Modulating fruit climacteric ripening to increase melon fruit shelf life and reducing food loss and waste

The aim of this proposal is to modulate the ripening process in melon by pyramiding the non-climacteric alleles of three QTL (ETHQB3.5.1, ETHQV6.3 and ETHQV8.1) in a climacteric genetic background. By understanding the relationship between the different QTL involved in climacteric ripening, we will be able to increase the shelf life of the fruit without losing organoleptic and quality characteristics. Therefore, we will avoid food loss and waste at the production level, but also during transport, retail and at the consumer level. This objective is the continuation of previous projects where we have addressed the study and characterisation of QTLs and genes involved in climacteric ripening in melon.