Pub Date : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114073
Sally Shuxian Koh , Kasey Goh , Zheng Yong Poh , Javier Jingheng Tan , Daisuke Urano
The widespread use of agrochemicals raises concerns about long-term environmental and health effects, increasing the demand for sustainable alternatives. Peptide-hormone signalling, particularly those regulating senescence, holds promise for developing such alternatives in postharvest technologies, however most research remains focused on model species. This study identifies the Lactuca sativa CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM-SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) peptide, LsCLE12p, as a potential postharvest regulator in crops and ornamentals. LsCLE12p interacts with high salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene pathways, influencing lettuce development and morphology. Notably, LsCLE12p induces stomatal closure similarly to ABA and transcriptionally modulates immune responses, fluid transport, and senescence-related pathways, suggesting a regulatory role in leaf aging. Consistent with these molecular functions, LsCLE12p delays dark-induced senescence in lettuce and extends the longevity of cut roses. These findings highlight the potential of CLE peptides in non-model species to enhance postharvest shelf life in crops and ornamentals.
{"title":"LsCLE12 peptide delays senescence in lettuce and prolongs postharvest life of roses","authors":"Sally Shuxian Koh , Kasey Goh , Zheng Yong Poh , Javier Jingheng Tan , Daisuke Urano","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of agrochemicals raises concerns about long-term environmental and health effects, increasing the demand for sustainable alternatives. Peptide-hormone signalling, particularly those regulating senescence, holds promise for developing such alternatives in postharvest technologies, however most research remains focused on model species. This study identifies the <em>Lactuca sativa</em> CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM-SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) peptide, LsCLE12p, as a potential postharvest regulator in crops and ornamentals. LsCLE12p interacts with high salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene pathways, influencing lettuce development and morphology. Notably, LsCLE12p induces stomatal closure similarly to ABA and transcriptionally modulates immune responses, fluid transport, and senescence-related pathways, suggesting a regulatory role in leaf aging. Consistent with these molecular functions, LsCLE12p delays dark-induced senescence in lettuce and extends the longevity of cut roses. These findings highlight the potential of CLE peptides in non-model species to enhance postharvest shelf life in crops and ornamentals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114073"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555140","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 : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114077
Lufan Wang , Jiaxu Mao , Shiying Zhang , Huijuan Zhou , Libin Wang , Liang Zhou , Mengyuan Chen , Ziyi Yuan , Xiangzhen Sun , Shuling Shen , Xiaolin Zheng , Chen Huan
Ready-to-eat kiwifruit is increasingly favored by consumers, and fruit firmness is a key indicator of its edibility. Studies have shown that ethylene and its signaling pathways are involved in regulating fruit softening. However, in kiwifruit, research on the molecular mechanisms underlying ethylene-mediated postharvest softening remains limited, and the specific regulatory targets have yet to be fully elucidated. This study identified and characterized AcERF61, an ethylene response factor from 'Xuxiang' kiwifruit, and elucidated its regulatory role in fruit softening. AcERF61 was characterized as an ethylene-inducible nuclear protein with transcriptional activation activity. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) identified 2644 genome-wide binding sites for AcERF61, revealing three key target genes involved in cell wall degradation, including AcPME1 (pectin methylesterase), AcPL1 (pectin lyase), and AcCEL1 (cellulase). AcERF61 directly bound to a novel motif (GTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGG) in the promoter regions of these genes, as confirmed by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays. Transient overexpression of AcERF61 in kiwifruit significantly enhanced the expression of target genes (AcPME1, AcPL1, and AcCEL1), and caused cell wall loosening and degradation. Conversely, virus-induced gene silencing of AcERF61 suppressed target gene expression, and preserved cell wall integrity. These findings demonstrate that AcERF61 acts as a positive transcriptional regulator of kiwifruit softening by directly modulating the expression of genes involved in cell wall degradation, providing valuable insights for developing precision postharvest technologies and improving ready-to-eat kiwifruit quality.
{"title":"AcERF61 transcription factor mediates ethylene-induced kiwifruit softening through directly regulating cell wall degradation genes","authors":"Lufan Wang , Jiaxu Mao , Shiying Zhang , Huijuan Zhou , Libin Wang , Liang Zhou , Mengyuan Chen , Ziyi Yuan , Xiangzhen Sun , Shuling Shen , Xiaolin Zheng , Chen Huan","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ready-to-eat kiwifruit is increasingly favored by consumers, and fruit firmness is a key indicator of its edibility. Studies have shown that ethylene and its signaling pathways are involved in regulating fruit softening. However, in kiwifruit, research on the molecular mechanisms underlying ethylene-mediated postharvest softening remains limited, and the specific regulatory targets have yet to be fully elucidated. This study identified and characterized AcERF61, an ethylene response factor from 'Xuxiang' kiwifruit, and elucidated its regulatory role in fruit softening. AcERF61 was characterized as an ethylene-inducible nuclear protein with transcriptional activation activity. DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) identified 2644 genome-wide binding sites for AcERF61, revealing three key target genes involved in cell wall degradation, including <em>AcPME1</em> (pectin methylesterase), <em>AcPL1</em> (pectin lyase), and <em>AcCEL1</em> (cellulase). AcERF61 directly bound to a novel motif (GTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGTGGG) in the promoter regions of these genes, as confirmed by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays. Transient overexpression of <em>AcERF61</em> in kiwifruit significantly enhanced the expression of target genes (<em>AcPME1</em>, <em>AcPL1</em>, and <em>AcCEL1</em>), and caused cell wall loosening and degradation. Conversely, virus-induced gene silencing of <em>AcERF61</em> suppressed target gene expression, and preserved cell wall integrity. These findings demonstrate that AcERF61 acts as a positive transcriptional regulator of kiwifruit softening by directly modulating the expression of genes involved in cell wall degradation, providing valuable insights for developing precision postharvest technologies and improving ready-to-eat kiwifruit quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114077"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555138","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}
β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is widely recognized for priming broad-spectrum disease resistance in fruit crops, yet its receptor in fruit tissues remains largely unidentified. In this study, we identify the AspRS homolog PpIBI1 as a functional BABA receptor in peach fruit that transduces the initial perception signal into two temporally distinct defense modules. Upon BABA treatment, PpIBI1 is recruited to the pattern-recognition receptor (PRR) co-receptor PpBAK1, triggering activation of the PpRac1/2–PpRBOHD/F component and a rapid burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-a hallmark of early pattern-triggered immunity (PTI)-like responses. Meanwhile, nuclear interaction between PpIBI1 and PpTCP2 enhances the transcription of salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis genes, leading to systemic acquired resistance (SAR) activation. Molecular evidence from overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout confirms that PpIBI1 exerts a dual function by mediating the early ROS burst and later activating the SA-dependent defense. Collectively, these findings outline a sequential pathway in which PpIBI1 activates PpBAK1 to initiate a PTI-related ROS burst, followed by nuclear interaction with PpTCP2 to induce SA-dependent SAR. This pathway integrates local and systemic immunity in postharvest peach fruit and highlights PpIBI1 as a key target for postharvest disease control.
{"title":"BABA receptor PpIBI1 integrates early PTI and late SAR responses to boost resistance in postharvest peach fruit","authors":"Chunhong Li , Minghua Zhou , Qing Peng , Huaping Xu , Yijia Xia , Fei Xiang , Kaituo Wang , Yonghua Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114067","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is widely recognized for priming broad-spectrum disease resistance in fruit crops, yet its receptor in fruit tissues remains largely unidentified. In this study, we identify the AspRS homolog PpIBI1 as a functional BABA receptor in peach fruit that transduces the initial perception signal into two temporally distinct defense modules. Upon BABA treatment, PpIBI1 is recruited to the pattern-recognition receptor (PRR) co-receptor PpBAK1, triggering activation of the PpRac1/2–PpRBOHD/F component and a rapid burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-a hallmark of early pattern-triggered immunity (PTI)-like responses. Meanwhile, nuclear interaction between PpIBI1 and PpTCP2 enhances the transcription of salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis genes, leading to systemic acquired resistance (SAR) activation. Molecular evidence from overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout confirms that PpIBI1 exerts a dual function by mediating the early ROS burst and later activating the SA-dependent defense. Collectively, these findings outline a sequential pathway in which PpIBI1 activates PpBAK1 to initiate a PTI-related ROS burst, followed by nuclear interaction with PpTCP2 to induce SA-dependent SAR. This pathway integrates local and systemic immunity in postharvest peach fruit and highlights PpIBI1 as a key target for postharvest disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114067"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145578677","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 : 2025-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114074
Rong Liu , Yan Wu , Di Wang , Haijue Zhang , QingJun Kong , Xueyan Ren
Research on citrus sour rot lags behind other postharvest citrus diseases, with current studies primarily focused on prevention and control. Nevertheless, effective eco-friendly control strategies remain scarce, and investigations into its pathogenic mechanisms are rarely reported. Elucidating its molecular pathogenesis is therefore crucial for developing control approaches. This study identified citrus CsGMP1 (conserved mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase) is indirectly targeted by Geotrichum citri-aurantii effector GcSP2 to disrupt redox homeostasis and plasma membrane integrity. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) confirmed intracellular interaction, while yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) indicated indirect binding. CsGMP1 overexpression reduced lesion size and enhanced sour rot resistance (0–3 dpi), whereas silencing increased susceptibility. GcSP2 hijacks CsGMP1 to subvert redox balance: overexpression maintained elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Vitamin C (Vc), while silencing amplified lipoxygenase (LOX) and malondialdehyde (MDA). GcSP2 deletion attenuated virulence only in controls, establishing CsGMP1 as the critical node for effector-mediated pathogenesis. This study identifies the first fungal effector targeting the plant GMP pathway, proposing effector-guided breeding for citrus disease control.
柑桔酸腐病的研究滞后于其他采后病害，目前的研究主要集中在防治上。然而，有效的生态友好型控制策略仍然缺乏，对其致病机制的调查也很少报道。因此，阐明其分子发病机制对于开发控制方法至关重要。本研究发现柑橘CsGMP1（保守甘露糖-1-磷酸鸟苷转移酶）是土曲霉（Geotrichum citi -aurantii）效应物GcSP2的间接靶点，破坏氧化还原稳态和质膜完整性。双分子荧光互补（BiFC）证实了细胞内相互作用，而酵母双杂交（Y2H）证实了间接结合。CsGMP1过表达减少了病变大小，增强了抗酸腐病能力（0-3 dpi），而沉默增加了易感性。GcSP2劫持CsGMP1破坏氧化还原平衡：过度表达维持了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和维生素C （Vc）的升高，同时沉默了放大的脂氧合酶（LOX）和丙二醛（MDA）。GcSP2缺失仅在对照中减弱毒力，这表明CsGMP1是效应介导的发病机制的关键节点。本研究首次发现了针对植物GMP通路的真菌效应物，为柑橘病害防治提供了效应物引导育种。
{"title":"Subversion of redox homeostasis in citrus by the Geotrichum citri-aurantii effector GcSP2 via targeting GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase 1","authors":"Rong Liu , Yan Wu , Di Wang , Haijue Zhang , QingJun Kong , Xueyan Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on citrus sour rot lags behind other postharvest citrus diseases, with current studies primarily focused on prevention and control. Nevertheless, effective eco-friendly control strategies remain scarce, and investigations into its pathogenic mechanisms are rarely reported. Elucidating its molecular pathogenesis is therefore crucial for developing control approaches. This study identified citrus CsGMP1 (conserved mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase) is indirectly targeted by <em>Geotrichum citri-aurantii</em> effector GcSP2 to disrupt redox homeostasis and plasma membrane integrity. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) confirmed intracellular interaction, while yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) indicated indirect binding. <em>CsGMP1</em> overexpression reduced lesion size and enhanced sour rot resistance (0–3 dpi), whereas silencing increased susceptibility. GcSP2 hijacks CsGMP1 to subvert redox balance: overexpression maintained elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Vitamin C (Vc), while silencing amplified lipoxygenase (LOX) and malondialdehyde (MDA). GcSP2 deletion attenuated virulence only in controls, establishing CsGMP1 as the critical node for effector-mediated pathogenesis. This study identifies the first fungal effector targeting the plant GMP pathway, proposing effector-guided breeding for citrus disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114074"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555139","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}
Peppermint essential oil has antioxidant properties and inhibits bacterial growth. In the present study, a coating of 2 % peppermint essential oil was applied to the surface of the packaging of fresh-cut lettuce and found to delay browning and maintain product quality. When fresh-cut lettuce was stored at 4 °C, the peppermint oil treatment reduced respiratory intensity, ethylene generation, decreased the total number of viable yeast, mold, and bacterial cells, and inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, enzymes associated with browning. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of fresh-cut lettuce revealed that the 2 % peppermint oil treatment had an inhibitory effect on arachidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid pathway-related genes, including lipoxygenase (LOX2S), allene oxide cyclase (AOC) and secretory phospholipase A2 (TGL4). Treated lettuce also displayed greater cell membrane integrity, which can be demonstrated by reduced levels of electrolyte leakage, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and inhibited chlorophyll degradation and chlorophyll degradation-related genes, including chlorophyll-degrading chlorophyll (ide) b reductase (NOL), red chlorophyll catabolite reductase (RCCR), pheophorbidase (PPD) and pheophorbide a oxygenase (PAO). Phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis was also affected by the peppermint oil treatment. Notably, the expression of genes encoding phenolic compound synthetases was reduced, including chalcone isomerase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and caffeoylshikimate esterase (CSE), which resulted in a delay in the onset of browning. Our results indicate that the treatment of fresh-cut lettuce with 2 % peppermint essential oil prior to storage delays browning and extends product quality. Thus, further research on this topic is warranted.
{"title":"Two-percent peppermint essential oil applied to fresh-box packaging delays browning and maintains the quality of fresh-cut lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)","authors":"Xiaoyun Ye , Xu Jiang , Shuzhi Yuan , Xiaodi Xu , Xiangbin Xu , Jinhua Zuo , Aili Jiang , Xiaozhen Yue , Qing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114064","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114064","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peppermint essential oil has antioxidant properties and inhibits bacterial growth. In the present study, a coating of 2 % peppermint essential oil was applied to the surface of the packaging of fresh-cut lettuce and found to delay browning and maintain product quality. When fresh-cut lettuce was stored at 4 °C, the peppermint oil treatment reduced respiratory intensity, ethylene generation, decreased the total number of viable yeast, mold, and bacterial cells, and inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, enzymes associated with browning. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of fresh-cut lettuce revealed that the 2 % peppermint oil treatment had an inhibitory effect on arachidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid pathway-related genes, including <em>lipoxygenase</em> (<em>LOX2S</em>), <em>allene oxide cyclase</em> (<em>AOC</em>) and <em>secretory phospholipase A2</em> (<em>TGL4</em>). Treated lettuce also displayed greater cell membrane integrity, which can be demonstrated by reduced levels of electrolyte leakage, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and inhibited chlorophyll degradation and chlorophyll degradation-related genes, including <em>chlorophyll-degrading chlorophyll (ide) b reductase</em> (<em>NOL</em>), red <em>chlorophyll catabolite reductase</em> (<em>RCCR</em>), <em>pheophorbidase</em> (<em>PPD</em>) and <em>pheophorbide</em> a <em>oxygenase</em> (<em>PAO</em>). Phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis was also affected by the peppermint oil treatment. Notably, the expression of genes encoding phenolic compound synthetases was reduced, including <em>chalcone isomerase</em> (<em>4CL</em>), <em>chalcone synthase</em> (<em>CHS</em>), and <em>caffeoylshikimate esterase</em> (<em>CSE</em>), which resulted in a delay in the onset of browning. Our results indicate that the treatment of fresh-cut lettuce with 2 % peppermint essential oil prior to storage delays browning and extends product quality. Thus, further research on this topic is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114064"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555213","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 : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114072
Sen Cao , Yu Zhang , Jiaying Jin , Zhibing Zhao , Donglan Luo , Liangjie Ba
This study integrated metabolism and transcriptomics to investigate the non-volatile metabolites in blueberries at different growth and development stages (green fruit stage -G, pink fruit stage -P, mature stage -B). Studies have shown that during the ripening process of fruits, the contents of TA, maltose, sucrose, fumaric acid and citric acid gradually decrease, while the contents of soluble sugar, glucose, fructose, oxalic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid and quinic acid increase. The contents of malic acid and malonic acid are the highest during the pink fruit stage and the lowest during the mature stage. The contents of serine, glutamic acid, leucine, valine and cysteine gradually increase, while the contents of lysine, alanine, threonine, proline and tryptophan show a downward trend. Transcriptional and metabolomic analyses revealed significant differences among the three groups. Subsequently, functional genes (PPPK, PPG6PD, PPPFK, PPTAA, PPPAL, PPSTR, PPCHS, PPrbCL, PPGLDC) and four transcription factor families (MYB, bHLH, WRKY and AP2/ERF) were screened out to jointly establish the WGCNA co-expression network. It was found that the genes MYB1, bHLH1, bHLH3, AP2/ERF-RAV, AP2/ERF-ERF2, AP2/ERF-ERF3, AP2/ERF-ERF5, AP2/ERF-ERF6 and WRKY-2 were significantly regulated in the metabolism of non-volatile substances in blueberries. It can be seen from this that these transcription factors may act as key regulatory factors of the transcriptional network, playing a positive role in the growth and development of blueberries, and at the same time providing a new theoretical basis and ideas for the flavor changes of blueberries during the development process.
{"title":"Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis of dynamic changes in non-volatile compounds during blueberry fruit ripening","authors":"Sen Cao , Yu Zhang , Jiaying Jin , Zhibing Zhao , Donglan Luo , Liangjie Ba","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study integrated metabolism and transcriptomics to investigate the non-volatile metabolites in blueberries at different growth and development stages (green fruit stage -G, pink fruit stage -P, mature stage -B). Studies have shown that during the ripening process of fruits, the contents of TA, maltose, sucrose, fumaric acid and citric acid gradually decrease, while the contents of soluble sugar, glucose, fructose, oxalic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid and quinic acid increase. The contents of malic acid and malonic acid are the highest during the pink fruit stage and the lowest during the mature stage. The contents of serine, glutamic acid, leucine, valine and cysteine gradually increase, while the contents of lysine, alanine, threonine, proline and tryptophan show a downward trend. Transcriptional and metabolomic analyses revealed significant differences among the three groups. Subsequently, functional genes (<em>PP</em>PK, <em>PP</em>G6PD, <em>PP</em>PFK, <em>PP</em>TAA, <em>PP</em>PAL, <em>PP</em>STR, <em>PP</em>CHS, <em>PP</em>rbCL, <em>PP</em>GLDC) and four transcription factor families (MYB, bHLH, WRKY and AP2/ERF) were screened out to jointly establish the WGCNA co-expression network. It was found that the genes MYB1, bHLH1, bHLH3, AP2/ERF-RAV, AP2/ERF-ERF2, AP2/ERF-ERF3, AP2/ERF-ERF5, AP2/ERF-ERF6 and WRKY-2 were significantly regulated in the metabolism of non-volatile substances in blueberries. It can be seen from this that these transcription factors may act as key regulatory factors of the transcriptional network, playing a positive role in the growth and development of blueberries, and at the same time providing a new theoretical basis and ideas for the flavor changes of blueberries during the development process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114072"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555212","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 : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114076
Dandan Zhu , Xuemei Zhang , Xuexue Wang , Xiao Li , Dov Prusky , Yang Bi , Yuanyuan Zong
Cdc42, which belongs to Rho GTPase family, regulates fungal growth and development through MAPK and cAMP signaling pathways. However, its role in Penicillium expansum virulence and host reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism remains unclear. In this study, wild-type (WT), Cdc42 deletion mutant (ΔPeCdc42), and complementation mutant (ΔPeCdc42-C) strains were inoculated into apple fruit, combined with transcriptome analysis, ROS enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays, and ROS content determination. ΔPeCdc42 infection markedly reduced lesion development and weakened virulence. At early infection stages, ΔPeCdc42 induced enhanced activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle enzymes, while suppressing aquaporin gene expression, resulting in accelerated ROS accumulation and enhanced host defense responses. In later stages, ΔPeCdc42-inoculated fruit exhibited lower ROS content, reduced membrane permeability, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating mitigation of oxidative damage and maintenance of redox homeostasis. These findings demonstrate that PeCdc42 deletion reduces P. expansum pathogenicity by reprogramming host ROS metabolism, providing new mechanistic insight and potential molecular targets for postharvest disease management in fruit.
{"title":"Deletion of PeCdc42 reduces Penicillium expansum pathogenicity in apple fruit by modulating host reactive oxygen species metabolism","authors":"Dandan Zhu , Xuemei Zhang , Xuexue Wang , Xiao Li , Dov Prusky , Yang Bi , Yuanyuan Zong","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114076","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114076","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cdc42, which belongs to Rho GTPase family, regulates fungal growth and development through MAPK and cAMP signaling pathways. However, its role in <em>Penicillium expansum</em> virulence and host reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism remains unclear. In this study, wild-type (WT), <em>Cdc42</em> deletion mutant (Δ<em>PeCdc42</em>), and complementation mutant (Δ<em>PeCdc42</em>-<em>C</em>) strains were inoculated into apple fruit, combined with transcriptome analysis, ROS enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays, and ROS content determination. Δ<em>PeCdc42</em> infection markedly reduced lesion development and weakened virulence. At early infection stages, Δ<em>PeCdc42</em> induced enhanced activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle enzymes, while suppressing aquaporin gene expression, resulting in accelerated ROS accumulation and enhanced host defense responses. In later stages, Δ<em>PeCdc42</em>-inoculated fruit exhibited lower ROS content, reduced membrane permeability, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating mitigation of oxidative damage and maintenance of redox homeostasis. These findings demonstrate that <em>PeCdc42</em> deletion reduces <em>P. expansum</em> pathogenicity by reprogramming host ROS metabolism, providing new mechanistic insight and potential molecular targets for postharvest disease management in fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114076"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555211","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 : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114054
Ricardo Lima de Souza, María B. Pérez-Gago, Lluís Palou
Fungal postharvest diseases of fresh fruits cause significant economic losses while reliance on conventional synthetic fungicides for their control raises important environmental and safety concerns. Likewise, growing issues about the accumulation of agri-food industrial waste and by-products are increasingly driving the search for new strategies for their valorization to boost the circular bioeconomy and increase sustainability. This review examines the antifungal potential of extracts obtained from underutilized agri-food by-products and their main bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, terpenes, alkaloids, and glucosinolates. The key optimization parameters for the recovery of bioactive compounds using both conventional and green extraction methods are described. The antifungal activity of these extracts has been demonstrated against major pathogens causing fruit postharvest decay, including Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium spp., Monilinia spp., and Colletotrichum spp. While in vitro studies prove the inhibition of fungal growth and spore germination, in vivo applications show significant potential to reduce decay of commercially important fruits such as citrus, apples, strawberries, and grapes. Therefore, the use of these extracts within non-polluting integrated postharvest disease management strategies represents a promising, sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative for decay control. Remaining challenges include identifying new applications, broadening the spectrum of activity, assessing potential synergies with other alternative control methods, and advancing in regulatory approval and scale-up for commercial implementation.
{"title":"From waste to health: Valorization of agri-food by-products for the control of fresh fruit fungal postharvest decay","authors":"Ricardo Lima de Souza, María B. Pérez-Gago, Lluís Palou","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fungal postharvest diseases of fresh fruits cause significant economic losses while reliance on conventional synthetic fungicides for their control raises important environmental and safety concerns. Likewise, growing issues about the accumulation of agri-food industrial waste and by-products are increasingly driving the search for new strategies for their valorization to boost the circular bioeconomy and increase sustainability. This review examines the antifungal potential of extracts obtained from underutilized agri-food by-products and their main bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, terpenes, alkaloids, and glucosinolates. The key optimization parameters for the recovery of bioactive compounds using both conventional and green extraction methods are described. The antifungal activity of these extracts has been demonstrated against major pathogens causing fruit postharvest decay, including <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, <em>Penicillium</em> spp<em>.</em>, <em>Monilinia</em> spp<em>.</em>, and <em>Colletotrichum</em> spp<em>.</em> While <em>in vitro</em> studies prove the inhibition of fungal growth and spore germination, <em>in vivo</em> applications show significant potential to reduce decay of commercially important fruits such as citrus, apples, strawberries, and grapes. Therefore, the use of these extracts within non-polluting integrated postharvest disease management strategies represents a promising, sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative for decay control. Remaining challenges include identifying new applications, broadening the spectrum of activity, assessing potential synergies with other alternative control methods, and advancing in regulatory approval and scale-up for commercial implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114054"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145568892","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}
Addressing the unclear static postharvest mechanical characteristics and the difficulty in quantifying concealed bruising in blueberries, this study proposed a novel framework combining an improved Burgers model with a viscoelastic–finite element method (VE-FEM) coupling. This study elucidated the viscoelastic mechanical mechanisms and bruise evolution patterns in blueberries. Creep experiments (1.0–3.5 N, 300 s) were conducted to capture the time-dependent mechanical properties of ripe blueberries. Microscopic observations revealed that the traditional Burgers model failed to characterize the cellular restructuring mechanism within the flesh under prolonged loading due to its neglect of the “strain saturation” effect. The improved model incorporated a time-varying viscous coefficient, significantly enhancing fitting accuracy. Utilizing Prony series conversion, a VE-FEM model was constructed. The temporal evolution of equivalent stress and strain during blueberry stress relaxation was analyzed, and the bruising effect under loads ranging from 1.0 to 3.5 N was visualized. Results demonstrated that bruise volume increased quadratically over time and followed a logistic growth function with increasing load magnitude. This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for reducing losses during blueberry storage/transport and optimizing packaging design.
针对蓝莓静态采后力学特性不明确和隐性瘀伤难以量化的问题，提出了一种将改进的Burgers模型与粘弹性有限元法（VE-FEM）耦合相结合的新框架。本研究阐明了蓝莓的粘弹性力学机制和瘀伤演化模式。采用蠕变试验（1.0-3.5 N, 300 s）捕捉成熟蓝莓随时间变化的力学特性。微观观察表明，由于忽略了“应变饱和”效应，传统的Burgers模型未能描述长时间加载下肉内的细胞重构机制。改进后的模型加入了时变粘性系数，显著提高了拟合精度。利用proony级数转换，建立了VE-FEM模型。分析了蓝莓应力松弛过程中等效应力和应变的时间演化，可视化了1.0 ~ 3.5 N载荷作用下的损伤效果。结果表明，随着时间的推移，瘀伤体积呈二次增长，并随负载大小的增加而服从logistic增长函数。本研究为减少蓝莓储运过程中的损耗和优化包装设计提供了理论依据和参考。
{"title":"Viscoelastic characteristics and static-load bruising mechanism of mature blueberries modeled via improved burgers model and VE-FEM","authors":"Changsu Xu, Huaiyi Liao, Junxiu Liu, Xinzhi Liu, Yunwu Li, Shoutai Li","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Addressing the unclear static postharvest mechanical characteristics and the difficulty in quantifying concealed bruising in blueberries, this study proposed a novel framework combining an improved Burgers model with a viscoelastic–finite element method (VE-FEM) coupling. This study elucidated the viscoelastic mechanical mechanisms and bruise evolution patterns in blueberries. Creep experiments (1.0–3.5 N, 300 s) were conducted to capture the time-dependent mechanical properties of ripe blueberries. Microscopic observations revealed that the traditional Burgers model failed to characterize the cellular restructuring mechanism within the flesh under prolonged loading due to its neglect of the “strain saturation” effect. The improved model incorporated a time-varying viscous coefficient, significantly enhancing fitting accuracy. Utilizing Prony series conversion, a VE-FEM model was constructed. The temporal evolution of equivalent stress and strain during blueberry stress relaxation was analyzed, and the bruising effect under loads ranging from 1.0 to 3.5 N was visualized. Results demonstrated that bruise volume increased quadratically over time and followed a logistic growth function with increasing load magnitude. This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for reducing losses during blueberry storage/transport and optimizing packaging design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114063"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145568891","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 : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114066
Carlos Miranda , Patricia Irisarri , Sara Crespo-Martínez , Francisco Javier Bielsa , Nerea Iturmendi , Haizea Romeo , Jorge Urrestarazu , Ana Pina , Luis Gonzaga Santesteban , Lourdes Castel , Pilar Errea
Enzymatic browning (EB) substantially affects the visual quality and marketability of fresh-cut apples. This study aimed to develop an affordable high-throughput imaging system for phenotyping EB in apples. Browning was quantified using four CIELab-derived indices; a browning Index (BI), the difference in BI (∆BI), a normalized CIE color difference (∆E*); and a CIEDE2000 color difference (∆E00) at multiple time points post-cutting to evaluate browning speed (SEB) and intensity (IEB) in 142 apple cultivars, including commercial and traditional Spanish cultivars from germplasm collections. The image-based system has demonstrated high accuracy and practical relevance, overcoming limitations associated with traditional colorimeter-based approaches. A wide phenotypic range was observed, in which elite reference cultivars fell within a narrow band at the lower end of the range. Measurements taken at 30 min post-cutting were found to be nearly equivalent to those at 60 min, allowing to optimize the phenotyping protocol without compromising precision. EB has been shown to be an inherently stable trait, though different year effects were noted, particularly for BI and ∆BI. Among the indices evaluated, ∆E00 proved less effective for cultivar differentiation, whereas ∆BI showed the highest discriminant capacity and strongest correlation with visual browning, making it the most suitable index for phenotyping purposes. These findings provide a robust methodological basis for screening low-browning apple genotypes, establish a classification framework for EB expression levels, and highlight the potential of underutilized traditional cultivars in developing improved fresh-cut apple products.
{"title":"Development and implementation of an affordable high-throughput imaging system for phenotyping enzymatic browning in apples","authors":"Carlos Miranda , Patricia Irisarri , Sara Crespo-Martínez , Francisco Javier Bielsa , Nerea Iturmendi , Haizea Romeo , Jorge Urrestarazu , Ana Pina , Luis Gonzaga Santesteban , Lourdes Castel , Pilar Errea","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enzymatic browning (EB) substantially affects the visual quality and marketability of fresh-cut apples. This study aimed to develop an affordable high-throughput imaging system for phenotyping EB in apples. Browning was quantified using four CIELab-derived indices; a browning Index (BI), the difference in BI (∆BI), a normalized CIE color difference (∆E*); and a CIEDE2000 color difference (∆E<sub>00</sub>) at multiple time points post-cutting to evaluate browning speed (S<sub>EB</sub>) and intensity (I<sub>EB</sub>) in 142 apple cultivars, including commercial and traditional Spanish cultivars from germplasm collections. The image-based system has demonstrated high accuracy and practical relevance, overcoming limitations associated with traditional colorimeter-based approaches. A wide phenotypic range was observed, in which elite reference cultivars fell within a narrow band at the lower end of the range. Measurements taken at 30 min post-cutting were found to be nearly equivalent to those at 60 min, allowing to optimize the phenotyping protocol without compromising precision. EB has been shown to be an inherently stable trait, though different year effects were noted, particularly for BI and ∆BI. Among the indices evaluated, ∆E<sub>00</sub> proved less effective for cultivar differentiation, whereas ∆BI showed the highest discriminant capacity and strongest correlation with visual browning, making it the most suitable index for phenotyping purposes. These findings provide a robust methodological basis for screening low-browning apple genotypes, establish a classification framework for EB expression levels, and highlight the potential of underutilized traditional cultivars in developing improved fresh-cut apple products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"233 ","pages":"Article 114066"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145568893","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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