Molecular Insights into Fruit Ripening and Senescence
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 222
Special Issue Editors
Interests: fruit ripening and senescence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: postharvest biology of fruits and vegetables
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Fruit ripening is the sophisticated interplay of physiological and biochemical transformations, encompassing chlorophyll degradation (de-greening) and pigment biosynthesis, textural softening through cell wall remodeling and turgor pressure regulation, and the biosynthesis of flavor compounds and nutrients such as carbohydrates, organic acids, and volatile organic compounds. These ripening processes and subsequent senescence events are governed by intricate molecular networks involving the coordinated actions of ripening-related genes, transcriptional regulators, enzymatic systems, signaling cascades, and metabolic reprogramming that ultimately dictate both fruit quality and postharvest deterioration patterns.
Determining the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit ripening and senescence has substantial agricultural and economic significance. Over the past decade, research has yielded significant insights through multidimensional investigations spanning physiology, phytohormone, structural/functional genes, transcription factors, and epigenetic modifications. Despite these advancements, fundamental questions persist regarding the precise molecular initiators and comprehensive regulatory network controlling these biological processes.
This Special Issue will collate cutting-edge research advancing our understanding of molecular regulation in fruit ripening and senescence. We particularly welcome contributions investigating (but not limited to) the following:
- Core structural genes and their functional characterization;
- Transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms;
- Translational regulation and post-translational modifications;
- Epigenetic regulation and chromatin dynamics.
Dr. Guoxiang Jiang
Dr. Yijie Zhou
Dr. Zhiwei Li
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- ripening
- senescence
- chlorophyll degradation
- pigment biosynthesis
- textural softening
- cell wall
- flavor
- carbohydrates
- organic acids
- volatile organic compounds
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