Omics Approach for the Identification and Validation of Genes, Proteins and Regulators in Relevance to Fruit Development, Ripening and Shelf Life: Current Status and Future Prospectives

Abstract

During the maturation phase, fruits undergo a series of developmental processes accompanied by various physiological and molecular changes, that ultimately results in ripening. Given the importance of fruit as a major dietary component, extensive research has focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying fruit development and ripening. Transcriptomics is used for profiling gene expression, identifying key processes, uncovering regulatory networks and pinpointing genes for traits. Proteomics identify protein complements in the cell, some of the proteins may have key role in improving shelf-life of fruits, enhancement of nutritional traits, and breeding new varieties. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are most common tools for identifying and quantifying metabolites. Metabolomics helps to understand the role of hormones like ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating ripening process, by revealing metabolic networks.  Thus, the basic understanding on the functional role of genes /proteins such as metabolic pathways such as hormonal regulation and molecular insights behind the ripening process is necessary for improvement of fruit crops, for quality, productivity and preservation. This review explores various functional genomics-based strategies such as RNA interference (RNAi), genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), yeast two-hybrid assays, and protoplast transformation to illustrate the functional role of individual genes, proteins and sRNAs, in hormone biosynthesis and regulation, transcription factors, and epigenetic mechanisms that tightly regulate the fruit development, ripening and shelf life. In addition, this review provides current understanding of the functional genomics on fruit development, ripening, shelf life, thereby reducing the post-harvest associated losses of fruit crops.