“…These biochemical processes are highly regulated and contribute to the transformation of the fruit from an unpalatable and often toxic organ into one that is attractive and nutritious for seed-dispersing fauna (Barry, 2010;Klee and Giovannoni, 2011). The factors that regulate the ripening transition are not fully understood, although specific transcription factors belonging to the MADSbox and SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PRO-TEIN families are necessary for ripening and affect multiple aspects of the ripening process, including ethylene synthesis, softening, color change, and aroma volatile production (Herner and Sink, 1973;Sink et al, 1974;Vrebalov et al, 2002Vrebalov et al, , 2009Manning et al, 2006;Itkin et al, 2009;Kovács et al, 2009;Chung et al, 2010;Jaakola et al, 2010;Karlova et al, 2011;Martel et al, 2011;Seymour et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2012). In climacteric fruit such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), these transcription factors act upstream of ethylene biosynthesis and ethylene is required for full development of the ripe phenotype (Barry and Giovannoni, 2007;Klee and Giovannoni, 2011;Martel et al, 2011).…”