Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers

136 POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY & TECHNOLOGY OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, & FLOWERS
functional identity via the capacity to respond differentially to developmental and hormonal
cues. The rationale and practical significance of studies on ethylene perception and gene
expression is that if such a critical step in ethylene signal transduction can be understood,
then, it would be possible to chemically or genetically modify plants in such a way as to
prevent the increase in ethylene that leads to postharvest loss of plant quality. Nevertheless,
the importance of receptor levels and possible receptor interplay during fruit ripening and
flower senescence remain to be elucidated and is still a continuing area of study.
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