Jasmonate ZIM-domain proteins regulate fruit ripening and quality traits: mechanisms and advances

Abstract Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins are plant-specific transcriptional repressors that serve as core negative regulators of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway. These proteins play critical roles in diverse aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses. In this review, we summarize recent advances in understanding the functions of JAZ proteins in fruit ripening, quality formation, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent studies have demonstrated that JAZ proteins play pivotal roles in key fruit quality traits, including pigmentation, softening, sugar-acid accumulation, secondary metabolism, and defense mechanisms. Furthermore, JAZ proteins act as central hubs mediating crosstalk between JA and other phytohormones, such as abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and gibberellic acid, thereby orchestrating the regulation of fruit development and quality. These mechanistic insights provide a comprehensive framework and novel perspectives for further exploration of JAZ functions in fruit biology.