Improved peach peel color development by fruit bagging. Enhanced expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic and regulatory genes using white non-woven polypropylene as replacement for yellow paper

•Red color development in peach skin was improved by fruit bagging with white non-woven polypropylene (WH-N).•Fruit bagging with white non-woven polypropylene (WH-N) increased expression of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes.•Fruit bagging with white non-woven polypropylene (WH-N) increased expression of MYB-bHLH-WD40 members.•White non-woven polypropylene (WH-N) bag is an ideal replacement for yellow paper (YE-P) one for peach fruit color improvement.•‘Yulu’ is a cultivar has much weaker ability to develop red skin color.