Disclosed is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 4, wherein the protein has an aspartic acid (Asp) at amino acid position 106 Transgenic plants compπsing the nucleic acid have reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit compared to wild-type plants Methods of genetic screening for plants having reduced or delayed softening and detenoration of fruit, isolated oligonucleotides, and a method of imparting to a plant the dfd trait are also disclosed.