Ethylene in Tomato: A Multifunctional Hormone Regulating Ripening, Stress, and Development

作者：Dilla Wahyuni, A. Nuraini, J. S. Hamdani, N. Wicaksana, E. Suminar, K. Kusumiyati, Rahmat Budiarto, S. Mubarok · 发表于：New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1002/nzc2.70199

Ethylene is a gaseous phytohormone that regulates developmental and physiological processes in tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.), including seedling growth, flowering, fruit ripening, stress responses, and postharvest quality. This review positions ethylene as a regulator whose activity depends on developmental stage and physiological context, linking fruit ripening, molecular signaling, hormonal crosstalk, stress adaptation, and shelf life management in tomato. Ethylene plays a central role in climacteric fruit ripening by coordinating pigment accumulation, cell wall modification, softening, and aroma formation, all of which determine fruit quality. The molecular mechanisms of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling are examined, including ACS and ACO enzymes, ethylene receptors such as SlETRs, the negative regulator CTR1, the central signal transducer EIN2, and downstream transcriptional regulators such as EIN3/EILs and ERFs. These components are discussed together with their interactions with other phytohormones that regulate plant growth, development, ripening, stress responses, and postharvest performance. Relevant literature was identified through screening based on the PRISMA framework and synthesized thematically to connect molecular mechanisms with physiological and horticultural outcomes. Overall, this review highlights how ethylene‐related knowledge can support tomato crop management, improve stress resilience, and guide postharvest strategies for maintaining fruit q...