Editorial: Regulation of fruit ripening and senescence

Authors: FIGUEROA, CARLOS - University Of Talca; Jiang, Cai-Zhong; TORRES, CAROLINA - Washington State University; FORTES, ANA - University Of Lisbon; ALKAN, NOAM - Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2021
Publication Date: 7/26/2021
Citation: Figueroa, C.R., Jiang, C., Torres, C.A., Fortes, A.M., Alkan, N. 2021. Editorial: Regulation of fruit ripening and senescence. Frontiers in Plant Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.711458.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.711458

Interpretive Summary: Fruit ripening and senescence comprise complex and highly coordinated molecular and biochemical processes involving ripening-related genes, transcription factors, enzymes, repressors, signaling molecules, and metabolic pathways in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, which account for fruit quality on one hand and postharvest losses on the other. Therefore, studying the molecular mechanisms of fruit ripening and senescence have profound commercial implications. As the fruit ripens or enters senescence, it becomes susceptible to fungal pathogens, while the fruit-pathogen interactions could accelerate ripening and senescence, resulting in fruit deterioration. Hence, common strategies to slow down senescence and preserve fruit quality include both pre- and post-harvest management practices and technological tools. This research topic aimed to study and characterize the endogenous molecular and biochemical regulators (i.e., hormones, molecules, and genetic components) and their mechanisms of action to regulate ripening, senescence, and disease resistance in fruit. This collection includes ten original research articles reporting new information on hormonal control of fruit ripening (Upadhyay et al., Khaksar and Sirikantaramas, Fresno and Munné-Bosch), the effect of exogenous application of signal molecules in postharvest fruit quality (Yu, Cao, et al., Yao, Li, Sun, et al., García-Pastor et al.), genetics study of the fruit cell wall and texture modification-related enzymes (Wen, Zhang, et al., Nakano, Kawai, et al.), antioxidant-related proteomic changes during ripening (Song et al.) and the effect of mutations of key transcription factors on fruit quality traits (Adaskaveg et al.). Those studies included various fruit species such as tomato, peach, sweet cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, and durian. Moreover, two important reviews on the role of alternative oxidase (Hewitt and Dhingra) and sugar signaling (Durán-Soria, Pott, et al.) during ripening were included in this research topic. This research topic gathered new information and reviewed the scientific literature on the regulation of fruit ripening at the genetic, transcriptional, proteomic, hormonal, and metabolic levels and their impact on fruit quality. These data provided new insights that could be converted to future applications to improve fruit quality and reduce postharvest fruit loss.

Technical Abstract: Fruit ripening and senescence comprise complex and highly coordinated molecular and biochemical processes involving ripening-related genes, transcription factors, enzymes, repressors, signaling molecules, and metabolic pathways in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, which account for fruit quality on one hand and postharvest losses on the other. Therefore, studying the molecular mechanisms of fruit ripening and senescence have profound commercial implications. As the fruit ripens or enters senescence, it becomes susceptible to fungal pathogens, while the fruit-pathogen interactions could accelerate ripening and senescence, resulting in fruit deterioration. Hence, common strategies to slow down senescence and preserve fruit quality include both pre- and post-harvest management practices and technological tools. This research topic aimed to study and characterize the endogenous molecular and biochemical regulators (i.e., hormones, molecules, and genetic components) and their mechanisms of action to regulate ripening, senescence, and disease resistance in fruit. This collection includes ten original research articles reporting new information on hormonal control of fruit ripening (Upadhyay et al., Khaksar and Sirikantaramas, Fresno and Munné-Bosch), the effect of exogenous application of signal molecules in postharvest fruit quality (Yu, Cao, et al., Yao, Li, Sun, et al., García-Pastor et al.), genetics study of the fruit cell wall and texture modification-related enzymes (Wen, Zhang, et al., Nakano, Kawai, et al.), antioxidant-related proteomic changes during ripening (Song et al.) and the effect of mutations of key transcription factors on fruit quality traits (Adaskaveg et al.). Those studies included various fruit species such as tomato, peach, sweet cherry, strawberry, pomegranate, and durian. Moreover, two important reviews on the role of alternative oxidase (Hewitt and Dhingra) and sugar signaling (Durán-Soria, Pott, et al.) during ripening were included in this research topic. This research topic gathered new information and reviewed the scientific literature on the regulation of fruit ripening at the genetic, transcriptional, proteomic, hormonal, and metabolic levels and their impact on fruit quality. These data provided new insights that could be converted to future applications to improve fruit quality and reduce postharvest fruit loss.