Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a nutritionally
important fruit of high nutritive value, delicious in taste with an
attractive aroma. Due to their antioxidant and therapeutic potential,
mango fruits are receiving special attention in biochemical and pharmacognosy-based
studies. Fruit quality determines consumer’s acceptance, and
hence, understanding the physiological, biochemical, and molecular
basis of fruit development, maturity, ripening, and storage is essential.
Transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic, and molecular genetic approaches
have led to the identification of key genes, metabolites, protein
candidates, and quantitative trait loci that are associated with enhanced
mango fruit quality. The major pathways that determine the fruit quality
include amino acid metabolism, plant hormone signaling, carbohydrate
metabolism and transport, cell wall biosynthesis and degradation,
flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis, and carotenoid metabolism.
Expression of the polygalacturonase, cutin synthase, pectin methyl
esterase, pectate lyase, β-galactosidase, and ethylene biosynthesis
enzymes are related to mango fruit ripening, flavor, firmness, softening,
and other quality processes, while genes involved in the MAPK signaling
pathway, heat shock proteins, hormone signaling, and phenylpropanoid
biosynthesis are associated with diseases. Metabolomics identified
volatiles, organic acids, amino acids, and various other compounds
that determine the characteristic flavor and aroma of the mango fruit.
Molecular markers differentiate the mango cultivars based on their
geographical origins. Genetic linkage maps and quantitative trait
loci studies identified regions in the genome that are associated
with economically important traits. The review summarizes the applications
of omics techniques and their potential applications toward understanding
mango fruit physiology and their usefulness in future mango breeding.