set of candidate genes was depicted in the loading plot reported in panel b. The color of each arrow indicate a specific pathway, such as green: ethylene, red: cell wall metabolism, purple: volatile organic compounds, blue: auxin. ACS: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase, ACO: 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase, ERS: ethylene response sensor, ERF: ethylene responsive factor, PG: polygalacturonase, AAT: alcohol acyl transferase, ADH: alcohol dehydrogenase, LOX: lipoxygenase, HPL: hydroperoxyde lyase, Aux/IAA: Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid protein