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Special Issue "Formation, Regulation and Affecting Factors of Fruit Quality"

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2023) | Viewed by 4603

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Prof. Dr. Wensuo Jia

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Guest Editor

College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: fruit ripening; fruit quality formation; signal transduction; environmental signals; hormonal signals; strawberry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruits constitute an important part of the human diet, and fruit quality is a major concern for consumers. The formation of fruit quality is tightly coupled with fruit ripening, during which dramatic changes occur in a series of physiological and biochemical metabolisms, such as those related to color, sugar, acid, aroma, cell wall, etc. These metabolic events are essential and are determined by key enzymes, which are transcriptionally or post-transcriptionally regulated by cellular signaling systems. Phytohormones and environmental factors act as internal and external cues, triggering cellular signaling systems and controlling fruit quality formation.

In this Special Issue of IJMS, we will focus on the molecular identification and characterization of the key enzymes implicated in fruit quality associated-metabolisms, the transcription factors transcriptionally controlling the key enzymes, and, particularly, the signaling systems determining fruit quality formation. Research papers, up-to-date reviews, and perspective articles are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Wensuo Jia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

fruit ripening
fruit quality formation
signal transduction
hormones
environmental signals
transcription factors
key enzymes
metabolism

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Identification of HuSWEET Family in Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus) and Key Roles of HuSWEET12a and HuSWEET13d in Sugar Accumulation

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12882; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612882 - 17 Aug 2023

Viewed by 350

Abstract

The sugar composition and content of fruit have a significant impact on their flavor and taste. In pitaya, or dragon fruit, sweetness is a crucial determinant of fruit taste and consumer preference. The sugars will eventually be exported transporters (SWEETs), a novel group of sugar transporters that have various physiological functions, including phloem loading, seed filling, nectar secretion, and fruit development. However, the role of SWEETs in sugar accumulation in pitaya fruit is not yet clear. Here, we identified 19 potential members (HuSWEET genes) of the SWEET family in pitaya and analyzed their conserved motifs, physiochemical characteristics, chromosomal distribution, gene structure, and phylogenetic relationship. Seven highly conserved α-helical transmembrane domains (7-TMs) were found, and the HuSWEET proteins can be divided into three clades based on the phylogenetic analysis. Interestingly, we found two HuSWEET genes, HuSWEET12a and HuSWEET13d, that showed strong preferential expressions in fruits and an upward trend during fruit maturation, suggesting they have key roles in sugar accumulation in pitaya. This can be further roughly demonstrated by the fact that transgenic tomato plants overexpressing HuSWEET12a/13d accumulated high levels of sugar in the mature fruit. Together, our result provides new insights into the regulation of sugar accumulation by SWEET family genes in pitaya fruit, which also set a crucial basis for the further functional study of the HuSWEETs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Formation, Regulation and Affecting Factors of Fruit Quality)

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Open AccessArticle

Combined Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Unveil the Molecular Mechanisms of Fruit Acidity Variation in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031871 - 18 Jan 2023

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Abstract

Fruit acidity determines the organoleptic quality and nutritive value of most fruits. In litchi, although the organic acid composition of pulps is known, the molecular mechanisms and genes underlying variation in fruit acidity remain elusive. Herein, developing pulps of two contrasting litchi varieties, Huaizhi (HZ, low-acidity) and Boye_No.8 (B8, high-acidity), were subjected to metabolomics and transcriptomics, and the dynamic metabolome and transcriptional changes were determined. Measurements revealed that the dominant acidity-related organic acid in litchi pulps is malate, followed in low levels by citrate and tartrate. Variation in litchi pulps’ acidity is mainly associated with significant differences in malate and citrate metabolisms during fruit development. Malic acid content decreased by 91.43% and 72.28% during fruit ripening in HZ and B8, respectively. The content of citric acid increased significantly in B8, while in HZ it was reduced considerably. Differentially accumulated metabolites and differentially expressed genes analyses unveiled fumarate, succinate, 2-oxoglutarate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), phosphoenolpyruvate, and citrate metabolisms as the key driving pathways of litchi fruits’ acidity variation. The drastic malate and citrate degradation in HZ was linked to higher induction of fumarate and GABA biosynthesis, respectively. Thirty candidate genes, including three key genes (LITCHI026501.m2, fumarase; LITCHI020148.m5, glutamate decarboxylase; and LITCHI003343.m3, glutamate dehydrogenase), were identified for functional studies toward genetic modulation of litchi fruit acidity. Our findings provide insights into the molecular basis of acidity variation in litchi and provide valuable resources for fruit quality improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Formation, Regulation and Affecting Factors of Fruit Quality)

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Open AccessArticle

Effects of Pollen Sources on Fruit Set and Fruit Characteristics of ‘Fengtangli’ Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) Based on Microscopic and Transcriptomic Analysis

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 12959; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232112959 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1144

Abstract

Adequate yield and fruit quality are required in commercial plum production. The pollen source has been shown to influence fruit set and fruit characteristics. In this study, ‘Siyueli’, ‘Fenghuangli’ and ‘Yinhongli’ were used as pollinizers of ‘Fengtangli’ plum. Additionally, self-pollination, mixed pollination, and open pollination were performed. We characterized the differences in pollen tube growth, fruit set and fruit quality among pollination combinations. ‘Fengtangli’ flowers pollinated by ‘Fenghuangli’ had more pistils with pollen tubes penetrating the ovary and the highest fruit set rate, while the lowest fruit set rate was obtained from self-pollination. In self-pollinated flowers, 33% of pistils had at least one pollen tube reaching the ovary, implying that ‘Fengtangli’ is partially self-compatible. Pollen sources affected ‘Fengtangli’ fruit size, weight, pulp thickness, soluble solids, and sugar content. Transcriptome analysis of ‘Siyueli’-pollinated and ‘Yinhongli’-pollinated fruits revealed 2762 and 1018 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the response to different pollen sources. DEGs were enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathways. Our findings provide a reference for the selection of suitable pollinizers for ‘Fengtangli’ plum and promote future research on the metaxenia effect at the molecular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Formation, Regulation and Affecting Factors of Fruit Quality)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Cell Wall Integrity Signaling in Fruit Ripening

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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 4054; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044054 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1326

Abstract

Plant cell walls are essential structures for plant growth and development as well as plant adaptation to environmental stresses. Thus, plants have evolved signaling mechanisms to monitor the changes in the cell wall structure, triggering compensatory changes to sustain cell wall integrity (CWI). CWI signaling can be initiated in response to environmental and developmental signals. However, while environmental stress-associated CWI signaling has been extensively studied and reviewed, less attention has been paid to CWI signaling in relation to plant growth and development under normal conditions. Fleshy fruit development and ripening is a unique process in which dramatic alternations occur in cell wall architecture. Emerging evidence suggests that CWI signaling plays a pivotal role in fruit ripening. In this review, we summarize and discuss the CWI signaling in relation to fruit ripening, which will include cell wall fragment signaling, calcium signaling, and NO signaling, as well as Receptor-Like Protein Kinase (RLKs) signaling with an emphasis on the signaling of FERONIA and THESEUS, two members of RLKs that may act as potential CWI sensors in the modulation of hormonal signal origination and transduction in fruit development and ripening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Formation, Regulation and Affecting Factors of Fruit Quality)

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