Molecular regulation of apple and grape ripening: exploring common and distinct transcriptional aspects of representative climacteric and non-climacteric fruits

Abstract

Fleshy fruits of angiosperms are organs specialized for promoting seed dispersal by attracting herbivores and enticing them to consume the organ and the contained seeds. Ripening can be broadly defined as the processes serving as a plant strategy to make the fleshy fruit appealing to animals and leads to a coordinated series of changes in color, texture, aroma and flavor, as result of an intricate interplay of genetically and epigenetically programmed events. The ripening of fruits can be categorized into two types: climacteric, which is characterized by a rapid increase in respiration rate typically accompanied by a burst of ethylene production, and non-climacteric, where this pronounced peak in respiration is absent. Here we review the most current knowledge on transcriptomic changes taking place in apple (climacteric) and grapevine (non-climacteric) fruit during ripening, with the aim to highlight specific and common hormonal and molecular events governing the process in both species. In this perspective, we found that specific NAC transcription factor members participate in the ripening initiation in grape and are involved in the attempt to restore the normal physiological ripening progression in impaired fruit ripening physiology in apple. These elements suggest the existence of a common regulatory mechanism operated by NAC transcription factors and auxin in the two species.

Dissecting postharvest chilling injuries in pome and stone fruit through integrated omics

“…Ripening and senescence of fruits may occur within weeks or months depending on the genotype that affects fruit metabolism through its interactions with endogenous and exogenous factors. During ripening, climacteric fruits show an increase in ethylene production and respiration rate that significantly hasten their postharvest decay ( Zenoni et al., 2023 ). These phenomena occur even if the fruit is detached at the end of its growth.…”

“…These phenomena occur even if the fruit is detached at the end of its growth. Differently, non-climacteric fruits can ripe fully only if they remain attached to the plant ( Zenoni et al., 2023 ). After ripening, the senescence process begins, leading to protein, lipid, and nucleic acid degradation at the cellular level, and more in general to cell dysfunction, and eventually cell death.…”

The Effects of Mixed Foliar Nutrients of Calcium and Magnesium on the Major Bypass Respiratory Pathways in the Pulp of ‘Feizixiao’ Litchi

“…During the ripening process of fruits, they are divided into "climacteric fruits" and "non climacteric fruits" based on the trend of respiratory rate changes. Climacteric fruits are characterized by a rapid increase in respiratory rate, usually accompanied by an explosion of ethylene; non-climacteric fruits do not exhibit significant respiratory peaks during their ripening process [19]. Climacteric fruits sometimes exhibit increased respiration during ripening, potentially linked to the AP pathway of the mitochondrial electron transport chain.…”

From acidity to sweetness: a comprehensive review of carbon accumulation in grape berries

“…This switch is pivotal for the regulation of sugar accumulation (Zhang et al 2006 ; Zhou et al 2023 ). In addition to changes in plasmodesmatal density and permeability, it involves various enzymes of sugar metabolism, sugar transporter proteins and transcriptional regulators (Lecourieux et al 2014 ; Durán-Soria et al 2020 ; Li et al 2021 ; Zenoni et al 2023 ). Although this topic has been revised several times, significant and recent progress makes it useful to update it (Zhou et al 2023 ; Liang et al 2023 ).…”