Recent advances in ripening-associated molecular mechanisms in mango

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a climacteric fruit and its ripening and post-harvest quality is regulated by complex interactions of genetic, hormonal, biochemical and molecular regulatory networks. Ethylene is a major regulator of fruit ripening, inducing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO) which control processes associated with fruit ripening such as cell wall degradation, pigment accumulation, aroma production and sugar metabolism. Fruit quality is controlled by the interaction of ethylene with abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways that regulate fruit maturation, antioxidant metabolism and defence responses. The main post-harvest pathogens Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia theobromae utilise changes related to ripening to shift from latent infection to active disease development. Recent advances such as treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene, hexanal formulations, controlled atmosphere storage etc., have shown potential to delay ripening, maintain antioxidant capacity and reduce post-harvest losses. New technologies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas) genome editing, RNA interference, multi-omics approaches and nanotechnology-based delivery systems are emerging opportunities that manipulate ripening and disease-resistance pathways. However, the balance between extending shelf-life and retaining flavour, consumer acceptance, biosafety and environmental sustainability remains to be addressed. Future research in transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics and epigenomics will be critical to identify molecular targets and develop precision-based strategies to improve mango shelf life, quality and resistance to post-harvest pathogens.