Melatonin is a kind of multifunctional hormone, analogous to indoleacetic acid in structure. To uncover the relationship between exogenous melatonin and the phenylalanine pathway, the liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) was performed to quantify endogenous melatonin and individual anthocyanin content. RT-qPCR was used to explore the expression of primary genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis

Pericarp browning is one of the most important factors limiting the shelf life of litchi fruit. The storage behavior of three cultivars of litchi with different shelf life were studied to comprehensively address the importance of phenolic content and energy status in delaying the development of browning in litchi fruit after harvest. Results revealed that slower changes of browning indices; higher

Abiotic stresses are oxidative in nature and cause generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant bodies. Severe stresses can be harmful to the plant tissue, whereas sub-acute or lower doses of stresses could enhance or induce protective mechanisms, a biological phenomenon known as hormesis. The objective of this work was to examine the effect of hormetic as well as high doses of UV-B on the

An optical sensor system for the detection of moldy apple core (Malus domestica Borkh.) was developed. The cost-effective optical sensor has seven specific wavelengths centered at 425, 455, 515, 615, 660, 700 and 850 nm. However, due to the discrete spectrum, the traditional preprocessing method cannot improve the spectral efficiency. Thus, spectral shape features (SSFs) (i.e., the spectral ratio (SR)

There has been increased interest in the implementation of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a non-destructive analytical technique to monitor the quality and safety of vegetables during their growing season and after harvest, throughout the food supply chain. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of using a portable NIR spectrophotometer (the MicroNIR™ Pro 1700 (spectral range 908–1676 nm)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ozone treatment of on the phenolic compounds profile and glutathione metabolism in raspberry fruit. Raspberry fruit was stored at room temperature for 72 h and ozonated daily with gaseous ozone at the concentration of 8−10 mg L−1 for 30 min, every 12 h of storage. Research showed that ozonation process significantly affects the level of phenolic

Moldy core is a common disease of apples, but it is difficult to detect because there is no obvious difference in appearance of fruit. In this study, the full-transmittance spectra of apples were collected online with three different orientations at speed of 0.5 m/s using a short-integration-time mode. Spectral measurement orientation has a great influence on the spectral intensity, but no effect on

Fruit senescence is an inevitable and negative developmental process during postharvest storage of cherry tomato. To characterize the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying postharvest fruit ripening and senescence, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and RNA-Seq were employed to analyze the metabolic and transcriptomic profiles after 7, 14, 21, and 28 d of storage at different

Litchi is a perennial fruit crop with a highly heterozygous genome and complex transcripts. Although fruit senescence and pericarp browning have been extensively studied, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we used long-read sequencing technology in combination with RNA-seq analysis to investigate the diversity and complexity of the litchi transcriptome

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a key non-destructive technique for rapid assessment of the chemical properties of food materials. However, a major challenge with NIRS is the mixed physicochemical phenomena captured by the interaction of the light with the matter. The interaction often results in both absorption and scattering of the light. The overall NIRS signal therefore contains information

Societal awareness of healthy eating is increasing alongside the market for processed bagged salads, which remain as one of the strongest growing food sectors internationally, including most recently from indoor growing systems. Lettuce represents a significant proportion of this ready-to-eat salad market. However, such products typically have a short shelf life, with decay of post-harvest quality

Ethylene plays an essential role in climacteric fruit ripening via the ethylene signaling pathway. Ethylene response factor (ERF) is a critical downstream component of the ethylene signaling pathway. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism underlying ERF in persimmon fruit ripening remains poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of DkERF8/16/18 in regulating persimmon fruit ripening

ε-Poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) is a non-toxic food preservative, but the antifungal effect of ε-PL against postharvest pathogenic fungi has rarely been reported. Grey mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is one of the main postharvest diseases on fruit and vegetables. The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of ε-PL against B. cinerea in vivo and in vitro, and elucidate the underlying

Control of dormancy and sprouting in onion bulbs is commercially important for postharvest management. Although ethylene application is sometimes used to extend dormancy, the underlying mechanisms regulating dormancy transition remain unclear. Since the sprout leaves emerge from the bulb baseplate, we used this tissue to assess the impact of ethylene treatment and storage time on the hormone profile

Senescence in harvested green organs, such as broccoli inflorescences, is a highly regulated process characterized by a massive degradation of chloroplast components. The dismantling of the chloroplast involves small “senescence-associated vacuoles” (SAVs) with high protease activity. The expression of the senescence associated gene, SAG12 (here BoSAG12), which encodes a senescence associated cysteine

Bulk optical properties, in terms of absorption (μa) and reduced scattering coefficients (μ′s), can be used for the non-destructive monitoring of fruit quality during ripening. In this study, the performance of time-resolved (TRS) and spatially-resolved (SRS) spectroscopy were compared by analyzing ‘Braeburn’ apples over a 21 d period of ripening. Nine batches of 20 apples each were measured on the

CO is a gas signal molecule involved in various physiological and metabolic regulation processes in plants. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of CO fumigation on the control of Alternaria rot in jujube fruit and explored the mechanism of action. Results showed that CO at 10 μmol L−1 significantly reduced lesion diameter in the fruit inoculated with A. alternata without showing any antifungal

We have investigated the cell wall polysaccharides of a commercially grown blocky-type red bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Funky’) during on-plant growth and ripening, and after postharvest water loss. There was no evidence of substantial depolymerisation of cell wall pectic polysaccharides or hemicelluloses at any ripening stage. The onset of fruit ripening was accompanied by a slightly increased

Short wave near infrared spectroscopy has found use in non-invasive assessment of dry matter content (DMC, % fresh weight) of mango fruit, both as a guide to harvest maturity and ensure eating quality of ripened fruit. In this study, this application is optimised in terms of pre-processing of spectra, the source of variations important to model performance documented, and the performance of cultivar

The application of visible (Vis; 400–750 nm) and near infrared red (NIR; 750–2500 nm) region spectroscopy to assess fruit and vegetables is reviewed in context of ‘point’ spectroscopy, as opposed to multi- or hyperspectral imaging. Vis spectroscopy targets colour assessment and pigment analysis, while NIR spectroscopy has been applied to assessment of macro constituents (principally water) in fresh

The short-term postharvest of Volvariella volvacea (straw mushroom) is still a major challenge hampering its long-distance distribution due to chilling injuries at less 10 °C and rapid senescence at over 20 °C. Our previous study has developed a synergistic control of ultrasound and relative humidity (sCURH) to effectively delay the decay and senescence development of straw mushroom. The present study

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a major tropical fruit that can develop internal physiological disorders at late ripening stages. These include jelly seed characterized by a transparent and jelly tissue around the seed that eventually becomes a brown ring enclosing the seed, and black flesh characterized by a diffuse brown discoloration that covers the seed. Both disorders can result in high postharvest

Indicaxanthin and betanin, the main betalains in red prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica cv. Rojo vigor), possess important applications as colorants and health-promoting biomolecules. Therefore, it is relevant to explore treatments that induce their postharvest biosynthesis in the fruit. In this study, the effect of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and wounding on the biosynthesis of indicaxanthin and

English walnut (Juglans regia) kernel pellicle color is an important component of consumer quality, as a breeding phenotype attribute, and a key factor affecting marketing price. It is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grading criteria and it is assessed by trained Dried Fruit and Tree Nuts Association (DFA) of California inspectors, who visually segregate kernels into four

To investigate the underlying mechanism of melatonin (MT) involvement in the browning of lotus pods and seeds, the samples were immersed in 100 μmol L−1 MT and 10 μmol L−1 luzindole, a nonselective MT1/MT2 receptor antagonist. The energy and membrane lipid metabolisms of lotus seeds during 8 d at 25 ± 1 °C were evaluated. The results indicated that MT treatment suppressed the browning of lotus seeds

Lycopene, the red colored carotenoid in tomatoes, has various health benefits for humans due to its capability of scavenging free radicals. Traditionally, the quantification of lycopene requires an elaborate extraction process combined with HPLC analysis within the laboratory. Recent studies focused simpler methods for determining lycopene and utilized spectroscopic measurement methods. The aim of

This study examines the effects of hot water dipping on wound healing of harvested potato tubers and to explore partial mechanisms. The potato ‘cv. Longshu No. 7′ was used as materials, which were artificially wounded and then dipped into 45 °C hot water for 10 min. The wounded tubers were stored at ambient temperature (20−25 °C, RH 70–80%) in dark for wound healing. The weight loss of wounded tubers

Chitosan has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and has been used to control or delay postharvest decay of fruit. In this study, transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses were used to evaluate the effect of chitosan treatment on the resistance to Botrytis cinerea of two grape varieties (‘Kyoho’ and ‘Shine Muscat’) that differ in their resistance to this pathogen. Meantime, the effect of chitosan

Lenticels are sites of preferential gas exchange and water loss. Here we quantified the water vapor permeance of lenticels and their contribution to total transpiration in different regions of the apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit skin. Along the transect pedicel to calyx, lenticel area decreased (smaller lenticels), while lenticel density per unit area and cumulative lenticel area both increased

DORN1 as the first plant receptor gene for extracellular ATP (eATP) regulates a series of biological activities, but the biological roles of eATP and DORN1 remain unclear in postharvest fruit. In this study, a total of 34 DORN1s termed as MaDORN1s were identified from banana genome and can be classified into five groups according to the analyses of phylogenetic tree, gene structure and conserved domain

This study was designed to evaluate the modifications of pectin and hemicellulose polysaccharides, as well as their putative effects, during the stem bending of fresh-cut gerbera flowers. Flowers bend in the region 6–12 cm below the capitulum starting after 6 days, and have an average vase life of approximately 9 days. The cell wall structure of the vascular bundles disintegrates with the occurrence

Pichia guilliermondii is a yeast widely found on soil, leaves and fruit surfaces and is known to have a good biocontrol effect on a variety of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables. In this study, artificially wounded apple fruits (cv. Fuji) were treated with P. guilliermondii. It was found that P. guilliermondii growth increased rapidly at wound sites of fruit in the early stage of healing

The effect of choline chloride (ChCl) on litchi pericarp browning and the potential regulating mechanism was investigated in this study. Results showed that 1 g L−1 ChCl significantly inhibited the development of pericarp browning and reduced respiration rate of litchi fruit. Meanwhile, choline chloride treatment delayed the programmed cell death (PCD) indicated by lower DNA laddering, inhibition of

Conventional assessments of postharvest traits, like dry matter concentration (DMC) require destructive sampling that can often be limited by fruit availability of apple trees in early years. Alternatively, nondestructive prediction of postharvest traits using NIR spectroscopy has been demonstrated to be rapid and robust in various fruits and vegetables, including apples. With most prediction models

Fresh jujube is a healthy climacteric fruit with a high medicinal value. However, it is highly perishable during harvest and storage. In addition, essential minerals (EMs) and antioxidants are indispensable nutrients for human health. In the present study, the effects of an EM mixture (containing 1 mM Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Se) on postharvest jujube fruit senescence, and antioxidant and mineral nutrient

To investigate cell-wall carbohydrate metabolism and fruit softening of postharvest Annona squamosa, several indicators including firmness, moisture distribution, cell-wall polysaccharides compositions, activities of enzymes related with fruit softening during storage were studied. Results indicated that firmness exhibited a significant decline from 1 d to 3 d. Free and semi-bound moisture in pericarp

This study investigated the effect of synephrine hydrochloride (Syn-HCl) on litchi pericarp browning and the potential regulating mechanism. Results showed that 0.5 g L−1 Syn-HCl significantly inhibited the development of pericarp browning. Compared to control, Syn-HCl treatment reduced malondialdehyde and H2O2 content and inhibited activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD). Meanwhile

Chilling injury in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit during cold storage and market distribution results in quality loss. In the present study, seed browning, a major chilling injury symptom, was observed in pepper fruit stored at 2 °C, but not at 13 °C. To alleviate this symptom, we applied vapour treatments of 50 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or 250 μM methyl salicylate (MeSA), or a combination of both

Climacteric ripening is related to a respiratory climax accompanied by an exponential increase in ethylene production. This association is not fully understood. Tomato fruit were exposed to the ethylene antagonist 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at different ripening stages and their transcriptome was monitored. ISOCITRATE DEHYDROGENASE 1 (ICDH, Solyc01g005560.2.1) was the only respiratory process related

The effects of a water-soluble polysaccharide from Oudemansiella radicata (ORWP) on the postharvest quality of Pleurotus ostreatus were investigated. In the present work, oyster mushroom was divided into four groups which were treated separately with distilled water (control), and ORWP at 5, 10 and 15 g L−1 concentration, respectively, and kept at 4 ℃ for 15 d. The results showed that treatment with

It is known that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), among several other mechanisms, are responsible for the antagonistic activity produced by microorganisms. In this work the volatilome of three biocontrol Bacillus velezensis strains (BUZ-14, I3 and I5) was tested in vitro and on fruit against Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructicola, M. laxa, Penicillium italicum, P. digitatum and P. expansum. In vitro

Biological control utilizing antagonistic yeasts has been actively pursued as an alternative to synthetic fungicides for the management of postharvest diseases. Abiotic stress resistance is an important attribute for antagonistic yeasts, directly associated with their biocontrol efficacy. The MADS-box transcription factor, Rlm1, has been reported to regulate the response of model yeasts to cell wall

The most important quality parameter of a product is its nutritional value, but marketability of agricultural products depends primarily on the overall appearance and shape of the products. This study was carried out with the aim of developing cherry fruit packing methods and thus reducing waste and increasing its exportability and marketability. Therefore, the purpose of research was to use the improved

Postharvest granulation is a serious physiological disorder during storage in navel orange fruit, while the molecular basis remains largely unknown. Orange fruit exhibited obvious gradient of total soluble solids, which gradually increased from stem to stylar region, and granulation occurrence often initiated at the stem and extended towards the rest. Here, we performed systematical analysis of metabolites

Visible and near infrared spectroscopy (VNIRS) (400−1000 nm) is a key emerging non-destructive technique for fruit quality assessment. This, because it is a unique method which allows rapid access to fruit pigments and chemical properties linked to fruit quality. In the present work, VNIRS has been used to predict the internal browning in ‘Keitt’ mangoes halves. The reference analysis was performed

Enzymatic browning is a crucial factor affecting the quality of fresh-cut potatoes. In this study, the effects of aspartic acid (Asp) on browning, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and phenolic substrates were investigated. The results showed that all the Asp solution treatments significantly reduced the browning of fresh-cut potato chips. At 2–4 °C, control chips had lost saleability on day 1, while

Image processing and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been applied to analyze, evaluate and classify mulberry fruit according to their ripeness (unripe, ripe, and overripe). A total of 577 mulberries were graded by an expert and the images were captured by an imaging system. Then, the geometrical properties, color, and texture characteristics of each segmented mulberry was extracted using

Salmonella is the second most common foodborne pathogen for leafy vegetables, therefore understanding how to reduce Salmonella attachment onto produce surface is crucial to combat salmonellosis. Epicuticular wax is the outermost layer on the leaf surface that directly interact with food pathogen attachment. The hydrophobic nature of epicuticular wax was found to increase pathogen resistance, however

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) has a short shelf life and its storability varies greatly among different cultivars. In this study, four litchi cultivars of different storability were used to investigate the possible roles of microRNAs and their targets in litchi fruit senescence. Slower pericarp browning in ‘Jingganghongnuo’ and ‘Huaizhi’ was observed compared with that in ‘Guiwei’ and ‘Nuomici’,

‘Shatangju’ (Citrus reticulate) is a popular mandarin that easily develop vesicle drying, which is one of the most common internal physiological disorders of citrus fruit. The vesicle drying occurred firstly in the peel-side of the segment of ‘Shatangju’ fruit, and then the juice sac shrank gradually with the development of the syndrome, which finally resulted in the collapse and hollowing of the segments

Pears are one of the most essential fruit worldwide, they are susceptible to Penicillium expansum infection during postharvest storage, which results in high economic losses. Due to the dearth of information involving the mechanisms of infection of P. expansum in pear fruit it is very important to clarify its pathogenicity. In this study, the fungus strain was isolated from rotten pears and identified