title: Role of plant hormones and their interplay in development and ripening of fleshy fruits.
abstract: Plant hormones have been extensively studied for their roles in the regulation of various aspects of plant development. However, in the last decade important new insights have been made into their action during development and ripening, in both dry and fleshy fruits. Emerging evidence suggests that relative functions of plant hormones are not restricted to a particular stage, and a complex network of more than one plant hormone is involved in controlling various aspects of fruit development. Though some areas are extensively covered, considerable gaps in our knowledge and understanding still exist in the control of hormonal networks and crosstalk between different hormones during fruit expansion, maturation, and various other aspects of ripening. Here, we evaluate the new knowledge on their relative roles during tomato fruit development with a view to understand their mechanism of action in fleshy fruits. For a better understanding, pertinent evidences available on hormonal crosstalk during fruit development in other species are also discussed. We envisage that such detailed knowledge will help design new strategies for effective manipulation of fruit ripening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India. Current address: Repository of Tomato Genomics Resources, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110002, India.
authors.forename: Ashima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India. arun@genomeindia.org.
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators
keywords: ABA; Auxin; ethylene; fruit development; phytohormone; ripening; tomato.