Posttranscriptional mechanisms that can regulate the fruit ripening process. A, One precursor mRNA can produce two or more transcripts via AS. The ensuing protein isoforms translated from these alternative transcripts are functionally different. B, Regulatory roles of mRNA m⁶A modification in controlling tomato and strawberry fruit ripening. In tomato, the m⁶A demethylase SlALKBH2 undoes the m⁶A modification of the SlDML2 transcript, thus stabilizing SlDML2. SlDML2 further erases DNA 5mC methylation, and promotes the transcription of SlALKBH2. In strawberry, the m⁶A methyltransferase FveMTA deposits m⁶A modifications to enhance mRNA stability or TE, especially for those mRNAs involved in ABA biosynthesis and signaling. C, Noncoding RNAs regulate fruit ripening. MiRNA and phasiRNA can directly cleave their target mRNAs. Long noncoding RNAs often act as the target mimics of miRNAs to protect mRNAs. Ma, Musa acuminate; Sl, Solanum lycopersicum; Fa, Fragaria × ananassa; Fve, F. vesca; pre-mRNA, precursor messenger RNA.