Abstract: In order to explore the structure and dynamic changes of fungal communities in melon fruit during storage, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of fungi in melon peel and pulp stored for 0, 7, 14, or 21 d was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology. Species annotation and species composition analysis were used to determine the dominant fungal communities in the fruit tissues at each storage time point. The results showed that Vishniacozyma, Papiliotrema, and Metarhizium were dominant in the peel on day 0, while Aspergillus, Trichothecium, and Penicillium became dominant as storage time increased. The dominant fungal communities in the flesh also changed as storage time increased, with Vishniacozyma, Trichothecium, and Pichia being the dominant fungi on the 21th day of storage. Diversity analysis showed that fungal abundance and diversity were higher in the peel than in the flesh. In summary, the abundance and diversity of fungal communities in melon tissues changed significantly during storage, and the interaction of pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus, Trichothecium, and Penicillium resulted in deterioration of melon fruit quality. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of preservation methods and biological control strategies for melons in the future.

Key words: melon; storage period; fungal community structure; high-throughput sequencing