MADS ‐box Transcription Factors Necessary for Flesh Fruit Development and Ripening

MADS-box gene family members are transcription factors involved in many important biological processes in eukaryotes and are widely present in yeasts, plants, insects, nematodes, invertebrates, and mammals. In recent years, relying on the model plant tomato, the revealing mechanistic complexity and unique regulatory features of MADS-box family TFs on fruit ripening have been revealed. In this chapter, we summarize and discuss the recent findings in the field of MADS-box gene family, including classification, motifs, functional forms and functions, especially on regulating effect of flesh fruit ripening. These studies provide better knowledge on the MADS-box gene family, and the review also aimed to provide new insights for the global role of MADS-box gene family.