Department of Biotechnology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416 004, India.
Biotechnol Adv. 2010 Jan-Feb;28(1):94-107. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.10.002.
Development and ripening in fruit is a unique phase in the life cycle of higher plants which encompasses several stages progressively such as fruit development, its maturation, ripening and finally senescence. During ripening phase, several physiological and biochemical changes take place through differential expression of various genes that are developmentally regulated. Expression and/or suppression of these genes contribute to various changes in the fruit that make it visually attractive and edible. However, in fleshy fruit massive losses accrue during post harvest handling of the fruit which may run into billions of dollars worldwide. This encouraged scientists to look for various ways to save these losses. Genetic engineering appears to be the most promising and cost effective means to prevent these losses. Most fleshy fruit ripen in the presence of ethylene and once ripening has been initiated proceeds uncontrollably. Ethylene evokes several responses during ripening through a signaling cascade and thousands of genes participate which not only sets in ripening but also responsible for its spoilage. Slowing down post ripening process in fleshy fruit has been the major focus of ripening-related research. In this review article, various developments that have taken place in the last decade with respect to identifying and altering the function of ripening-related genes have been described. Role of ethylene and ethylene-responsive genes in ripening of fleshy fruit is also included. Taking clues from the studies in tomato as a model fruit, few case studies are reviewed.
果实的发育和成熟是高等植物生命周期中的一个独特阶段，它包含了几个渐进的阶段，如果实发育、成熟、成熟和最终衰老。在成熟阶段，通过各种发育调控基因的差异表达，会发生几种生理和生化变化。这些基因的表达和/或抑制有助于果实的各种变化，使其具有视觉吸引力和可食用性。然而，在果实收获后的处理过程中，肉质果实会大量损失，全球损失可能达到数十亿美元。这促使科学家们寻找各种方法来避免这些损失。基因工程似乎是防止这些损失最有前途和最具成本效益的手段。大多数肉质果实是在乙烯的存在下成熟的，一旦成熟开始，就会不可控地进行。乙烯通过信号级联在成熟过程中引发几种反应，成千上万的基因参与其中，不仅启动了成熟过程，而且对其腐烂也负有责任。减缓肉质果实的后熟过程一直是与成熟相关的研究的主要焦点。在这篇综述文章中，描述了过去十年中在鉴定和改变与成熟相关的基因功能方面所取得的各种进展。还包括乙烯和乙烯响应基因在肉质果实成熟中的作用。从番茄作为模式果实的研究中获取线索，回顾了一些案例研究。
