Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114094
Xiaoyan Yu , Kuan Zhang , Zhiqi Yang , Bowen Guo , Xinru Yang , Yan Zhang , Jiayi Liu , Zhenhua Zhao , Xiangjing Wang , Junwei Zhao , Wensheng Xiang
This study evaluated Bullera alba PGY-2 as a biocontrol agent against pear black spot caused by Alternaria alternata. Bullera alba PGY-2 significantly reduced disease incidence by 73.28 % and lesion diameter by 47.61 %, with higher efficacy when applied prior to pathogen inoculation. It was capable of rapid colonization and stable growth at pear wounds under both 25 ℃ and 4 ℃, demonstrating strong adaptability and competitiveness against A. alternata for nutrients and space. Bullera alba PGY-2 enhanced the activity of POD, PPO, PAL, and CHI closely associated with disease resistance in plants. It also upregulated the expression of genes in plant defense-related pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Furthermore, B. alba PGY-2 increased the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin, strengthening pear resistance to black spot. These findings highlight the potential of B. alba PGY-2 as an effective biocontrol agent and provide novel insights into its physiological and molecular defense mechanisms.
{"title":"Biocontrol effect of Bullera alba PGY-2 on postharvest black spot of pear and insights into the associated defense mechanisms","authors":"Xiaoyan Yu , Kuan Zhang , Zhiqi Yang , Bowen Guo , Xinru Yang , Yan Zhang , Jiayi Liu , Zhenhua Zhao , Xiangjing Wang , Junwei Zhao , Wensheng Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 as a biocontrol agent against pear black spot caused by <em>Alternaria alternata</em>. <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 significantly reduced disease incidence by 73.28 % and lesion diameter by 47.61 %, with higher efficacy when applied prior to pathogen inoculation. It was capable of rapid colonization and stable growth at pear wounds under both 25 ℃ and 4 ℃, demonstrating strong adaptability and competitiveness against <em>A. alternata</em> for nutrients and space. <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 enhanced the activity of POD, PPO, PAL, and CHI closely associated with disease resistance in plants. It also upregulated the expression of genes in plant defense-related pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Furthermore, <em>B</em>. <em>alba</em> PGY-2 increased the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin, strengthening pear resistance to black spot. These findings highlight the potential of <em>B</em>. <em>alba</em> PGY-2 as an effective biocontrol agent and provide novel insights into its physiological and molecular defense mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114094"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616982","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114091
Rong Wang , Yali Tan , Feiyan Dong , Jiao Yang , Xiao Li , Tong Gu , Jialan Zhang , Li Li , Mengxiang Gao
Blue mold, caused by the fungal pathogen Penicillium italicum, is one of the most prevalent postharvest diseases affecting citrus fruit globally. Biological control using antagonistic microorganisms or their metabolites represents an effective and sustainable strategy for managing postharvest diseases in fruit and vegetables. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of Bacillus velezensis Shannan.BV80–12, a previously identified broad-spectrum antifungal strain, to produce antifungal substances against citrus blue mold and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of their antifungal activity. The results showed that the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of strain Shannan.BV80–12 effectively inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of P. italicum in vitro, and significantly reduced the incidence and severity of blue mold decay on citrus fruit in situ. Sequential fractionation of the CFS yielded fraction Fr.II-2–2–2 with antifungal activity against P. italicum. Notably, this antifungal activity was not due to commonly reported antagonistic metabolites produced by Bacillus spp., including known lipopeptides, proteins/peptides, nonpolar small molecules such as polyketides, and volatile organic compounds. Fr.II-2–2–2 disrupted the cell membrane of P. italicum, increasing membrane permeability and leading to the leakage of intracellular contents. Transcriptome analysis in P. italicum revealed that this effect primarily involves the suppression of integral membrane protein production at the transcriptional level, while also interfering with protein translation and post-translational processing in general. These findings enhance our understanding of the potential of B. velezensis Shannan.BV80–12 to produce novel antifungal substances, and highlight the potential of this bacterium as a candidate for developing eco-friendly biopesticides targeting citrus blue mold caused by P. italicum.
{"title":"Antifungal mechanisms of Bacillus velezensis Shannan.BV80-12 extracellular metabolites against the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium italicum","authors":"Rong Wang , Yali Tan , Feiyan Dong , Jiao Yang , Xiao Li , Tong Gu , Jialan Zhang , Li Li , Mengxiang Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114091","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114091","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Blue mold, caused by the fungal pathogen <em>Penicillium italicum</em>, is one of the most prevalent postharvest diseases affecting citrus fruit globally. Biological control using antagonistic microorganisms or their metabolites represents an effective and sustainable strategy for managing postharvest diseases in fruit and vegetables. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> Shannan.BV80–12, a previously identified broad-spectrum antifungal strain, to produce antifungal substances against citrus blue mold and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of their antifungal activity. The results showed that the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of strain Shannan.BV80–12 effectively inhibited spore germination and mycelial growth of <em>P. italicum in vitro</em>, and significantly reduced the incidence and severity of blue mold decay on citrus fruit <em>in situ</em>. Sequential fractionation of the CFS yielded fraction Fr.II-2–2–2 with antifungal activity against <em>P. italicum</em>. Notably, this antifungal activity was not due to commonly reported antagonistic metabolites produced by <em>Bacillus</em> spp., including known lipopeptides, proteins/peptides, nonpolar small molecules such as polyketides, and volatile organic compounds. Fr.II-2–2–2 disrupted the cell membrane of <em>P. italicum</em>, increasing membrane permeability and leading to the leakage of intracellular contents. Transcriptome analysis in <em>P. italicum</em> revealed that this effect primarily involves the suppression of integral membrane protein production at the transcriptional level, while also interfering with protein translation and post-translational processing in general. These findings enhance our understanding of the potential of <em>B. velezensis</em> Shannan.BV80–12 to produce novel antifungal substances, and highlight the potential of this bacterium as a candidate for developing eco-friendly biopesticides targeting citrus blue mold caused by <em>P. italicum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114091"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616974","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114093
Yan Yang , Zhen Wang , Yan Wang, Bao’an Wang, Yuting Zhang, Zaikang Tong, Junhong Zhang
The excellent antifungal activity of Phoebe bournei wood essential oil (PWEO) has been widely recognized. However, its practical application is hindered by poor water dispersibility and high volatility. Encapsulating essential oils in nanoparticles has become a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. This is the first time that PWEO has been encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles to form a PWEO-loaded chitosan nanoemulsion (PWEO-CSNE). The PWEO-CSNE was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). DLS results indicated that the nanoparticle size of PWEO-CSNE ranged from 242.200 ± 1.061 nm to 263.967 ± 4.570 nm. XRD and FTIR analyses collectively confirmed the successful encapsulation of PWEO within the chitosan particles. SEM observations revealed that the PWEO-CSNE nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology, with a slight decrease in zeta potential. In both in vivo and in vitro tests, PWEO-CSNE (at a 1:0.75, w/w ratio) completely inhibited (100 %) the development of gray mold lesions on cherry tomato fruit during a 7-day incubation period and significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea. In a 10-day preservation experiment, PWEO-CSNE (1:0.75, w/w) effectively extended the shelf life of cherry tomato by reducing weight loss, minimizing color difference, slowing the decline in titratable acidity,increasing the contents of soluble sugars, flavonoids, total phenols, and carotenoids, and enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities.This study identifies the PWEO-CSNE emulsion (1:0.75, w/w), with its excellent dispersivity and antifungal efficacy, as a promising and novel solution for controlling gray mold and preserving the quality of postharvest cherry tomato.
{"title":"A chitosan emulsion containing Phoebe bournei wood essential oil for inhibiting Botrytis cinerea and extending the shelf-life of cherry tomato","authors":"Yan Yang , Zhen Wang , Yan Wang, Bao’an Wang, Yuting Zhang, Zaikang Tong, Junhong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114093","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The excellent antifungal activity of <em>Phoebe bournei</em> wood essential oil (PWEO) has been widely recognized. However, its practical application is hindered by poor water dispersibility and high volatility. Encapsulating essential oils in nanoparticles has become a promising strategy to overcome these limitations. This is the first time that PWEO has been encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles to form a PWEO-loaded chitosan nanoemulsion (PWEO-CSNE). The PWEO-CSNE was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). DLS results indicated that the nanoparticle size of PWEO-CSNE ranged from 242.200 ± 1.061 nm to 263.967 ± 4.570 nm. XRD and FTIR analyses collectively confirmed the successful encapsulation of PWEO within the chitosan particles. SEM observations revealed that the PWEO-CSNE nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology, with a slight decrease in zeta potential. In both <em>in vivo</em> and <em>in vitro</em> tests, PWEO-CSNE (at a 1:0.75, w/w ratio) completely inhibited (100 %) the development of gray mold lesions on cherry tomato fruit during a 7-day incubation period and significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>. In a 10-day preservation experiment, PWEO-CSNE (1:0.75, w/w) effectively extended the shelf life of cherry tomato by reducing weight loss, minimizing color difference, slowing the decline in titratable acidity,increasing the contents of soluble sugars, flavonoids, total phenols, and carotenoids, and enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities.This study identifies the PWEO-CSNE emulsion (1:0.75, w/w), with its excellent dispersivity and antifungal efficacy, as a promising and novel solution for controlling gray mold and preserving the quality of postharvest cherry tomato.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114093"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616981","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114089
Yudong Liu , Wei Deng , Ke Cao , Zhengguo Li
Cold storage is widely used to minimize postharvest losses in horticultural crops, but tomatoes are vulnerable to chilling injury at low temperatures. This study demonstrated that applying phenylalanine (Phe) effectively mitigated chilling injury and inhibited fruit softening in tomatoes during cold storage. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that Phe treatment elevated the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, thereby enhancing phenylpropanoid metabolism. Elevated levels of various flavonoids and ascorbic acid reinforced the free radical scavenging capacity of cold-stored fruit. Phe also promoted the activity of multiple antioxidant enzymes and reduced oxidative damage. Furthermore, Phe treatment inhibited the enzymatic activity of pectate lyase, β-galactosidase, and cellulase, as well as suppressed pectin and cellulose degradation, thereby postponing fruit softening. Phytohormone analysis revealed that Phe treatment increased melatonin levels and modulated the expression of genes associated with various hormone signalings. Correlation analysis showed that CNR and SlGRAS10 are likely the core transcription factors involved in Phe-regulated tomato fruit softening and cold tolerance, which are closely associated with cell wall metabolism and CBF genes. This study elucidated the comprehensive regulatory effects of phenylalanine on the postharvest preservation of tomato fruit.
{"title":"Phenylalanine enhances phenylpropanoid metabolism, inhibits fruit softening and alleviates chilling injury in tomato fruit during cold storage","authors":"Yudong Liu , Wei Deng , Ke Cao , Zhengguo Li","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cold storage is widely used to minimize postharvest losses in horticultural crops, but tomatoes are vulnerable to chilling injury at low temperatures. This study demonstrated that applying phenylalanine (Phe) effectively mitigated chilling injury and inhibited fruit softening in tomatoes during cold storage. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses indicated that Phe treatment elevated the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, thereby enhancing phenylpropanoid metabolism. Elevated levels of various flavonoids and ascorbic acid reinforced the free radical scavenging capacity of cold-stored fruit. Phe also promoted the activity of multiple antioxidant enzymes and reduced oxidative damage. Furthermore, Phe treatment inhibited the enzymatic activity of pectate lyase, β-galactosidase, and cellulase, as well as suppressed pectin and cellulose degradation, thereby postponing fruit softening. Phytohormone analysis revealed that Phe treatment increased melatonin levels and modulated the expression of genes associated with various hormone signalings. Correlation analysis showed that <em>CNR</em> and <em>SlGRAS10</em> are likely the core transcription factors involved in Phe-regulated tomato fruit softening and cold tolerance, which are closely associated with cell wall metabolism and <em>CBF</em> genes. This study elucidated the comprehensive regulatory effects of phenylalanine on the postharvest preservation of tomato fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114089"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616977","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114069
Evandro Silva , Julio César Barbosa , Adrián González-Gárcia , Roberto G.S. Berlinck , Ana-Rosa Ballester , Luis González-Candelas , Taicia Fill
Penicillium italicum is a postharvest pathogen responsible for the blue mold disease in citrus fruit, particularly under cold and dry storage conditions. Although the disease poses significant economic losses in global citrus production, the molecular basis of P. italicum virulence remains largely unexplored. In this study, we uncover a direct link between the fungus’s secondary metabolism and its pathogenicity by integrating untargeted metabolomics, gene deletion, and functional assays. LC-HRMS analysis of extracts of infected citrus tissues revealed the active production of cyclic peptides, including fungisporin and structurally related tetrapeptides, during host colonization. These compounds are functionally characterized for the first time as secondary metabolites of P. italicum. Targeted deletion of hcpA, encoding a multimodular nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), abolished the production of these metabolites, confirming its essential role in their biosynthesis. Although the ΔhcpA mutant exhibited normal growth and sporulation, it was more susceptible to osmotic stress and caused smaller lesions on orange fruit, indicating impaired virulence. Taken together, our findings reveal that HcpA-dependent cyclic peptides function as time-regulated virulence factors and offer novel insights into the infection strategy of P. italicum. This study identifies a promising molecular target for the development of innovative approaches to postharvest disease control in citrus.
{"title":"Decoding virulence in Penicillium italicum: A functional link between NRPS-derived cyclic peptides and citrus infection","authors":"Evandro Silva , Julio César Barbosa , Adrián González-Gárcia , Roberto G.S. Berlinck , Ana-Rosa Ballester , Luis González-Candelas , Taicia Fill","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Penicillium italicum</em> is a postharvest pathogen responsible for the blue mold disease in citrus fruit, particularly under cold and dry storage conditions. Although the disease poses significant economic losses in global citrus production, the molecular basis of <em>P. italicum</em> virulence remains largely unexplored. In this study, we uncover a direct link between the fungus’s secondary metabolism and its pathogenicity by integrating untargeted metabolomics, gene deletion, and functional assays. LC-HRMS analysis of extracts of infected citrus tissues revealed the active production of cyclic peptides, including fungisporin and structurally related tetrapeptides, during host colonization. These compounds are functionally characterized for the first time as secondary metabolites of <em>P. italicum</em>. Targeted deletion of <em>hcpA</em>, encoding a multimodular nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), abolished the production of these metabolites, confirming its essential role in their biosynthesis. Although the Δ<em>hcpA</em> mutant exhibited normal growth and sporulation, it was more susceptible to osmotic stress and caused smaller lesions on orange fruit, indicating impaired virulence. Taken together, our findings reveal that HcpA-dependent cyclic peptides function as time-regulated virulence factors and offer novel insights into the infection strategy of <em>P. italicum</em>. This study identifies a promising molecular target for the development of innovative approaches to postharvest disease control in citrus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114069"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616976","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 : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114097
Xuexue Wang , Yatong Zhu , Di Gong , Feng Zhang , Xiaobin Xu , Qili Liu , Dov B. Prusky , Yang Bi , Yuanyuan Zong
Autophagy is a conserved intracellular degradation and recycling pathway that plays essential roles in fungal growth, development, and virulence. However, its function in the postharvest pathogen Penicillium expansum remains largely unexplored. In this study, we constructed a PeAtg2 deletion mutant (ΔPeAtg2) and a complementation strain (ΔPeAtg2-C) to elucidate the role of PeAtg2. Loss of PeAtg2 disrupted autophagosome formation and altered the expression of multiple autophagy-related genes. ΔPeAtg2 exhibited abnormal hyphal branching, markedly reduced conidiation and germination, and defective spore morphology. Under different nutritional conditions, ΔPeAtg2 displayed impaired vegetative growth and heightened sensitivity to osmotic stress, while showing enhanced tolerance to cell wall and oxidative stresses. Moreover, PeAtg2 deletion significantly suppressed patulin and pigment biosynthesis and attenuated pathogenicity on apple and pear fruit. These findings demonstrate that PeAtg2-mediated autophagy is central to fungal development, secondary metabolism, and virulence in P. expansum.
{"title":"PeAtg2-mediated autophagy coordinates development, secondary metabolism and pathogenicity in Penicillium expansum","authors":"Xuexue Wang , Yatong Zhu , Di Gong , Feng Zhang , Xiaobin Xu , Qili Liu , Dov B. Prusky , Yang Bi , Yuanyuan Zong","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Autophagy is a conserved intracellular degradation and recycling pathway that plays essential roles in fungal growth, development, and virulence. However, its function in the postharvest pathogen <em>Penicillium expansum</em> remains largely unexplored. In this study, we constructed a <em>PeAtg2</em> deletion mutant (Δ<em>PeAtg2</em>) and a complementation strain (Δ<em>PeAtg2</em>-<em>C</em>) to elucidate the role of PeAtg2. Loss of <em>PeAtg2</em> disrupted autophagosome formation and altered the expression of multiple autophagy-related genes. Δ<em>PeAtg2</em> exhibited abnormal hyphal branching, markedly reduced conidiation and germination, and defective spore morphology. Under different nutritional conditions, Δ<em>PeAtg2</em> displayed impaired vegetative growth and heightened sensitivity to osmotic stress, while showing enhanced tolerance to cell wall and oxidative stresses. Moreover, <em>PeAtg2</em> deletion significantly suppressed patulin and pigment biosynthesis and attenuated pathogenicity on apple and pear fruit. These findings demonstrate that PeAtg2-mediated autophagy is central to fungal development, secondary metabolism, and virulence in <em>P. expansum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114097"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616975","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}
Juice sac granulation is a complex physiological disorder that significantly compromises the eating quality and postharvest longevity of ‘Majiayou’ pummelo (Citrus grandis L.). The exact mechanisms by which juice sac granulation in citrus fruit remain elusive, particularly at the genetic regulatory level. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq data from juice sac samples collected at three granulation stages (G0, G1, and G2) of ‘Majiayou’ pummelo fruit, and characterized a nuclear-localizated C2H2 zinc finger protein, CgZAT11, whose expression progressively increased during juice sac granulation. Online prediction of CgZAT11 binding elements was used to scan the Citrus grandis genome, combining transcriptomic data to screen for eight potentially differentially expressed target genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Functional validation revealed that CgZAT11 induced pronounced lignin accumulation and secondary cell wall thickening in pummelo juice sacs by enhancing the transcriptional levels of the CgCAD8 and CgPOD16 genes. Through integrated molecular assays—including yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter, and electromobility shift assay—we demonstrated that CgZAT11 directly activates CgCAD8 and CgPOD16 by specifically binding to their promoters, thereby enhancing our understanding of the regulatory network governing juice sac granulation. These findings establish CgZAT11 as a transcriptional activator coordinating lignin biosynthesis pathways during juice sac granulation, providing novel mechanistic insights into the transcriptional regulation of juice sac granulation in ‘Majiayou’ pummelo fruit.
{"title":"CgZAT11-driven lignin accumulation mediates juice sac granulation in postharvest pummelo (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck)","authors":"Qiang Huang, Yingying Yang, Dan Peng, Xiawan Zhai, Zengyu Gan, Wenbin Kai, Chuying Chen, Jinyin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Juice sac granulation is a complex physiological disorder that significantly compromises the eating quality and postharvest longevity of ‘Majiayou’ pummelo (<em>Citrus grandis</em> L.). The exact mechanisms by which juice sac granulation in citrus fruit remain elusive, particularly at the genetic regulatory level. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq data from juice sac samples collected at three granulation stages (G0, G1, and G2) of ‘Majiayou’ pummelo fruit, and characterized a nuclear-localizated C2H2 zinc finger protein, CgZAT11, whose expression progressively increased during juice sac granulation. Online prediction of CgZAT11 binding elements was used to scan the <em>Citrus grandis</em> genome, combining transcriptomic data to screen for eight potentially differentially expressed target genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Functional validation revealed that <em>CgZAT11</em> induced pronounced lignin accumulation and secondary cell wall thickening in pummelo juice sacs by enhancing the transcriptional levels of the <em>CgCAD8</em> and <em>CgPOD16</em> genes. Through integrated molecular assays—including yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter, and electromobility shift assay—we demonstrated that CgZAT11 directly activates <em>CgCAD8</em> and <em>CgPOD16</em> by specifically binding to their promoters, thereby enhancing our understanding of the regulatory network governing juice sac granulation. These findings establish CgZAT11 as a transcriptional activator coordinating lignin biosynthesis pathways during juice sac granulation, providing novel mechanistic insights into the transcriptional regulation of juice sac granulation in ‘Majiayou’ pummelo fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114090"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616908","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}
Postharvest decay is a major issue in fruit storage, resulting in significant losses. Therefore, effective and environmentally friendly treatments are essential. This study examines the antifungal properties of secondary metabolites from vanilla beans as a postharvest treatment to inhibit decay and prolong shelf life in both vanilla beans and pears. We hypothesized that vanillin could inhibit fungal pathogen growth and improve fruit quality by reducing decay. Lower amount of vanillin were found in the pedicel area, which is the first area to rot. We found that vanillin effectively inhibited the growth of fungal pathogens Geotrichum candidum-like and Mucor fragilis-like, isolated from decayed vanilla beans, as well as common postharvest pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum, in vitro. Similarly, vanillin inhibited the B. cinerea spore germination. These results highlight vanillin’s potential as a natural antifungal treatment for postharvest applications. In B. cinerea-inoculated pears, vanillin treatment reduced B. cinerea growth by 18-fold, while altering its aroma profile, with significant shifts in volatile compounds that contributed to a more appealing scent. Sensory evaluations showed a preference for fruit treated with a 20 mmol L-1vanillin, with no significant differences in other specific sensory parameters. This study highlights vanillin’s potential as an effective postharvest treatment to reduce decay, extend shelf life, and possibly enhance consumer preference for treated fruits.
采后腐烂是水果储存中的一个主要问题，会导致重大损失。因此，有效和环保的治疗是必不可少的。本研究考察了香草豆次生代谢物作为采后处理的抗真菌特性，以抑制香草豆和梨的腐烂和延长保质期。我们推测香兰素可以抑制真菌病原体的生长，并通过减少腐烂来改善果实品质。香兰素含量较低的区域是最早腐烂的区域。我们发现，香兰素能有效抑制从腐烂的香草豆中分离出的真菌病原体念珠土霉（Geotrichum candicandim -样）和脆弱毛霉（Mucor fragilis-样），以及常见的采后病原体灰孢杆菌（Botrytis cinerea）和尖孢镰刀菌（Fusarium oxysporum）的体外生长。同样，香兰素抑制葡萄球菌孢子萌发。这些结果突出了香草醛作为一种天然抗真菌治疗在采后应用的潜力。在接种了灰葡萄球菌的梨中，香兰素处理使灰葡萄球菌的生长减少了18倍，同时改变了其香气特征，挥发性化合物发生了显著变化，从而产生了更吸引人的气味。感官评价表明，20 mmol l -1香草醛处理的果实更受青睐，其他特定感官参数无显著差异。这项研究强调了香兰素作为一种有效的采后处理方法的潜力，可以减少腐烂，延长保质期，并可能提高消费者对处理过的水果的偏好。
{"title":"Vanillin, a fungal pathogen inhibitor: Exploring its antifungal potential for postharvest applications","authors":"Amit Faran , Alon Shomron , Satyendra Pratap Singh , Vered Tzin , Noam Alkan","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest decay is a major issue in fruit storage, resulting in significant losses. Therefore, effective and environmentally friendly treatments are essential. This study examines the antifungal properties of secondary metabolites from vanilla beans as a postharvest treatment to inhibit decay and prolong shelf life in both vanilla beans and pears. We hypothesized that vanillin could inhibit fungal pathogen growth and improve fruit quality by reducing decay. Lower amount of vanillin were found in the pedicel area, which is the first area to rot. We found that vanillin effectively inhibited the growth of fungal pathogens <em>Geotrichum candidum</em>-like and <em>Mucor fragilis</em>-like, isolated from decayed vanilla beans, as well as common postharvest pathogens <em>Botrytis cinerea</em> and <em>Fusarium oxysporum</em>, in vitro. Similarly, vanillin inhibited the <em>B. cinerea</em> spore germination. These results highlight vanillin’s potential as a natural antifungal treatment for postharvest applications. In <em>B. cinerea-</em>inoculated pears, vanillin treatment reduced <em>B. cinerea</em> growth by 18-fold, while altering its aroma profile, with significant shifts in volatile compounds that contributed to a more appealing scent. Sensory evaluations showed a preference for fruit treated with a 20 mmol L-1vanillin, with no significant differences in other specific sensory parameters. This study highlights vanillin’s potential as an effective postharvest treatment to reduce decay, extend shelf life, and possibly enhance consumer preference for treated fruits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114070"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616978","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 : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114078
Qianqi Xu , Guogang Chen , Minrui Guo , Shaobo Cheng , Jiankang Cao , Wanting Yang , Weida Zhang
Flat nectarine often experience cold chain breakage during loading and unloading, but the impact of the resulting temperature fluctuations on their post-harvest quality remains unclear. In this study, simulate cold chain group (SC) and simulate cold chain fracture group (SF) were set up to investigate the postharvest quality and softening related cell wall metabolism of flat nectarines. Compared with SC, SF underwent two 6-hour heating periods at 25 ± 1 ℃, with increased rot, weight loss, soluble solids, and earlier respiration intensity and ethylene peak production. In addition, cold chain breakage enhanced the expression of PpCx, PpPME1, Ppβ-GAL5, PpPG1, and PpPL, which increase the activity of cell wall-modifying enzymes, Cx, β-Gal, XET, α-ARF, xyl, PG, PL, and PME. The changes are associated with decrease in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin (CSP, SSP) contents, accelerating fruit softening. Microscopic observation revealed that the cell wall disintegration and fruit peel wax shedding were more pronounced following cold chain breakage. Overall, cold chain breakage caused premature ripening and aging of flat nectarine, intensified softening, and increased decay and weight loss. Therefore, supply chains should be optimized in the later stages to minimize economic losses.
{"title":"Flat nectarine cold chain breakage accelerates postharvest ripening and fruit flesh cell wall degradation","authors":"Qianqi Xu , Guogang Chen , Minrui Guo , Shaobo Cheng , Jiankang Cao , Wanting Yang , Weida Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Flat nectarine often experience cold chain breakage during loading and unloading, but the impact of the resulting temperature fluctuations on their post-harvest quality remains unclear. In this study, simulate cold chain group (SC) and simulate cold chain fracture group (SF) were set up to investigate the postharvest quality and softening related cell wall metabolism of flat nectarines. Compared with SC, SF underwent two 6-hour heating periods at 25 ± 1 ℃, with increased rot, weight loss, soluble solids, and earlier respiration intensity and ethylene peak production. In addition, cold chain breakage enhanced the expression of <em>PpCx</em>, <em>PpPME1</em>, <em>Ppβ-GAL5</em>, <em>PpPG1</em>, and <em>PpPL</em>, which increase the activity of cell wall-modifying enzymes, Cx, β-Gal, XET, α-ARF, xyl, PG, PL, and PME. The changes are associated with decrease in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin (CSP, SSP) contents, accelerating fruit softening. Microscopic observation revealed that the cell wall disintegration and fruit peel wax shedding were more pronounced following cold chain breakage. Overall, cold chain breakage caused premature ripening and aging of flat nectarine, intensified softening, and increased decay and weight loss. Therefore, supply chains should be optimized in the later stages to minimize economic losses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114078"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616907","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 : 2025-11-24DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114075
Yuemin Yang , Rufang Deng , Yueming Jiang , Xuewu Duan , Zhengke Zhang , Guoxiang Jiang , Mengting Liu
Banana fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI) under low-temperature stress, leading to quality deterioration. Although alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) has been extensively studied for its role in cellular homeostasis, its effects on postharvest fruit and preservation mechanisms remain unclear. This study demonstrates that AKG treatment alleviates CI in banana fruit by preserving phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) content while enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity—including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Concurrently, AKG maintained lower H₂O₂ and O2•– levels. Furthermore, AKG sustained the activity of key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), promoting higher ATP levels and energy charge (EC). Transcriptome analysis revealed that AKG modulates genes associated with oxidoreductase activity, small molecule transport, glycosyltransferase function, mitochondrial energy metabolism and antioxidant pathways. RT-qPCR validation confirmed significant upregulation of key cold-responsive genes (MaAOX1a, MaRbohH, MaHSP22, MaPLD1, MaPAL and MaMYB4). Collectively, these findings suggest that AKG alleviates CI in banana fruit by simultaneously improving redox homeostasis and preserving mitochondrial energy metabolism.
{"title":"Alpha-ketoglutarate alleviates chilling injury in banana fruit by promoting redox homeostasis and maintaining energy balance","authors":"Yuemin Yang , Rufang Deng , Yueming Jiang , Xuewu Duan , Zhengke Zhang , Guoxiang Jiang , Mengting Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Banana fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI) under low-temperature stress, leading to quality deterioration. Although alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG) has been extensively studied for its role in cellular homeostasis, its effects on postharvest fruit and preservation mechanisms remain unclear. This study demonstrates that AKG treatment alleviates CI in banana fruit by preserving phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) content while enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity—including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Concurrently, AKG maintained lower H₂O₂ and O<sub>2</sub><sup>•–</sup> levels. Furthermore, AKG sustained the activity of key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes (succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH), promoting higher ATP levels and energy charge (EC). Transcriptome analysis revealed that AKG modulates genes associated with oxidoreductase activity, small molecule transport, glycosyltransferase function, mitochondrial energy metabolism and antioxidant pathways. RT-qPCR validation confirmed significant upregulation of key cold-responsive genes (<em>MaAOX1a</em>, <em>MaRbohH</em>, <em>MaHSP22</em>, <em>MaPLD1</em>, <em>MaPAL</em> and <em>MaMYB4</em>). Collectively, these findings suggest that AKG alleviates CI in banana fruit by simultaneously improving redox homeostasis and preserving mitochondrial energy metabolism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114075"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616986","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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