Assessment of Prunus persica fruit softening using a proteomics approach

► Mesocarp softening is of paramount importance for fruit quality and post-harvest life. ► Firm and soft fruit proteome from five Prunus persica varieties were evaluated. ► Softening was related to sugar, organic acid, cell wall metabolism and senescence. ► Intraspecific variation was linked to transport, glycolysis, ROS, ethylene metabolism. ► Despite the changes in abundance the proteome is conserved among the conditions assessed.