Sulfur dioxide (SO2) fumigation is well established as an efficient method for maintaining the quality of table grapes postharvest. However, the mechanism by which SO2 influences the metabolism of aroma-contributing volatile compounds remains incompletely understood. This research explored the impact of SO2 treatment on aroma-related metabolic pathways in postharvest ‘Munage’ grapes during storage, focusing on changes in the levels of alcohols, aldehydes, and esters, as well as the activities of related enzymes and the expression of associated genes. The results demonstrated that fumigation with 500 μL L−1 SO2 effectively maintained the contents of linolenic and linoleic acids and enhanced the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), and alcohol acyltransferase (AAT), while suppressing alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Notably, SO2 treatment enhanced the expression levels of genes involved in alcohol, aldehyde and ester biosynthesis, including VvLOX, VvHPL, VvADH, and VvAAT. Moreover, SO2 increased the levels of pyruvate, acetaldehyde, and ethanol by activating pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and the induction of VvPDC1 expression. Correlation analysis suggested that SO2 was associated with the synthesis of alcohols and esters through the coordination of the LOX and ethanol metabolic pathways. These findings may indicate that SO2 maintains grape aroma by modulating fatty acid and ethanol metabolism, thereby providing new insights into the biochemical mechanisms underlying SO2-mediated aroma preservation in table grapes.
{"title":"Sulfur dioxide maintains postharvest aroma quality of table grapes by modulating the lipoxygenase pathway and ethanol metabolism","authors":"Quanming Tian , Beibei Yin , Qing Shan , Yu Zhang , Jia Wei , Zheng Zhang , Yuyao Yuan , Bin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114195","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114195","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sulfur dioxide (SO<sub>2</sub>) fumigation is well established as an efficient method for maintaining the quality of table grapes postharvest. However, the mechanism by which SO<sub>2</sub> influences the metabolism of aroma-contributing volatile compounds remains incompletely understood. This research explored the impact of SO<sub>2</sub> treatment on aroma-related metabolic pathways in postharvest ‘Munage’ grapes during storage, focusing on changes in the levels of alcohols, aldehydes, and esters, as well as the activities of related enzymes and the expression of associated genes. The results demonstrated that fumigation with 500 μL L<sup>−1</sup> SO<sub>2</sub> effectively maintained the contents of linolenic and linoleic acids and enhanced the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), and alcohol acyltransferase (AAT), while suppressing alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity. Notably, SO<sub>2</sub> treatment enhanced the expression levels of genes involved in alcohol, aldehyde and ester biosynthesis, including <em>VvLOX</em>, <em>VvHPL</em>, <em>VvADH</em>, and <em>VvAAT</em>. Moreover, SO<sub>2</sub> increased the levels of pyruvate, acetaldehyde, and ethanol by activating pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and the induction of <em>VvPDC1</em> expression. Correlation analysis suggested that SO<sub>2</sub> was associated with the synthesis of alcohols and esters through the coordination of the LOX and ethanol metabolic pathways. These findings may indicate that SO<sub>2</sub> maintains grape aroma by modulating fatty acid and ethanol metabolism, thereby providing new insights into the biochemical mechanisms underlying SO<sub>2</sub>-mediated aroma preservation in table grapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114195"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114194
Rong Li, Wenyi Xu, Yang Bi, Yongcai Li
Previous studies have shown that Alternaria alternata can utilize media supplemented with exogenous phenolic acid monomers at concentrations comparable to those found in pear peel as its sole carbon source, degrading these compounds in a species-specific and concentration-dependent manner. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the degradation of phenolic acids in pear peel remain incompletely understood. Transcriptome analysis indicated that genes associated with aromatic compound metabolism in A. alternata were significantly up-regulated following exposure to 1 mM exogenous chlorogenic and ferulic acids. Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (AaCHD), a key enzyme involved in phenolic metabolism, was selected for further investigation using targeted gene knockout techniques. Although no significant differences in growth, spore germination, or pathogenicity were observed between the AaCHD mutants and the WT strain, the deletion of AaCHD1 and AaCHD2 resulted in increased sensitivity to exogenous phenolic acids and osmotic stress. Moreover, quaternary ultra-fast liquid chromatography analysis revealed that, after 48 h of incubation with exogenous phenolic acids, the ΔAaCHD1 mutant still maintained higher levels of chlorogenic acid, while both ΔAaCHD1 and ΔAaCHD2 mutants exhibited elevated residual p-coumaric acid compared to the WT. These findings suggest that AaCHD enzyme may play a critical role in the degradation of chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid in pear peel by A. alternata, even though they are not essential for the fungus's growth and development.
{"title":"Catechol 1, 2-dioxygenase AaCHD is essential for the detoxification of phenolic acids in pear fruit peel by Alternaria alternata","authors":"Rong Li, Wenyi Xu, Yang Bi, Yongcai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have shown that <em>Alternaria alternata</em> can utilize media supplemented with exogenous phenolic acid monomers at concentrations comparable to those found in pear peel as its sole carbon source, degrading these compounds in a species-specific and concentration-dependent manner. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the degradation of phenolic acids in pear peel remain incompletely understood. Transcriptome analysis indicated that genes associated with aromatic compound metabolism in <em>A. alternata</em> were significantly up-regulated following exposure to 1 mM exogenous chlorogenic and ferulic acids. Catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (AaCHD), a key enzyme involved in phenolic metabolism, was selected for further investigation using targeted gene knockout techniques. Although no significant differences in growth, spore germination, or pathogenicity were observed between the <em>AaCHD</em> mutants and the WT strain, the deletion of <em>AaCHD1</em> and <em>AaCHD2</em> resulted in increased sensitivity to exogenous phenolic acids and osmotic stress. Moreover, quaternary ultra-fast liquid chromatography analysis revealed that, after 48 h of incubation with exogenous phenolic acids, the Δ<em>AaCHD1</em> mutant still maintained higher levels of chlorogenic acid, while both Δ<em>AaCHD1</em> and Δ<em>AaCHD2</em> mutants exhibited elevated residual p-coumaric acid compared to the WT. These findings suggest that AaCHD enzyme may play a critical role in the degradation of chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid in pear peel by <em>A. alternata</em>, even though they are not essential for the fungus's growth and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114194"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114196
Jihan Wang , Fujun Li , Jing Shang, Xiaoan Li, Xinhua Zhang
Cold storage is widely applied to reduce postharvest losses and preserve the quality of fruit and vegetables; however, inappropriate low-temperature conditions often induce metabolic disorders and chilling injury. Accumulating evidence indicates that R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs), the largest MYB subfamily in plants, are emerging as pivotal regulators integrating metabolic adaptation with cold tolerance during postharvest storage. This review systematically summarizes the major regulatory pathways mediated by R2R3-MYB TFs under cold conditions, including the modulation of soluble sugar and organic acid metabolism, flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis, polyamine accumulation, redox homeostasis, cell wall modification, membrane lipid metabolism, and lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, we integrate current knowledge to outline the regulatory mechanisms by which R2R3-MYB TFs link cold signals with transcriptional reprogramming through direct DNA binding, protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and epigenetic regulation. Finally, we discuss the implications of regulatory networks mediated by R2R3-MYB TFs for improving postharvest quality and enhancing cold tolerance, and highlight future research directions to support the development of effective postharvest preservation strategies and molecular breeding approaches for fruit and vegetables.
{"title":"R2R3-MYB transcription factors in regulating postharvest quality of fruit and vegetables during cold storage: Mechanisms and prospects","authors":"Jihan Wang , Fujun Li , Jing Shang, Xiaoan Li, Xinhua Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cold storage is widely applied to reduce postharvest losses and preserve the quality of fruit and vegetables; however, inappropriate low-temperature conditions often induce metabolic disorders and chilling injury. Accumulating evidence indicates that R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs), the largest MYB subfamily in plants, are emerging as pivotal regulators integrating metabolic adaptation with cold tolerance during postharvest storage. This review systematically summarizes the major regulatory pathways mediated by R2R3-MYB TFs under cold conditions, including the modulation of soluble sugar and organic acid metabolism, flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis, polyamine accumulation, redox homeostasis, cell wall modification, membrane lipid metabolism, and lignin biosynthesis. Furthermore, we integrate current knowledge to outline the regulatory mechanisms by which R2R3-MYB TFs link cold signals with transcriptional reprogramming through direct DNA binding, protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and epigenetic regulation. Finally, we discuss the implications of regulatory networks mediated by R2R3-MYB TFs for improving postharvest quality and enhancing cold tolerance, and highlight future research directions to support the development of effective postharvest preservation strategies and molecular breeding approaches for fruit and vegetables.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114196"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114197
Hansika Sati, Sunil Pareek
Chilling injury (CI) severely limits the postharvest quality and shelf life of mango fruit. While the roles of melatonin (MT) and nitric oxide (NO) in stress tolerance are established individually, their combined effects on CI mitigation, antioxidant defense, and gene regulation in mango remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the interplay of MT (100 μM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.01 M) on ‘Langra’ mangoes during cold storage at 4 ± 1 °C and 85–90 % relative humidity for 28 d. Mangoes were assessed for CI index, physiological traits, enzymatic antioxidants, and expression of key stress-responsive and antioxidant genes (MiCBF1, MiSOD, MiCAT, MiAPX, MiASMT, and MiSNAT). MT + SNP markedly alleviated CI, reducing the index by 75 % compared to control, and maintained superior fruit quality, including 75.75 % higher firmness, 26.05 % lower weight loss, 4.87 % reduced respiration, 83.33 % lower ethylene production, 140 % higher TA, and 25.81 % higher ascorbic acid. Antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly enhanced in the peel and pulp, with superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase exhibiting notable increases. Concurrently, MiCBF1 and antioxidant gene expression were substantially upregulated, along with MT biosynthesis genes MiASMT and MiSNAT, indicating coordinated enzymatic and molecular defense mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that the combined application of MT and SNP fortifies physiological and molecular antioxidant systems, preserves cellular integrity, and delays CI, providing an effective postharvest strategy to maintain mango quality. The study offers a foundation for developing integrated MT-NO treatments to enhance cold tolerance and shelf life in other horticultural crops.
{"title":"Melatonin–nitric oxide crosstalk enhances postharvest chilling tolerance in mango: Physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional evidence for activation of antioxidant defense and cold-responsive genes","authors":"Hansika Sati, Sunil Pareek","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114197","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114197","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chilling injury (CI) severely limits the postharvest quality and shelf life of mango fruit. While the roles of melatonin (MT) and nitric oxide (NO) in stress tolerance are established individually, their combined effects on CI mitigation, antioxidant defense, and gene regulation in mango remain largely unexplored. This study investigates the interplay of MT (100 μM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.01 M) on ‘Langra’ mangoes during cold storage at 4 ± 1 °C and 85–90 % relative humidity for 28 d. Mangoes were assessed for CI index, physiological traits, enzymatic antioxidants, and expression of key stress-responsive and antioxidant genes (<em>MiCBF1, MiSOD, MiCAT, MiAPX, MiASMT,</em> and <em>MiSNAT</em>). MT + SNP markedly alleviated CI, reducing the index by 75 % compared to control, and maintained superior fruit quality, including 75.75 % higher firmness, 26.05 % lower weight loss, 4.87 % reduced respiration, 83.33 % lower ethylene production, 140 % higher TA, and 25.81 % higher ascorbic acid. Antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly enhanced in the peel and pulp, with superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase exhibiting notable increases. Concurrently, <em>MiCBF1</em> and antioxidant gene expression were substantially upregulated, along with MT biosynthesis genes <em>MiASMT</em> and <em>MiSNAT</em>, indicating coordinated enzymatic and molecular defense mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that the combined application of MT and SNP fortifies physiological and molecular antioxidant systems, preserves cellular integrity, and delays CI, providing an effective postharvest strategy to maintain mango quality. The study offers a foundation for developing integrated MT-NO treatments to enhance cold tolerance and shelf life in other horticultural crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114197"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114198
Cheng Zhou , Wei Chen , Wei Wu , Xuewen Li , Shifeng Cao , Liyu Shi , Zhenfeng Yang
The regulatory mechanism by which exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhances the chilling tolerance in postharvest kiwifruit during cold storage was investigated. Treatment with 0.5 mM IAA significantly decreased the chilling injury index and delayed fruit softening, which was linked to the suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) production, ultimately alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation. IAA treatment also downregulated the expression of genes encoding phospholipase D (PLD), lipoxygenase (LOX), and other lipid-degrading enzymes, resulting in decreased activities of PLD, LOX, and lipase and the inhibition in the degradation of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol into phosphatidic acid, thus preserving membrane integrity. Concurrently, upregulation of H⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities and transcript levels, resulting in increased adenosine triphosphate content and energy charge, thus supporting cellular energy homeostasis. These findings offer theoretical insight on the role of IAA in enhancing postharvest chilling tolerance in kiwifruit and offer a potential strategy for extending its shelf life.
研究了外源吲哚-3-乙酸（IAA）对猕猴桃采后冷藏期耐冷性的调控机制。0.5 mM IAA处理显著降低了冷害指数和延迟果实软化，这与抑制活性氧（ROS）积累和减少丙二醛（MDA）产生有关，最终缓解了膜脂过氧化。IAA处理还下调了编码磷脂酶D （PLD）、脂氧合酶（LOX）等脂质降解酶的基因表达，导致PLD、LOX和脂肪酶活性降低，抑制磷脂酰胆碱和磷脂酰肌醇向磷脂酸的降解，从而保持了膜的完整性。同时，上调H + -ATPase、ca2 + -ATPase、琥珀酸脱氢酶和细胞色素c氧化酶活性和转录物水平，导致三磷酸腺苷含量和能量电荷增加，从而支持细胞能量稳态。这些发现为IAA在提高猕猴桃采后抗寒性中的作用提供了理论见解，并为延长猕猴桃的保质期提供了潜在的策略。
{"title":"Indole-3-acetic acid treatment enhances cold tolerance in kiwifruit by modulating cellular energy status and membrane lipid metabolism","authors":"Cheng Zhou , Wei Chen , Wei Wu , Xuewen Li , Shifeng Cao , Liyu Shi , Zhenfeng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The regulatory mechanism by which exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) enhances the chilling tolerance in postharvest kiwifruit during cold storage was investigated. Treatment with 0.5 mM IAA significantly decreased the chilling injury index and delayed fruit softening, which was linked to the suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) production, ultimately alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation. IAA treatment also downregulated the expression of genes encoding phospholipase D (PLD), lipoxygenase (LOX), and other lipid-degrading enzymes, resulting in decreased activities of PLD, LOX, and lipase and the inhibition in the degradation of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol into phosphatidic acid, thus preserving membrane integrity. Concurrently, upregulation of H⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities and transcript levels, resulting in increased adenosine triphosphate content and energy charge, thus supporting cellular energy homeostasis. These findings offer theoretical insight on the role of IAA in enhancing postharvest chilling tolerance in kiwifruit and offer a potential strategy for extending its shelf life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114198"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114191
Vinícius Bertoncello Molon , Manuela Pires Onzi , Fernando Joel Scariot , Ana Paula Longaray Delamare , Marli Camassola , Thiago Barcellos
Postharvest fungal decay remains a major constraint to fruit quality and shelf life, driving the search for effective and sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides. This study aimed to develop Eudragit® S100 based nanocapsules containing Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OVEO) and to evaluate their antifungal efficacy, with an initial in vitro screening against Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum fructicola, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Penicillium digitatum, followed by targeted in vivo assessment against C. gloeosporioides, the causal agent of apple anthracnose. Seven essential oils were first screened for inhibition of conidial germination. OVEO exhibited the highest activity, completely inhibiting germination of all four pathogens at concentrations ≥ 0.05 % (v/v), and was therefore selected for nanoencapsulation. OVEO nanocapsules were prepared by interfacial deposition using Eudragit® S100, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 90.7 % and a loading capacity of 81.2 %, with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 229 nm. In in vitro assays, nanoencapsulated OVEO (OVEO–NC–5) fully suppressed conidial germination of all tested fungi at 0.025 % (v/v) after 48 h, whereas free OVEO showed reduced efficacy at the same concentration. In in vivo trials on apples inoculated with C. gloeosporioides, OVEO–NC–5 reduced lesion diameter by 62 % at 0.025 % (v/v) after 21 d, while complete inhibition of symptom development was achieved at 0.05 % (v/v). These results demonstrate that Eudragit® S100 nanoencapsulation significantly enhances the stability, efficacy, and practical applicability of O. vulgare L. essential oil, representing a promising strategy for sustainable postharvest disease control.
{"title":"Enhanced antifungal activity of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil through Eudragit® S100–based nanoencapsulation","authors":"Vinícius Bertoncello Molon , Manuela Pires Onzi , Fernando Joel Scariot , Ana Paula Longaray Delamare , Marli Camassola , Thiago Barcellos","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest fungal decay remains a major constraint to fruit quality and shelf life, driving the search for effective and sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides. This study aimed to develop Eudragit® S100 based nanocapsules containing <em>Origanum vulgare</em> L. essential oil (OVEO) and to evaluate their antifungal efficacy, with an initial <em>in vitro</em> screening against <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, <em>Colletotrichum fructicola</em>, <em>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</em>, and <em>Penicillium digitatum</em>, followed by targeted <em>in vivo</em> assessment against <em>C. gloeosporioides</em>, the causal agent of apple anthracnose. Seven essential oils were first screened for inhibition of conidial germination. OVEO exhibited the highest activity, completely inhibiting germination of all four pathogens at concentrations ≥ 0.05 % (v/v), and was therefore selected for nanoencapsulation. OVEO nanocapsules were prepared by interfacial deposition using Eudragit® S100, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 90.7 % and a loading capacity of 81.2 %, with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 229 nm. In <em>in vitro</em> assays, nanoencapsulated OVEO (OVEO–NC–5) fully suppressed conidial germination of all tested fungi at 0.025 % (v/v) after 48 h, whereas free OVEO showed reduced efficacy at the same concentration. In <em>in vivo</em> trials on apples inoculated with <em>C. gloeosporioides</em>, OVEO–NC–5 reduced lesion diameter by 62 % at 0.025 % (v/v) after 21 d, while complete inhibition of symptom development was achieved at 0.05 % (v/v). These results demonstrate that Eudragit® S100 nanoencapsulation significantly enhances the stability, efficacy, and practical applicability of <em>O</em>. <em>vulgare</em> L. essential oil, representing a promising strategy for sustainable postharvest disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114191"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114172
Yuyang Zhang , Jacqueline Chiu , Jeannine Bonilla , Caihua Shi , Iris J. Joye , Loong-Tak Lim
Greening and sprouting are the post-harvest issues of potato tubers that decrease their marketability. This study explored the use of zein - hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) edible coatings, derived from aqueous ethanol polymer solutions that were loaded with 3-decen-2-one, to delay the sprouting and greening of potato tubers stored at 22 ℃ and 75% relative humidity (RH). The storage period lasted up to 2 weeks, with 12 h of daily light exposure. The results demonstrated that the zein-HPMC coating containing 3-decen-2-one effectively inhibited greening and sprouting, decreasing the sprouting index from 90% to 27%, and the respiration rate of the coated potato tubers (10.88 mg CO2/kg/h) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control (28.27 mg CO2/kg/h) at 2 weeks. Additionally, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in tuber firmness, weight loss, and Brix value compared with the uncoated potatoes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that zein particles in the edible coating were evenly distributed on the surface of the potato peels, and UV–visible spectra indicated that the transmittance of the coatings ranged from 20% to 30%. The release of 3-decen-2-one from the zein-HPMC coating was enhanced by increasing RH, as determined with headspace gas chromatography. At 20 °C and 75% RH, the 3-decen-2-one released 0.0048 mg/mg of the coating after 2 h of exposure. When applied to potatoes, the 3-decen-2-one concentration peaked at approximately 3 h. These findings indicate that edible coatings containing 3-decen-2-one may be effective in preventing greening and sprouting while preserving potato quality at retail when exposed to light.
{"title":"3-decen-2-one loaded zein-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coating to delay sprouting and greening in potato tubers","authors":"Yuyang Zhang , Jacqueline Chiu , Jeannine Bonilla , Caihua Shi , Iris J. Joye , Loong-Tak Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Greening and sprouting are the post-harvest issues of potato tubers that decrease their marketability. This study explored the use of zein - hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) edible coatings, derived from aqueous ethanol polymer solutions that were loaded with 3-decen-2-one, to delay the sprouting and greening of potato tubers stored at 22 ℃ and 75% relative humidity (RH). The storage period lasted up to 2 weeks, with 12 h of daily light exposure. The results demonstrated that the zein-HPMC coating containing 3-decen-2-one effectively inhibited greening and sprouting, decreasing the sprouting index from 90% to 27%, and the respiration rate of the coated potato tubers (10.88 mg CO<sub>2</sub>/kg/h) was significantly (<em>p</em> < 0.05) lower than the control (28.27 mg CO<sub>2</sub>/kg/h) at 2 weeks. Additionally, there were no significant differences (<em>p</em> > 0.05) in tuber firmness, weight loss, and Brix value compared with the uncoated potatoes. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that zein particles in the edible coating were evenly distributed on the surface of the potato peels, and UV–visible spectra indicated that the transmittance of the coatings ranged from 20% to 30%. The release of 3-decen-2-one from the zein-HPMC coating was enhanced by increasing RH, as determined with headspace gas chromatography. At 20 °C and 75% RH, the 3-decen-2-one released 0.0048 mg/mg of the coating after 2 h of exposure. When applied to potatoes, the 3-decen-2-one concentration peaked at approximately 3 h. These findings indicate that edible coatings containing 3-decen-2-one may be effective in preventing greening and sprouting while preserving potato quality at retail when exposed to light.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114172"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vacuum precooling process can enhance the chances of pathogenic bacterial penetration in leafy vegetable via stomata which cannot be completely removed by using conventional washing methods, making it a serious food safety concern. To develop an efficient cleaning approach, we employed vacuum-ultrasound cleaning (VC-US) technology combined with a cleaning agent (0.2 % Tween 20) as the basic washing method. The disinfectant sodium hypochlorite (NaClO, 100 mg L −1) was used as the control, while phytic acid (PA), an alternative disinfectant to sodium hypochlorite, was tested at different concentrations (0 %, 0.33 %, 0.65 %, and 1.3 %) to evaluate its capacity to remove Escherichia coli that had penetrated into the stomata of lettuce. Changes in colony counts, confocal Z-axis fluorescence imaging, stomatal aperture, enzyme activities, and physicochemical indicators including total phenols, chlorophyll, ascorbic acid (AsA), malondialdehyde (MDA), color parameters, chlorogenic acid (CGA), and caffeic acid were analyzed before and after cleaning. The results showed that increasing PA concentration enhanced the removal efficiency of E. coli from both the surface and the interior of lettuce. 1.3 % PA reduced internal bacterial counts from an initial 4.40–1.38 log10 CFU/cm2, but no difference was observed compared with 0.65 % PA (1.44 log10 CFU/cm2), and both treatments exhibited higher removal efficiency than 100 mg L −1 NaClO (1.53 log10 CFU/cm2). Further analysis indicated that higher PA concentrations increased stomatal aperture size, which facilitated the removal of internalized E. coli. During storage, the 0.65 % PA treatment maintained higher activities of SOD and CAT while inhibiting POD and PPO activities, and reduced the accumulation of MDA, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid. Moreover, compared with other PA treatments, 0.65 % PA showed no difference with other PA treatment in total phenols, AsA, and chlorophyll, but displayed higher contents than that of NaClO treatment during 3 d storage. In addition, 0.65 % PA achieved better sensory quality than 1.3 % PA while maintaining comparable microbial removal efficiency. Collectively, these results indicate that employing VC-US technology combined with 0.2 % Tween 20 and replacing NaClO with 0.65 % PA provides a safer and more balanced strategy for reducing E. coli residing within vegetable stomata while maintaining postharvest quality.
{"title":"Phytic acid with vacuum-ultrasound cleaning: a novel strategy for eradicating internalized Escherichia coli and preserving postharvest quality of lettuce","authors":"Siyun Xie, Fangyun Dong, Yasmeen Saeed, Ruimin Zhong, Jianhua Zhu, Xia Zhang, Yipei Chen, Yuxin Wu, Caihu Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114192","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114192","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vacuum precooling process can enhance the chances of pathogenic bacterial penetration in leafy vegetable via stomata which cannot be completely removed by using conventional washing methods, making it a serious food safety concern. To develop an efficient cleaning approach, we employed vacuum-ultrasound cleaning (VC-US) technology combined with a cleaning agent (0.2 % Tween 20) as the basic washing method. The disinfectant sodium hypochlorite (NaClO, 100 mg L <sup>−1</sup>) was used as the control, while phytic acid (PA), an alternative disinfectant to sodium hypochlorite, was tested at different concentrations (0 %, 0.33 %, 0.65 %, and 1.3 %) to evaluate its capacity to remove <em>Escherichia coli</em> that had penetrated into the stomata of lettuce. Changes in colony counts, confocal Z-axis fluorescence imaging, stomatal aperture, enzyme activities, and physicochemical indicators including total phenols, chlorophyll, ascorbic acid (AsA), malondialdehyde (MDA), color parameters, chlorogenic acid (CGA), and caffeic acid were analyzed before and after cleaning. The results showed that increasing PA concentration enhanced the removal efficiency of <em>E. coli</em> from both the surface and the interior of lettuce. 1.3 % PA reduced internal bacterial counts from an initial 4.40–1.38 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>, but no difference was observed compared with 0.65 % PA (1.44 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>), and both treatments exhibited higher removal efficiency than 100 mg L <sup>−1</sup> NaClO (1.53 log<sub>10</sub> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup>). Further analysis indicated that higher PA concentrations increased stomatal aperture size, which facilitated the removal of internalized <em>E. coli</em>. During storage, the 0.65 % PA treatment maintained higher activities of SOD and CAT while inhibiting POD and PPO activities, and reduced the accumulation of MDA, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid. Moreover, compared with other PA treatments, 0.65 % PA showed no difference with other PA treatment in total phenols, AsA, and chlorophyll, but displayed higher contents than that of NaClO treatment during 3 d storage. In addition, 0.65 % PA achieved better sensory quality than 1.3 % PA while maintaining comparable microbial removal efficiency. Collectively, these results indicate that employing VC-US technology combined with 0.2 % Tween 20 and replacing NaClO with 0.65 % PA provides a safer and more balanced strategy for reducing <em>E. coli</em> residing within vegetable stomata while maintaining postharvest quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114192"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114186
Qingqing Liu , Shengtai Lin , Yuxin Wu , Zhongqi Fan , Ruiling Zhuo , Yifen Lin , Boqiang Li , Shiping Tian , Mengshi Lin , Hetong Lin , Yihui Chen
Postharvest diseases severely compromise the quality and market value of longans. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties; however, its efficacy against postharvest diseases in longans remains unclear. This study hypothesizes that SAEW can inhibit disease development in longans by modulating the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Results showed that SAEW treatment remarkably reduced the disease severity of longans, with the disease index decreasing by 49.0 % and 32.5 % on storage days 5 and 6, respectively. The treatment also increased the activities of defense-related enzymes, including β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase. Additionally, SAEW-treated longans exhibited higher activities of CAD, PAL, CCR, POD, C4H, CHI, 4CL and CHS, as well as higher contents of various flavonoids, total flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignin, and total phenolics. Transcriptomic analysis indicates that DEGs involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were upregulated in SAEW-treated longans. These findings suggest that SAEW enhances longan's disease resistance by stimulating these critical biosynthetic pathways. SAEW offers a promising and innovative approach to mitigating postharvest diseases in longans by bolstering their natural defense mechanisms through the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways.
{"title":"Slightly acidic electrolyzed water enhances fruit disease resistance in longans by activating phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways","authors":"Qingqing Liu , Shengtai Lin , Yuxin Wu , Zhongqi Fan , Ruiling Zhuo , Yifen Lin , Boqiang Li , Shiping Tian , Mengshi Lin , Hetong Lin , Yihui Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest diseases severely compromise the quality and market value of longans. Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) is known for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties; however, its efficacy against postharvest diseases in longans remains unclear. This study hypothesizes that SAEW can inhibit disease development in longans by modulating the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. Results showed that SAEW treatment remarkably reduced the disease severity of longans, with the disease index decreasing by 49.0 % and 32.5 % on storage days 5 and 6, respectively. The treatment also increased the activities of defense-related enzymes, including <em>β</em>-1,3-glucanase and chitinase. Additionally, SAEW-treated longans exhibited higher activities of CAD, PAL, CCR, POD, C4H, CHI, 4CL and CHS, as well as higher contents of various flavonoids, total flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignin, and total phenolics. Transcriptomic analysis indicates that DEGs involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis were upregulated in SAEW-treated longans. These findings suggest that SAEW enhances longan's disease resistance by stimulating these critical biosynthetic pathways. SAEW offers a promising and innovative approach to mitigating postharvest diseases in longans by bolstering their natural defense mechanisms through the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114186"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114178
José J. Benítez , Gloria López-Casado , Patricia Segado , Antonio Heredia , Eva Domínguez
The plant cuticle acts as the first protective layer against external biotic and abiotic factors. As such it plays a role during postharvest regulating fruit quality and shelf-life. This study is focused on understanding the changes naturally occurring in the fruit cuticle of two tomato cultivars during postharvest at ambient temperature. A notable decrease in the amount of cuticle and all its components, causing cuticle thinning and a loss of invagination, was observed along storage. This was accompanied by an increase in fruit water loss, cuticle permeability and mechanical weakening, mainly due to a decrease in the elastic modulus and the force needed to break the cuticle. Important differences in the glass transition temperature of the cuticle were observed between both cultivars, with ‘Gardener’s Delight’ exhibiting a temperature around 25–30ºC and ‘Moneymaker’ about 8ºC. These differences have implications in the optimal storage conditions and affect the mechanical and hydrodynamical properties. Thermal properties were not affected by the loss of cuticle material during postharvest. ATR-FTIR analysis of the cuticles allowed the identification of band ratios associated with phenolic enrichment of the cutin matrix and with the proportion of flavonoids present in the phenolic fraction. Comparison between both cultivars suggests that, whereas a cuticle richer in phenolic compounds would contribute to the hydrogen bond network of the cuticle, reduce the esterification index of the cutin matrix, and increase the glass transition temperature, the flavonoid fraction would confer mechanical reinforcement to the cuticle.
{"title":"Cuticle changes during tomato fruit postharvest: Implications of natural variability in biophysical properties","authors":"José J. Benítez , Gloria López-Casado , Patricia Segado , Antonio Heredia , Eva Domínguez","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The plant cuticle acts as the first protective layer against external biotic and abiotic factors. As such it plays a role during postharvest regulating fruit quality and shelf-life. This study is focused on understanding the changes naturally occurring in the fruit cuticle of two tomato cultivars during postharvest at ambient temperature. A notable decrease in the amount of cuticle and all its components, causing cuticle thinning and a loss of invagination, was observed along storage. This was accompanied by an increase in fruit water loss, cuticle permeability and mechanical weakening, mainly due to a decrease in the elastic modulus and the force needed to break the cuticle. Important differences in the glass transition temperature of the cuticle were observed between both cultivars, with ‘Gardener’s Delight’ exhibiting a temperature around 25–30ºC and ‘Moneymaker’ about 8ºC. These differences have implications in the optimal storage conditions and affect the mechanical and hydrodynamical properties. Thermal properties were not affected by the loss of cuticle material during postharvest. ATR-FTIR analysis of the cuticles allowed the identification of band ratios associated with phenolic enrichment of the cutin matrix and with the proportion of flavonoids present in the phenolic fraction. Comparison between both cultivars suggests that, whereas a cuticle richer in phenolic compounds would contribute to the hydrogen bond network of the cuticle, reduce the esterification index of the cutin matrix, and increase the glass transition temperature, the flavonoid fraction would confer mechanical reinforcement to the cuticle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"235 ","pages":"Article 114178"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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