Proteomics Studies to Investigate Signaling Processes for ROS Reduction in Fruits and Vegetables

Fruit vegetables, such as tomato, pepper, and melon, are essential components of the human diet, providing a wide array of micronutrients and bioactive compounds. However, their productivity and quality are highly susceptible to abiotic stresses, which trigger a cascade of physiological and molecular changes, including the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). While ROS can lead to cellular damage at excessive levels, they also play a pivotal role as signaling mediators in adaptive responses at controlled levels. Proteomics has emerged as a powerful approach to identify stress-responsive proteins and elucidate the molecular networks key to stress adaptation in fruit vegetables. This review focuses on the application of proteomics to investigate ROS signaling and its modulation in response to abiotic stresses during fruit development and ripening. Proteomic studies have revealed the involvement of antioxidant enzymes, ASC-GSH cycle components, and carbonylated proteins in maintaining redox homeostasis during climacteric (e.g., tomato) and non-climacteric (e.g., pepper) fruit ripening. Additionally, proteomic analyses have shed light on the mechanisms of action of compounds such as melatonin and benzothiadiazole (BTH) in delaying fruit senescence and enhancing stress tolerance. Future research should focus on integrating proteomics with other omics approaches to gain a more comprehensive understanding of ROS signaling networks in fruit vegetables under abiotic stress conditions.