Molecular and Physiological Mechanisms of Berry Fruit Development and Quality Formation

Submission Deadline: 31 December 2026 View: 416 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editor(s)

Dr. Antonio Carlomagno

Email: antonio.carlomagno@unibas.it

Affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Forest, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy

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Research Interests: viticulture, grapevine ecophysiology, abiotic stress, grape berry secondary metabolites, germplasm resources, table grape breeding

Dr. Gaston Gutierrez Gamboa

Email: gaston.gutierrez@inia.cl

Affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Carillanca, Temuco, Chile

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Research Interests: berry quality, edaphoclimatic conditions, terroir, viticultural practices

Summary

Fleshy fruits, including berries (e.g., grapeberry, tomato, blueberry, strawberry, etc.), represent an important component of the human diet. They are a source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and many secondary metabolites (e.g., anthocyanins, flavonols), which are potentially important for human health. The process of berry development and ripening is complex and involves a fine-tuned genetic regulation with consequences on fruit phenotype as well as its quality. Therefore, understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underpin these changes is of interest for both crop production and genetic improvement. Furthermore, considering the challenges imposed by climate change and related abiotic stressors, such as heatwaves, drought, and water salinity, expanding knowledge on berry molecular physiology could support sustainable fruit production (see, for instance, the interest in biostimulants).

This Special Issue aims to present a comprehensive overview of the most recent advances in understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms regulating berry fruit development and quality formation.

We invite contributions that explore, but are not limited to, the following suggested topics:
· Hormonal control of berry-set, fruitlet abscission, berry growth, berry dropping, berry shrivel, and berry skin browning with particular emphasis on interaction with abiotic stressors in both climateric and non-climateric species.
· The role of small RNA in regulating berry development and ripening.
· The genetic and physiological control of primary metabolites, including amino acids.
· The effects of abiotic stressors in affecting secondary metabolites, including volatiles (C6 compounds, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, C13-norisoprenoids, etc.).
· The molecular mechanisms that can help explain the genotype × environment interaction in determining berry growth and ripening.
· Novel approaches and technologies to unravel complex traits.

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Published Papers