Research Advances in the Regulation of Fruit Size: An Integrated Perspective of Genetic, Hormonal, Epigenetic, and Environmental Control

Fruit size is a key economic trait in horticultural crops, determined by an integrated network of genetic, hormonal, epigenetic, and environmental factors. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding this regulation. Genetically, key quantitative trait loci (QTLs) such as fw2.2, fw3.2, FAS, and LC control cell number and organ size. Hormones including auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and brassinosteroid regulate cell division and expansion. Transcription factors (e.g., YABBY, WOX families) and epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation, histone modifications, endoreduplication) provide additional regulatory layers. Environmental factors (light, temperature, water, nutrition) and cultivation practices (pruning, thinning) ultimately shape the final fruit phenotype. Emerging technologies like multi-omics, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and artificial intelligence offer powerful tools for future research and molecular breeding, which aim to decode the complex regulatory network and enhance crop yield and quality.