SMRTR Science & EngineeringApr 6, 2026Nautilus

What Goes On Inside a Ripening Banana

SMRTR summary

Bananas ripen when ethylene gas triggers a complex genetic process that transforms them from green and starchy to yellow and sweet. Chinese researchers discovered that two key proteins, MaNAC029 and MaNAC19, work together to boost ethylene production and sugar accumulation, creating a powerful feedback loop that accelerates ripening more effectively than either protein alone.

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