1Division of Plant Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut
*Corresponding author’s email: abhinavsinghmiet@gmail.com
Molecular farming, also known as plant molecular farming (PMF), has emerged as a transformative approach in plant biotechnology, enabling the production of high-value recombinant proteins in plant systems. In recent years, fruit crops have gained increasing attention as promising biofactories due to their edible nature, high biomass, established cultivation systems, and ability to perform complex post-translational modifications. This review comprehensively explores the concept, mechanisms, and technological advancements associated with molecular farming in fruit crops, highlighting their potential in producing vaccines, therapeutic proteins, nutraceuticals, industrial enzymes, and biodegradable biomaterials. Both stable and transient expression systems, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, biolistic methods, and chloroplast transformation, are discussed with emphasis on their suitability for perennial fruit species. The review also addresses recent breakthroughs such as CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, synthetic biology, pathway engineering, and controlled plant cell culture systems that enhance precision, biosafety, and yield efficiency. Applications in edible vaccine development, biofortification for micronutrient enhancement, delayed ripening, and improved fruit quality demonstrate the dual role of fruit crops in promoting global health and nutritional security. However, technical challenges including genotype-dependent transformation, long juvenile phases, regulatory complexities, and public acceptance issues remain significant constraints. Integrating molecular farming with sustainable agricultural practices and advanced bio-containment strategies presents a viable pathway toward cost-effective pharmaceutical production and resilient food systems. Overall, fruit-based molecular farming represents a sustainable frontier that redefines agriculture as a platform for next-generation therapeutics, functional nutrition, and green bioeconomy development.
Molecular farming, Fruit crops, Plant bioreactors, Edible vaccines, Biopharmaceuticals, Plantibodies, Synthetic biology
