Research Progress in Hormonal Regulation of AP2/ERF Transcription Factors in Fruits and Vegetables in Response to Stress

The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcription factor family is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants. Its subfamily members activate or repress the expression of related genes by specifically binding to cis-acting elements such as the GCC box and DRE/CRT in the promoter regions of downstream interacting genes, and participate in the regulation of biological processes such as growth and development, maturation and senescence, and stress response in fruits and vegetables. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that AP2/ERF can also regulate the quality and resistance of fruits and vegetables by regulating target genes and inducing various phytohormone responses such as ethylene, jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, or by acting as a response factor in response to phytohormone signals. This article provides an overview of the structural characteristics of AP2/ERF transcription factors and their classification and distribution in fruits and vegetables and reviews the latest research progress in the regulatory effect of AP2/ERF on stress resistance in fruits and vegetables through interaction with the major hormone signals. It is our hope that this review will provide a theoretical basis for enhancing stress resistance in fruits and vegetables from the perspective of hormonal regulation of AP2/ERF transcription factors.