Regulation of the main terpenoids biosynthesis and accumulation in fruit trees

Abstract

Terpenoids are vital secondary metabolites in plants that function as agents for defense and stress resistance. These genes not only play crucial roles in plant growth and development but also function in diverse biological group interactions. Terpenoids released by fruit trees possess defensive properties and constitute a class of aromatic compounds. For some fruits, terpenoids are indispensable indicators for evaluating fruit quality and the economic value. Significant research progress has been made in terpenoids biosynthesis and regulation. In this review, we introduce the main terpenoids of fruit trees, emphasize synthetic enzymes and regulatory factors involved in the mevalonate pathway and the methylerythritol pathway, and analyze TPS gene family identification and diversity in several fruit tree species. Moreover, the regulation of terpenes biosynthesis, including the molecular interaction mechanisms of environmental factors and hormone signaling pathways, are comprehensively described. Our objective is to summarize the molecular regulatory network and research foundation of terpenoids biosynthesis, providing a reference for investigations of metabolic pathways and promoting the development of techniques for the regulation and breeding of terpenoids in fruit trees.