Green and red nets showed opposite influence on carotenoid accumulation in citrus by differential regulation of CitPSY and CitCCD4 gene expression

This study examined the effects of red, yellow, green, and blue 40–60% shade nets on carotenoid accumulation in the peel of 'Newhall' navel oranges over two seasons. The results indicated that the green 60% shade net significantly enhanced carotenoid accumulation, whereas the red 60% shade net reduced it compared with the control during both shaded seasons. HPLC analysis further revealed that the green 60% shade net significantly elevated the levels of essential carotenoids, including α-carotene, β-carotene, phytoene, violaxanthin, and lutein. In contrast, the red 60% shade net showed lower levels of these compounds than the open field. Both the green and red 60% shade nets effectively reduced temperature and light intensity while increasing relative humidity (RH). However, photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was superior under green 60% compared to red 60%, indicating optimal photosynthetic performance. The results suggest that variations in the color spectrum directly affect photochemical efficiency in citrus. Furthermore, green 60% increased carotenoid biosynthesis genes ( CitPSY , CitLCYB1 , and CitLCYBE ) while downregulating degradation-related genes ( CitCCD4 and CitNCED3 ), whereas red 60% exhibited the inverse effect. Moreover, the differential expression patterns were particularly evident in the second season, with CitPSY exhibiting maximal induction under green 60% and CitCCD4 reaching its peak under red 60% throughout all shading stages. These results underscore the potential of green 60% as an innovative, environmentally sustainable approach for citrus orchards, as it enhances the quality and coloration of citrus fruits by managing environmental and light conditions, thereby regulating the fundamental mechanisms of fruit color and quality. • Green 60% nets boost citrus carotenoids; red 60% reduces them significantly. • HPLC confirms green nets enrich α/β-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and phytoene. • Green nets upregulate CitPSY / LCYB1 while suppressing CitCCD4 / NCED3 genes. • PSII efficiency peaks under green nets despite equal microclimate modulation. • Spectral quality - not just shading - drives carotenoid accumulation in citrus.