Jason W. Johnston

TL;DR: Analysis of the expansin gene family provided an example of the quality of the gene prediction and an insight into the relationships among one class of cell wall related genes that control fruit softening in both European pear and apple.

TL;DR: Despite many softening studies, there is still a poor understanding of what causes firmness variation in the marketplace, and until this understanding is improved, apple producers will continue to struggle to meet market requirements for texture.

TL;DR: Findings confirm PG1’s role in apple fruit softening and suggests that this is achieved in part by reducing cellular adhesion, which is consistent with previous studies carried out in strawberry but not with those performed in tomato.

TL;DR: In this paper, a cold treatment is followed by an ethylene treatment, and a more rapid softening occurs than in apples that have not had a previous cold treatment, indicating that either these two pathways act independently and synergistically with each other or cold enhances the response such that background levels of ethylene in the ethylene-suppressed apples are sufficient to induce fruit softening.

TL;DR: A conceptual model for the control of individual ripening characters in apple is suggested, based on both ethylene dependency and sensitivity, indicating that the role of ethylene may go beyond that of ripening initiation.