Regulation of ripening and opportunities for control in tomato and other fruits

Abstract

SummaryFruits are an important part of a healthy diet. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, and their consumption is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. These important plant products can, however, be expensive to purchase, may be of disappointing quality and often have a short shelf life. A major challenge for crop improvement in fleshy fruit species is the enhancement of their health-promoting attributes while improving quality and reducing postharvest waste. To achieve these aims, a sound mechanistic understanding of the processes involved in fruit development and ripening is needed. In recent years, substantial insights have been made into the mechanistic basis of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signalling and the identity of master regulators of ripening that operate upstream of, or in concert with a regulatory pathway mediated by this plant hormone. The role of other plant hormones in the ripening process has, however, remained elusive, and the links between regulators and downstream processes are still poorly understood. In this review, we focus on tomato as a model for fleshy fruit and provide an overview of the molecular circuits known to be involved in ripening, especially those controlling pigment accumulation and texture changes. We then discuss how this information can be used to understand ripening in other fleshy fruitbearing species. Recent developments in comparative genomics and systems biology approaches are discussed. The potential role of epigenetic changes in generating useful variation is highlighted along with opportunities for enhancing the level of metabolites that have a beneficial effect on human health.

Naturally Occurring Anthocyanin, Structure, Functions and Biosynthetic Pathway in Fruit Plants

“…In various studies it was pointed out that the structural genes contributed in anthocyanin synthesis were coordinately expressed and their levels of expression were certainly related to the degree of anthocyanin concentration [4,52], In fruits, number of key genes that are implicated in the regulating fruit ripening have been reported, many of them are SEPALLATA-and SQUAMOSA-class MADS box or SBP box transcription factors [69,70]. Particularly in grapes, the flavonoid biosynthesis regulation has been investigated thoroughly and 14 flavonoid biosynthesis related R2R3 MYB family members have been identified [67].…”

Transcriptional Activity of the MADS Box ARLEQUIN/TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE1 Gene Is Required for Cuticle Development of Tomato Fruit

“…Among the angiosperm species yielding fleshy fruits, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has provided the most relevant discoveries of the last decades about the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying fruit ripening (Giovannoni, 2004;Seymour et al, 2008Seymour et al, , 2013Ariizumi et al, 2013). Hence, tomato is currently considered the model species for the study of this complex developmental process, which ensures the formation, maturation, and dispersal of seeds and makes the fruit healthy for human consumption.…”

The pattern of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate oxidase induction in the tomato leaf petiole abscission zone is independent of expression of the ribonuclease‐LX‐encoding LeLX gene

“…2013; Seymour et al . 2013), and its expression is tightly linked to the amount of ethylene produced by the plant (Van de Poel et al . 2012; Ruduś et al .…”

“…2013), LeACO1 and LeACO4 have their highest expression in tomato leaf and flower tissues (http://gbf.toulouse.inra.fr/tomexpress/www/welcomeTomExpress.php). We have recently demonstrated (Chersicola et al .…”