Plant Physiology Webinar: Fruit Crops (1)

Fruits are major sources of nutrients for humans, and fruit growing is a significant driver for economic growth and development in rural areas and their communities worldwide. The fruit industry faces enormous challenges posed by dramatic changes in global climate, water shortage, and deterioration of the environment. Mechanistic studies have been difficult in fruit crops because of their long juvenility and perenniality. However, recent advances in plant physiology have shed new light on various aspects of fruit crop biology, such as growth, development, ripening, fruit quality, and stress tolerance. The July 2023 Plant Physiology Focus Issue on Fruit crops (https://academic.oup.com/plphys/issue...) includes the latest research on fruit crops and highlights current trends and future directions. These advancements not only help us better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying growth and development of fruit crops and their responses to environmental stresses, but they may also offer strategies for the fruit industry to adapt to consumer demands and the changing environments. Focus Issue editors Jun Wu, Lailiang Cheng, Richard Espley, Fengwang Ma, and Mickael Malnoy have organized two webinars to celebrate this topic. This first webinar features speakers Christina Skodra, Jing Su, and Erica D’Incà, who will share findings from their work appearing in this Focus Issue. The webinar was hosted by Richard Espley and moderated by Assistant Features Editor Dechang Cao.