Changes in ethylene and sugar metabolism regulate flavonoid composition in climacteric and non-climacteric plums during postharvest storage

•Ethylene metabolism regulated flavonoid (and sugar) contents and composition.•Ethylene induced anthocyanin and reduced flavonol and flavan-3-ols in plum fruit.•Anthocyanins positively correlate with sucrose and galactose metabolic pathways.•Flavonol and flavan-3-ols associated with sorbitol, fructose, and glucose contents.