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REVIEW article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Plant Physiology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1475496

Ethylene and Its Crosstalk with Hormonal Pathways in Fruit Ripening: Mechanisms, Modulation, and Commercial Exploitation

Provisionally accepted
Mohammad M. Tipu Mohammad M. Tipu Sherif M. Sherif Sherif M. Sherif *
  • Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Ethylene is an essential phytohormone that orchestrates a multitude of physiological and biochemical processes regulating fruit ripening, from early maturation to post-harvest. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of ethylene's multifaceted roles in climacteric fruit ripening, characterized by a pronounced increase in ethylene production and respiration rates. It explores potential genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying ethylene's action, focusing on key transcription factors, biosynthetic pathway genes, and signal transduction elements crucial for the expression of ripening-related genes. The varied sensitivity and dependency of ripening traits on ethylene are elucidated through studies employing genetic mutations and ethylene inhibitors such as AVG and 1-MCP. Additionally, the modulation of ripening traits by ethylene is influenced by its interaction with other phytohormones, including auxins, abscisic acid, gibberellins, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, and salicylic acid. Pre-harvest fruit drop is intricately linked to ethylene, which triggers enzyme activity in the abscission zone, leading to cell wall degradation and fruit detachment. This review also highlights the potential for applying ethylenerelated knowledge in commercial contexts to enhance fruit quality, control pre-harvest drop, and extend shelf life. Future research directions are proposed, advocating for the integration of physiological, genetic, biochemical, and transcriptional insights to further elucidate ethylene's role in fruit ripening and its interaction with other hormonal pathways.

    Keywords: ripening, ethylene, climacteric fruit, phytohormones, Signal Transduction, pre-harvest drop

    Received: 04 Aug 2024; Accepted: 10 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tipu and Sherif. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Sherif M. Sherif, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.