## 3 Discussion
The altered expression patterns of these TFs provide insight into the disrupted regulatory networks governing fruit sets, cell division, differentiation, and ripening. WRKY TFs: WRKY TFs are involved in various plant processes, including stress responses, senescence, and hormone signaling [18]. Some WRKY TFs are also known to modulate fruit ripening processes, including controlling ethylene biosynthesis and regulating the expression of ripening-related genes [19]. The downregulation of WRKY TFs in the mutants suggests a disruption in these processes, potentially leading to alterations in fruit ripening. ERFs and TFs play key roles in regulating ethylene-responsive genes, which are involved in fruit ripening, senescence, and responses to various stresses [1]. The downregulation of ERFs in the M7_5 and M29_2 mutants suggests a potential disruption in ethylene signaling and its downstream effects on ripening-related processes. The MYB TF family is involved in diverse developmental processes and stress responses in plants, including fruit ripening. MYB TFs regulate the genes that are involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, fruit softening, and other ripening-related pathways [20]. The observed downregulation of MYB TFs in the _l114_ mutants suggests a potential alteration in these processes, possibly contributing to the observed ripening defects. During tomato fruit ripening, the accumulation of flavonoids on the fruit surface is governed by a transcriptional network. The bHLH family comprises transcription factors that are involved in regulating developmental processes, including fruit development and ripening [21]. Recent studies have shown a key role in the coordination with MYB proteins [22]. The distinct expression patterns of some TFs in the M7_5 and M29_2 mutants suggest that these genes may affect different signaling pathways or developmental stages during fruit ripening. The observed downregulation of numerous TFs in M7_5 and M29_2 tomato fruits suggests a disruption of the transcriptional regulatory networks that are essential for normal fruit development. The specific TF families affected provide clues regarding the processes that are impaired in these mutants. The tomato is a widely consumed fruit and a model system for studying fleshy fruit development and ripening. The comprehensive RNA sequencing analyses of _l114_ M7_5 and M29_2 tomato fruits revealed a complex network of DEGs that influenced various metabolic pathways critical for fruit quality, underscoring the significant impact of the induced mutations on gene expression in fruit tissue. The DEGs involved in fructose metabolism, TCA-organic acids, cell wall, ethylene biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, ascorbate biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and glycerolipids suggest that these metabolic path ways are significantly affected in the mutant lines. The transition from a firm, green, unripe fruit to a soft, red, ripe fruit involves a cascade of biochemical and physiological changes. A central aspect of this process is the alteration of cell wall structure, which is primarily responsible for the fruit's changing texture [23]. This modification is mediated by a suite of enzymes, including cellulases (EC 3.2.1.4), polygalacturonases (PGs; EC 3.2.1.15) [24], expansins [25], and cellulose synthases (CesAs; EC 2.4.1.21). These enzymes work in a coordinated manner to orchestrate the softening, texture development, and overall ripening process of the tomato fruit. Ethylene plays a pivotal role in regulating the expression of many of these enzymes [26]. It often acts as a trigger, initiating the ripening process and upregulating the expression of the genes encoding cellulases, PGs, and expansins. However, the regulation of CesAs by ethylene is less clear. Cellulaases, polygalacturonases, expansins, and cellulose synthase represent a dynamic quartet of enzymes that play crucial and interconnected roles in tomato fruit ripening.