Molecular Mechanisms of Fruit Development, Stress Response, and Quality Formation in Horticultural Crops
A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1010
Editor
Interests: plant; genetics; vegetables; fruits
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fruit development in horticultural crops is orchestrated by complex molecular networks. Key phytohormones like auxin, gibberellin, and ethylene regulate cell division and expansion, while transcription factors, such as MADS-box proteins, govern the transition from flower to fruit. Concurrently, plants employ sophisticated mechanisms to counter environmental stresses like drought, salinity, and pathogens. These involve stress-responsive genes, antioxidant systems, and signaling molecules like abscisic acid (ABA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activate protective pathways to maintain cellular homeostasis. Fruit quality—which encompasses flavor, color, texture, and nutritional value—is the integrated outcome of these developmental and stress-response programs. This process requires the precise regulation of metabolic pathways for sugars, acids, pigments (anthocyanins and carotenoids), volatiles, and health-promoting compounds. Crucially, epigenetic modifications and post-transcriptional regulation fine-tune these processes. Understanding these interconnected molecular mechanisms is vital for breeding superior varieties with enhanced resilience, yield, and consumer-desired traits in a changing climate. This Special Issue delves into the molecular symphony of fruit development, exploring how phytohormones and environmental cues orchestrate growth from blossom to harvest. We will also illuminate the sophisticated mechanisms plants employ to build resilience against stress, and how these very processes fundamentally shape the final quality, flavor, nutrition, and appeal of horticultural crops
Dr. Rahat Sharif
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- phytohormones
- fruit development
- abiotic stress
- pathogen resistance
- epigenetics
- metabolic pathways
- postharvest biology
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