فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Purpose: Fruit species are essential for nutritional and health security, rich in micronutrients, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. Recognized as functional foods, they meet current and future dietary requirements. Traditional breeding techniques have successfully enhanced various traits, including quality, aroma, antioxidant content, yield, and nutritional value. However, challenges such as climate change and the need for enhanced stress resistance require innovative solutions. Findings: Biotechnology has significantly expanded the potential for the large-scale propagation of elite clones through advancements in tissue culture, mutagenesis, and genetic transformation. Cutting-edge tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, RNA interference (RNAi), genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and smart sensors, have revolutionised the development of novel germplasms with enhanced agronomic and nutritional traits. These technologies enable precise genetic modifications in the fruit species, boosting nutritional quality and stress tolerance. Metabolic pathway engineering allows for targeted manipulation of biochemical pathways to increase bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and vitamins. Additionally, these innovations enhance resilience to environmental stressors such as drought, salinity, and temperature extremes, ensuring stable yields. Limitations: Despite significant progress, fully harnessing the potential of biotechnological tools to improve fruit quality and nutrition remains a work in progress. Challenges, such as limited genetic resources, regulatory barriers, high costs, and variable consumer acceptance, continue to limit their widespread application. Directions for future research: Creation of novel fruit products through biotechnology underscores the potential for trait-based enhancements, thereby opening new avenues for the development of genetically superior fruit cultivars. This review highlights the extensive applications of biotechnological approaches for improving fruit quality and nutritional value, and addressing the dynamic challenges in fruit crop enhancement.