The making of a fruit is a developmental process unique to plants involving a complex network of interacting genes and signalling pathways.In the case of fleshy fruit,this process involves three main stages (a) fruit set,(b) fruit enlargement,and (c) fruit ripening.The transition steps represent the most important developmental events as they correspond to major metabolic reorientation and structural changes.While the role of single hormones in these developmental shifts has been in many cases well established,it is more likely that the triggering of these processes is a matter of a multi hormonal control.