**7.1. Fruit traits (size, shape, ripening, and development)**

The transcriptome studies in Solanaceae crops such as potato revealed the identification of transcription factors associated with fruit development. A total of 632 lineage-specific genes were identified, of which 289 genes were asterid specific and 343 were potato specific [23]. They identified 290 genes, including *pectin esterase*, *lipoxygenase*, and *malate synthase*. *Leafy Cotyledon 1* (*LEC 1*) and transcriptional factor *B3* were found to be co-expressed in fruit tissues. These TFs are consistently found to be involved in plant embryo development.

In tomato, using NGS technologies, several SNPs successfully differentiating between cherry type and round/beef type tomatoes were identified [80]. The SNP data revealed that cherry tomatoes share more SNPs with *S. pimpinellifolium*, a wild relative of the tomato. This revealed a close phylogenetic relationship of cherry tomato with the wild type. Several SNPs belonged to the chromosomal region that harbors genes/QTLs related to fruit weight, size, shape, and color, indicating that the SNPs may be used to explore the other fruit traits. In a miRNA study, it was observed that the transgenic tomato plants harboring AtMIR156b precursor resulted in abnormal flower and fruit morphology [130], indicating that mir156b plays crucial role in ovary and normal fleshy fruit development.
