Strawberry fruit is a rich source of phytochemicals and vitamins including anthocyanins,ascorbic acid(AsA)and folic acid,a comprehensive investigation of ABAs regulatory roles on pigments metabolism and the biosynthesis of AsA and folic acid is still lacking.In the present study,we sampled strawberry fruit receptacle in response to ABA or nordihydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA;an ABA biosynthesis blocker)treatment during ripening.By using RNA-seq technology,we identified more than 300 genes on the pathway network of carotenoids,ascorbic acid and AsA biosynthesis,chlorophyll degradation,and folic acid biosynthesis and homeostasis,among which 119 genes were differentially expressed in response to ABA or NDGA treatment.In particular,all the genes identified in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway including genes on shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathway were actively regulated by ABA,with the exception of the gene encoding cinnamate 4-hydroxylase(C4H),indicating that ABA played an important role in anthocyanin biosynthesis and C4H might not be a ratelimiting enzyme.A high negative correlation rate was found between ABA and β-carotene content,revealing the importance of carotenoids for ABA synthesis during fruit ripening.In addition,evaluation on the folate biosynthetic pathway indicated that ABA might have minor function in this nutrients biosynthesis process,however,it might be involved in its homeostasis.Intriguingly,expressions of genes involved in AsA biosynthesis were significantly lower in ABA-treated fruits.This observation raises the demand of a more comprehensive investigation on AsA biosynthesis in the fruit achenes and receptacles.The transcriptome analysis expands our understanding of the versatile roles ABA plays in phytochemical metabolism during strawberry fruit ripening.This study provides a wealth of genetic information in the metabolism pathways and may be helpful for molecular manipulation in the future.