Advances in understanding the regulatory network of pear stone cell formation

As a specialized lignified cell type with negative effects on fruit quality, stone cell formation in pear is closely linked to lignin biosynthesis and deposition. In this study, we review the complicated regulatory mechanisms governing stone cell development, with a focus on genetic pathways and environmental signals. Our analysis demonstrates that stone cell formation is tightly regulated by a hierarchical network of transcription factors (TFs), including synergistic and antagonistic interactions among MYB, NAC, and bZIP families. Furthermore, this process is dynamically influenced by environmental and physiological cues such as light signaling, phytohormones (e.g., auxin), calcium ions, carbon-source signals (e.g., glucose), and intercellular communication. Advances in genetic and multi-omics technologies have revealed novel perspectives for deciphering the spatiotemporal regulatory networks underlying stone cell formation. While significant progress has been made in elucidating transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) and signaling pathways, the dynamic interplay between environmental factors and genetic regulation remains poorly understood. Future research should integrate high-throughput genomics and plant phenotyping platforms to establish cross-scale regulatory models, thus providing a robust theoretical framework and actionable strategies for improving pear fruit quality.