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Green pepper, a commonly cultivated vegetable, often suffers from fruit rot caused by Alternaria alternata , which reduces its quality and shelf life. In this study, the antifungal activity and mechanism of patchouli alcohol (PA), which was isolated from Pogostemon cablin essential oil, against A. alternata during the storage of green peppers, were investigated. PA effectively inhibited the growth of A. alternata in vitro and in vivo assays, reduced lesion areas, and extended the storage life of green peppers. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that PA induced significant morphological deformations in A. alternata hyphae, inhibited spore germination, and disrupted the cellular structures. Transcriptomic, proteomic, and physiological analyses suggested that PA impaired cell membrane synthesis and function, disrupted mitochondrial activity, and induced oxidative stress, resulting in cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. These actions significantly suppressed A. alternata growth, ultimately prolonging the shelf life of the green peppers. This study provides the potential use of PA for green pepper preservation.

Postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage is prone to rapid senescence and quality deterioration during storage at room temperature. The imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism is one of the critical factors leading to this process. In this study, we synthesized Moringa oleifera leaf-derived carbon dots (MoCDs) and investigated the effects of MoCDs treatment on ROS metabolism regulation for postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage preservation. The results showed that MoCDs exhibited more efficient antioxidant activity than M. oleifera extract, attributed to their abundant surface functional groups, including hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups, and an extensive sp 2 -hybridized carbon network. Moreover, MoCDs treatment could reduce the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radical in postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage by generally enhancing the activities of a series of key antioxidant enzymes and increasing the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants, which significantly delayed leaf senescence and deterioration of appearance and nutritional quality of postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage during storage. In summary, as an effective antioxidant, MoCDs entered leaf cells to scavenge excessive ROS directly; as an elicitor, MoCDs enhanced the ROS scavenging ability of the endogenous antioxidant defense system in postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage. These dual protective mechanisms synergistically regulated ROS metabolism, thus benefiting the postharvest preservation of flowering Chinese cabbage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The cultivation of edible mushrooms is increasing because of their widely recognized nutritional benefits. Advancements in cultivation techniques have facilitated large-scale mushroom production, meeting the growing consumer demand. This rise in cultivation has led to an increasingly urgent demand for advanced postharvest preservation methods to extend the shelf life of these mushrooms. The postharvest preservation of fresh edible mushrooms involves complex physiological changes and metabolic activities closely associated with gas composition, microbial presence, moisture content, ambient temperature, and enzymatic activity. Preserving edible mushrooms through various preservation strategies (physical, chemical, biological, and nanopackaging approaches) relies on regulating postharvest factors. Nanopackaging can preserve mushrooms' sensory and nutritional qualities due to the specific characteristics of nanomaterials, such as antimicrobial properties and gas/moisture barriers. Furthermore, the review explores current trends, fundamental mechanisms, and upcoming challenges in utilizing nanomaterials, particularly their capacity to enhance the "cell wall" integrity of edible mushrooms by regulating postharvest factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

During the postharvest period, blueberries with a short shelf life due to microbial activity and an overload of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were still a major unresolved problem. In this study, the effect of nanoscale charged water particles (NCWP) treatment on the postharvest characteristics and ROS metabolism in blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade) were investigated. The results showed that NCWP treatment significantly inhibited microbial growth, maintained high firmness and commercial acceptability, and extended the storage period of blueberries. The nutrient of blueberries was retained and elevated after NCWP treatment, especially in the 6 d of NCWP-9 h treatment, the total phenol and anthocyanin content reached the peak at 565.1 mg/L and 5.26 mg/g, which contribute to the total antioxidant capacity of blueberries increased. SEM showed that NCWP-9 h treatment maintained the integrity of the cuticular wax of the blueberry peel, which indirectly decelerated the decline of blueberry firmness. The NCWP treatment significantly enhanced the antioxidant enzyme system of blueberry peel. On days 2, 4 and 6 after NCWP-9 h treatment, the CAT, SOD and APX activities were significantly different from the control group (P < 0. 05), with 585.09 ΔA/min/g, 79.34 U/g and 3.32 umol/min/g, respectively, which effectively scavenged the oxidative stress markers (H 2 O 2 , O 2 ) accumulated in the blueberry peels, and slowed down the aging and deteriorated of the blueberry process. This finding demonstrates that NCWP is an effective postharvest preservation method for blueberries and provides a viable strategy for quality maintenance in the postharvest fruit and vegetable sector.- ) accumulated in the blueberry peels, and slowed down the aging and deteriorated of the blueberry process. This finding demonstrates that NCWP is an effective postharvest preservation method for blueberries and provides a viable strategy for quality maintenance in the postharvest fruit and vegetable sector., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Allium mongolicum Regel is prone to rapid senescence and quality deterioration during postharvest storage. Herein, polyvinyl alcohol/pullulan/ZnO nanoparticles (PVA/PUL/ZnO-Nps) composite films were prepared via solution casting and studied to analyze the effects of ZnO-Nps on the PVA/PUL film matrix. Results revealed that the incorporation of suitable ZnO-Nps effectively reduced the light transmittance, improved water contact angle, water vapor permeability, and mechanical properties of the composite films, as well as enhanced their antimicrobial activity. The composite films were used for the postharvest preservation of A. mongolicum Regel. Results revealed that the PVA/PUL/ZnO-Nps film effectively reduced malondialdehyde accumulation content, superoxide radical generation rate, hydrogen peroxide content, improve the activity of related enzymes, and extend the storage time compared with that of polyethylene films. Therefore, the PVA/PUL/ZnO-Nps film can be used as a novel packaging material for the postharvest preservation of A. mongolicum Regel., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fermented walnut meal (FW) has antifungal activity against Penicillium victoriae, a fungus responsible for Rosa roxbughii Tratt spoilage. This study characterized and applied ultrasonic-assisted antifungal film loaded with FW to preserve R. roxbughii Tratt during near-freezing temperature (NFT). Results showed that O 2 and CO 2 transmission rates decreased by 80.02% and 29.05%, respectively, and antimicrobial properties were improved with ultrasound at 560 W for 5 min and 1% FW. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results revealed ultrasound improved hydrogen bonds and inductive effect via ─NH, ─OH, and C═O bonds. The addition of FW led to the formation of CMCS-GL-FW polymer via C═O bond. Thermogravimetric analysis and transmission electron microscope results demonstrated thermal degradation process was decomposed by ultrasound, and the internal structure of P. victoriae was accelerated by the addition of FW. Compared to the U-CMCS/GL group, the vitamin C content, peroxidase, and catalase activities of U-CMCS/GL/FW were enhanced by 4.24%, 8.52%, and 14.3% during NFT (-0.8 to -0.4°C), respectively. Particularly, the fungal count of the U-CMCS/GL/FW group did not exceed 10 5 CFU g -1 at the end of storage, and the relative abundance of P. victoriae decreased to 0.007%. Our findings provide an effective route for agricultural waste as natural antifungal compounds in the active packaging industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, the barrier and antimicrobial properties of film were successfully improved by ultrasonic treatment and loaded fermented walnut meal. The ultrasonic-assisted antifungal film loaded with fermented walnut meal effectively delayed the degradation of nutrients and reduced microbial invasion of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. These results provide a theoretical basis for the application of agricultural waste in the food packaging industry., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Microbubbles (MBs) were incorporated into calcium chloride solution as a novel freezing medium for immersion freezing of grape tomato. The effects of MB size (39, 43, 48 μm mean diameter), entrapped gas (air, N 2 , CO 2 ) and freezing temperature (-10, -15, -20 °C) on the freezing behavior and quality attributes of tomato were investigated. MBs increased the nucleation temperature from -7.4 to -3.5 °C and reduced the onset time of nucleation from 5.8 to 2.9 min at freezing temperature of -20 °C, which facilitated the formation of small ice crystals within tomato. MB-assisted freezing reduced the drip loss by 13.7-17.0% and improved the firmness of tomato, particularly when MB size and freezing temperature decreased. Freezing tomato with air-MBs did not compromise its nutritional quality, using N 2 - and CO 2 -MBs even increased its lycopene content, by 31% and 23%, respectively. The results proved the preservation effect of MBs on fruit during immersion freezing. This study can benefit the fruit and vegetable industry by providing an efficient freezing technology for producing frozen products with high sensory and nutritional quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Colletotrichum spp. is a phytopathogen causing anthracnose in a variety of tropical fruits. Strategies used to control postharvest diseases in tropical fruits typically rely on the use of synthetic fungicides, which have stimulated the emergence of resistant pathogens. Safer alternative strategies to control anthracnose in tropical fruits have been described in the literature. This review presents and discusses the main innovative interventions concerning the application of sustainable alternative strategies in the postharvest control of pathogenic Colletotrichum species in tropical fruits, with a particular emphasis on the studies published in the last 5 years. The available studies have shown the use of various methods, including physical barriers, natural antimicrobials, and biological control with antagonistic microorganisms, to reduce anthracnose lesion severity and incidence in tropical fruits. The available literature showed high inhibitory activity in vitro, reduced anthracnose incidence and lesion diameter, and total disease inhibition in tropical fruits. Most studies focused on the inhibition of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on avocado, papaya, and mango, as well as of Colletotrichum musae on banana; however, the inhibition of other Colletotrichum species was also demonstrated. The application of emerging sustainable alternative methods, including natural antimicrobial substances, also stimulated the induction of defense systems in tropical fruits, including enzymatic activity, such as polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. The retrieved data helped to understand the current state of the research field and reveal new perspectives on developing efficient and sustainable intervention strategies to control pathogenic Colletotrichum species and anthracnose development in tropical fruits., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is a crucial enzyme involved in cellular antioxidant defense and plays a pivotal role in modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels under various environmental stresses in plants. This study utilized bioinformatics methods to identify and analyze the APX gene family of pomelo, while quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to validate and analyze the expression of CmAPXs at different stages of fruit postharvest. This study identified 96 members of the CmAPX family in the entire pomelo genome, with uneven distribution across nine chromosomes and occurrences of gene fragment replication. The subcellular localization includes peroxisome, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, and mitochondria. The CmAPX family exhibits a similar gene structure, predominantly consisting of two exons. An analysis of the upstream promoter regions revealed a significant presence of cis-acting elements associated with light (Box 4, G-Box), hormones (ABRE, TCA-element), and stress-related (MBS, LTR, ARE) responses. Phylogenetic and collinearity analyses revealed that the CmAPX gene family can be classified into three subclasses, with seven collinear gene pairs. Furthermore, CmAPXs are closely related to citrus, pomelo, and lemon, followed by Arabidopsis, and exhibit low homology with rice. Additionally, the transcriptomic heat map and qPCR results revealed that the expression levels of CmAPX57 , CmAPX34 , CmAPX50 , CmAPX4 , CmAPX5 , and CmAPX81 were positively correlated with granulation degree, indicating the activation of the endogenous stress resistance system in pomelo cells by these genes, thereby conferring resistance to ROS. This finding is consistent with the results of GO enrichment analysis. Furthermore, 38 miRNAs were identified as potential regulators targeting the CmAPX family for post-transcriptional regulation. Thus, this study has preliminarily characterized members of the APX gene family in pomelo and provided valuable insights for further research on their antioxidant function and molecular mechanism.

Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum P3 (L. paraplantarum P3) cell-free supernatant (CFS) with good antifungal effect was sprayed on fresh in-shell peanuts stored at 5 °C and 30 °C to explore its effect on the microorganisms and quality of fresh in-shell peanuts during storage process. Results showed that L. paraplantarum P3 CFS effectively maintained good quality of fresh in-shell peanuts by not only reducing fungi amount and the mildew rate, but also improving the morphology, color and flavor. Besides, L. paraplantarum P3 CFS activated plant mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and plant hormone signaling pathway to produce more ethylene, gibberellin regulatory proteins and other substances to enhance plant resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. L. paraplantarum P3 CFS could also induce the biosynthesis of glycerophospholipid and arginine to increase the stress resistance of fresh peanuts. This study provides research data for the application of L. paraplantarum P3 CFS in the preservation and antimildew of fresh in-shell peanuts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fruit is susceptible to various postharvest pathogens; thus, the development of multifunctional preservation materials that can achieve the broad-spectrum inhibition of different pathogens is a current research hotspot. Here, microfluidic blow spinning was used to create a biodegradable polycaprolactone/ethyl cellulose (PCL/EC) nanofibrous film that incorporated two naturally-sourced compounds, natamycin and trans-cinnamic acid, resulting in multi-microbial inhibition. The PCL/EC-based film had a smooth and even morphology, indicating the favorable integration of PCL and EC. After the incorporation of ingredients, the film exhibited good inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Botrytis cinerea, and it had finer fiber diameters, higher permeability, and antioxidant properties. We further demonstrated that strawberries that were padded with the film had good resistance to Botrytis cinerea. Also, the film did not interference with the qualities of the strawberries during storage. The study demonstrates a promising application for multi-antimicrobial and bio-friendly packaging materials in postharvest fruit preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Traditional active packaging materials are easily affected by the environment, resulting in their inability to release active substances in specified quantities at specified times and locations. In this study, MCM-41 was used as a thymol (THY) carrier and added to the potato starch (PS) matrix to design an intelligent release active packaging film based on storage microenvironment. MCM-41 encapsulation improved thermal stability of THY. THY-MCM-41 addition significantly improved the tensile strength (TS, 7.18 MPa) of the film (P < 0.05) and endowed the film excellent gas and water barrier protection. THY release was responsive to temperature and relative humidity (RH), and the First-order model better explained the THY release pattern (R 2  > 0.980). The THY-MCM-41/PS film exhibited long-term antibacterial effect during 10-day storage due to the sustained release of THY. Additionally, strawberries packaged in the THY-MCM-41/PS film exhibited the best sensory characteristics during 5-day storage (25 °C and 50 % RH). Overall, the present THY-MCM-41/PS film provides a novel alternative for the sustained release of active substances in order to achieve the excellent preservation of goods such as fruits and vegetables., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Efficient and low-cost postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables has always been one of the urgent problems to be solved in the food field. Due to the wide sources, good environmental and human safety, and high biodegradability, starch-based coating preservation method has great application prospects in the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables. However, starch materials also have the disadvantages of poor mechanical properties and easy water absorption performance, which makes it difficult to fully meet the requirements in practical production. Therefore, starch is often used in combination with other components to form composite materials. This paper began with an introduction to the preservation principles of edible starch-based coatings, including inherent properties and extra functional properties. Besides, the preservation principles of edible coatings and the recent advances in the field of fruit and vegetable preservation were also comprehensively reviewed, focusing on the preparation and application of starch-based coatings. The information will contribute to the further development of starch-based coatings to improve the postharvest preservation effect of fruits and vegetables., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no competing financial interests or personal relationships., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is restricted by the susceptibility of fresh produce to deterioration caused by postharvest physiological and metabolic activities. Developing efficient preservation strategies is thus among the most important scientific issues to be urgently addressed in the field of food science. The incorporation of active agents into a polymer matrix to prepare biodegradable active packaging is being increasingly explored to mitigate the postharvest spoilage of fruits and vegetables during storage. This paper reviews the composition of biodegradable polymers and the methods used to prepare biodegradable active packaging. In addition, the interactions between bioactive ingredients and biodegradable polymers that can lead to plasticizing or cross-linking effects are summarized. Furthermore, the applications of biodegradable active (i.e., antibacterial, antioxidant, ethylene removing, barrier, and modified atmosphere) packaging in the preservation of fruits and vegetables are illustrated. These films may increase sensory acceptability, improve quality, and prolong the shelf life of postharvest products. Finally, the challenges and trends of biodegradable active packaging in the preservation of fruits and vegetables are discussed. This review aims to provide new ideas and insights for developing novel biodegradable active packaging materials and their practical application in the preservation of postharvest fruits and vegetables.

Research of lactic acid bacteria and its metabolites on biological preservatives becomes a hot topic. Lactobacillus plantarum O 2 , with good inhibition on Phytophthora capsici (P. capsici), was isolated from the pickle. In this study, the effects of L. plantarum O 2 fermentation supernatant (FS) on pepper postharvest preservation and its induced resistance to P. capsici were studied. Results showed that weight loss rate, rot index, respiration rate, relative electrical conductivity, loss of chlorophyll content and V C of pepper in FS treatment group were decreased by 18 %, 64 %, 15 %, 26 %, 33 % and 20 % compared with blank control (BC) after 20 d storage. L* and b*-value of pepper in FS group were lower than those in the BC group. In addition, the damage-induced resistance test found that the infection rate in the FS group was reduced by 39 %, compared with CK2 after 12 d storage. Moreover, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, peroxidase activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, proline content, total phenol content and flavonoid content increased by 14 %, 9 %, 30 %, 8 %, 8 % and 9 %, respectively, while malondialdehyde content decreased by 13 %. These results indicated that FS treatment showed good fresh-keeping effects on postharvest pepper. It could enhance the tolerance of pepper under stress by improving defensive enzyme activities, slowing down the damage caused by P. capsici, and inducing pepper resistance to P. capsici. Therefore, FS can be used as a microbial source bio-preservative for postharvest pepper., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Films and coatings manufactured with bio-based renewable materials, such as biopolymers and essential oils, could be a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for protecting and preserving agricultural products. In this work, we developed films and coatings from pectin and chitosan to protect strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) from spoilage and microbial contamination. We developed three coatings containing equal amounts of glycerol and Sicilian lemon essential oil (LEO) nanoemulsion. We identified seventeen chemicals from LEO by GC-MS chromatogram, including d-limonene, α-Pinene, β-Pinene, and γ-Terpinene. The pectin and chitosan coatings were further characterized using different physicochemical, mechanical, and biological methods. The films demonstrated satisfactory results in strength and elongation at the perforation as fruit packaging. In addition, the coatings did not influence the weight and firmness of the strawberry pulps. We observed that 100 % essential oil was released in 1440 min resulting from the erosion process. Also, the oil preserved the chemical stability of the films. Antioxidant activity (AA), measured by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), showed that the coatings loaded with 2 % LEO nanoemulsion (PC + oil) showed that almost 50 % of AA from LEO nanoemulsion was preserved. The chitosan and the pectin-chitosan coatings (PC + oil) inhibited filamentous fungi and yeast contaminations in strawberries for at least 14 days, showing a relationship between the AA and antimicrobial results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Berries are highly perishable and susceptible to spoilage, resulting in significant food and economic losses. The use of chemicals in traditional postharvest protection techniques can harm both human health and the environment. Consequently, there is an increasing interest in creating environmentally friendly solutions for postharvest protection. This article discusses various approaches, including the use of "green" chemical compounds such as ozone and peracetic acid, biocontrol agents, physical treatments, and modern technologies such as the use of nanostructures and molecular tools. The potential of these alternatives is evaluated in terms of their effect on microbial growth, nutritional value, and physicochemical and sensorial properties of the berries. Moreover, the development of nanotechnology, molecular biology, and artificial intelligence offers a wide range of opportunities to develop formulations using nanostructures, improving the functionality of the coatings by enhancing their physicochemical and antimicrobial properties and providing protection to bioactive compounds. Some challenges remain for their implementation into the food industry such as scale-up and regulatory policies. However, the use of sustainable postharvest protection methods can help to reduce the negative impacts of chemical treatments and improve the availability of safe and quality berries.

The reduction in blueberry harvest due to pathogen infection was reported to reach 80%. Essential oil (EO) can provide a new way to preserve blueberry. Here, in search for plants volatiles with preservation ability, a novel device was designed for the screening of aromatic plants led to the discovery of hit plant Monarda didyma L. Consequently, antifungi activity of M. didyma EO (MEO) and its nano-emulsion (MNE) were tested. 2 species of pathogenic fungi were isolated from blueberries, namely Alternaria sp. and Colletotrichum sp. were used as the target strains. In the in vitro activity test, the pathogenic were completely inhibited when the EO was 4 µL or 1.0 µL/mL. Compared with EO, MNE exhibited superior antimicrobial activity. Moreover, MNE can cause serious morphological changes and result in a decrease in the rot and weightlessness rate of blueberry. Hence, NME represents a promising agent for the preservation of postharvest blueberry., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study investigated the effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on the postharvest physiology and quality of the strawberry cv. Hongyan during cold storage. The results showed that all concentrations of γ-PGA improved decay control and strawberry preservation by enhancing antioxidant capacity, delaying the softening process, and maintaining fruit quality, especially for 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA. After 14 days of treatment, compared with control, 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA decreased weight loss, decay rate, and index by 21.9%, 75.0%, and 66.7% and increased the total antioxidant capacity by 43.5% through antioxidant enzymes. In addition, 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA increased fruit firmness by 53.6% by decreasing the activities of polygalacturonase, pectin lyase, cellulase, and β-galactosidase. In terms of color quality, 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA improved the values of lightness and yellowness by 30.9% and 52.8%. As regards nutritional quality, 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA increased the contents of protein, soluble sugars, vitamin C, and total phenols by 106.6%, 80.6%, 51.2%, and 78.4%. In terms of sensory quality, 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA increased the soluble solids' content by 19.0% and decreased the titrated acids' content by 21.1%, which increased the sugar-acid ratio by 50.9%. Our findings suggest that 100 mg·L -1 γ-PGA can be used to improve the decay control and preservation of strawberry cv. Hongyan under cold storage.

Storing postharvest ginger at low temperatures can extend its shelf life, but can also lead to chilling injury, loss of flavor, and excessive water loss. To investigate the effects of chilling stress on ginger quality, morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic changes were examined after storage at 26 °C, 10 °C, and 2 °C for 24 h. Compared to 26 °C and 10 °C, storage at 2 °C significantly increased the concentrations of lignin, soluble sugar, flavonoids, and phenolics, as well as the accumulation of H 2 O 2 , O 2- , and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, chilling stress inhibited the levels of indoleacetic acid, while enhancing gibberellin, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid, which may have increased postharvest ginger's adaptation to chilling. Storage at 10 °C decreased lignin concentration and oxidative damage, and induced less fluctuant changes in enzymes and hormones than storage at 2 °C. RNA-seq revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) increased with decreasing temperature. Functional enrichment analysis of the 523 DEGs that exhibited similar expression patterns between all treatments indicated that they were primarily enriched in phytohormone signaling, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and cold-associated MAPK signaling pathways. Key enzymes related to 6-gingerol and curcumin biosynthesis were downregulated at 2 °C, suggesting that cold storage may negatively impact ginger quality. Additionally, 2 °C activated the MKK4/5-MPK3/6-related protein kinase pathway, indicating that chilling may increase the risk of ginger pathogenesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effects of naringin on soybean and mung bean sprouts postharvest quality. It was found that naringin could maintain the appearance and quality of soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts during a 6-day storage period as well as delay the occurrence of browning in mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts. The optimal application rate of naringin was 50-100 μg/mL, which could effectively inhibit the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) in bean sprouts and increase the ascorbic acid content, where this inhibition response to the browning of mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts was significantly reduced. Naringin treatment increased gallic acid and p-coumaric acid content in mung bean sprouts as well as the daidzin and rutin content in soybean sprouts, which was also reflected in the improvement of antioxidant activity. The binding of naringin with PPO and POD was analyzed with molecular docking, naringin, and PPO had a lower binding energy (-1.09 Kcal/mol). In conclusion, naringin application in postharvest preservation of mung bean sprouts and soybean sprouts can maintain favorable consumer quality.

The effects of convection drying, freezing, and freeze-drying, on phytochemicals content, in vitro activity and bioaccessibility of sweet basil, cinnamon basil, red rubin basil, and lemon basil were investigated. For evaluation of bioaccessibility, rosmarinic acid content, phenolic content, and antioxidant potential of samples before and after gastric and intestinal steps of digestion were determined. Results showed that the content, activity and bioaccessibility of basil phytochemicals varied depending on the cultivar as well as the applied postharvest preservation. It was found that the frozen and freeze-dried plant materials were characterized by a higher phenolic level and antioxidant activity compared to the convection dried. However, in general, convection drying allows obtaining samples with higher bioaccessibility of phytochemicals compared to the low-temperature processed samples. These findings highlight the need for evaluation of basil cultivars and postharvest preservation methods regarding phytochemicals bioaccessibility, which might help in the classification in terms of pro-health quality., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pomegranate ( Punica granatum L.) is a kind of fruit with significant economic, ecological and health values. AP2/ERF transcription factors belong to a large group of factors mainly found in plants and play key roles in plant growth and development. However, AP2/ERF genes in pomegranate and their implication in development and postharvest preservation have been little described. In this study, 116 PgAP2/ERF genes in pomegranate were identified and renamed based on their chromosomal distributions. Phylogenetic relationship with genes from other species, structures, duplications, annotations, cis -elements in promoter sequences, and protein-protein interaction networks among PgAP2/ERF proteins were comprehensively explored. Expression analysis revealed several PgAP2/ERFs associated with the phenotypes of pomegranate seed hardness, including PgAP2/ERF5 , PgAP2/ERF36 , PgAP2/ERF58 , and PgAP2/ERF86 . Subsequent analysis indicated that many differentially expressed PgAP2/ERF genes are potentially important regulators of pomegranate fruit development. Furthermore, expression of more than one-half of PgAP2/ERFs was repressed in 'Tunisian soft seed' pomegranate fruit under low-temperature cold storage. The results showed that 1-MCP implicated in promoting postharvest preservation of 'Tunisian soft seed' pomegranate upregulated the PgAP2/ERF4 , PgAP2/ERF15 , PgAP2/ERF26 , PgAP2/ERF30 , PgAP2/ERF35 and PgAP2/ERF45 genes compared to those under low-temperature cold storage. This indicates that these genes are important candidate genes involved in pomegranate postharvest preservation. In summary, the findings of the present study provide an important basis for characterizing the PgAP2/ERF family genes and provide information on the candidate genes involved in pomegranate fruit development and postharvest preservation.

With the rapidly changing global climate, the agricultural systems are confronted with more unpredictable and harsh environmental conditions than before which lead to compromised food production. Thus, to ensure safer and sustainable crop production, the use of advanced nanotechnological approaches in plants (phytonanotechnology) is of great significance. In this review, we summarize recent advances in phytonanotechnology in agricultural systems that can assist to meet ever-growing demands of food sustainability. The application of phytonanotechnology can change traditional agricultural systems, allowing the target-specific delivery of biomolecules (such as nucleotides and proteins) and cater the organized release of agrochemicals (such as pesticides and fertilizers). An amended comprehension of the communications between crops and nanoparticles (NPs) can improve the production of crops by enhancing tolerance towards environmental stresses and optimizing the utilization of nutrients. Besides, approaches like nanoliposomes, nanoemulsions, edible coatings, and other kinds of NPs offer numerous selections in the postharvest preservation of crops for minimizing food spoilage and thus establishing phtonanotechnology as a sustainable tool to architect modern agricultural practices., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

The world population growth has raised concerns about food security. Agricultural systems are asked to satisfy a growing demand for food with increasingly limited resources, and simultaneously still must reduce the impacts on the environment. This scenario encourages the search for safe and sustainable production strategies. Reducing losses in the production process can be one of the main ways to guarantee food safety. In fruticulture, it is estimated that more than 50% of the production can be lost between harvest and the final consumer due to postharvest diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. The fungi of the genus Colletotrichum are opportunistic and are associated with several diseases, being the anthracnose the most relevant in terms of the quality and yield losses in fruit species around worldwide. To control these diseases, the use of synthetic fungicides has been the main instrument utilized, however, because of their phytotoxicity to human health, the environment, and strong selection pressure imposed by continuous applications, the fungicides have caused resistance in the pathogen populations. So reducing the excessive application of these products is indispensable for human health and for sustainable Agriculture. Towards this purpose, research has been carried out to identify the phytopathological potentiality of essential oils (EOs) extracted from plants. Therefore, this review aims to contribute to the formation of knowledge bases, about the discoveries, recent advances, and the use of EOs as a strategy to alternatively control fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. in postharvest fruits. Here, we provide valuable information exploring the application potential of essential oils as commercially useful biorational pesticides for food preservation, contributing to sustainable production and global food security., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel active packaging film was prepared in this study that incorporated Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz. peel extracts (APE) and montmorillonite (MMT) into chitosan (CH) films. Compared with the pure CH film, the CH/APE film showed significantly higher tensile strength, elongation at break, UV light resistance, and antibacterial activity; the CH/MMT film displayed significant increases in contact angle, antioxidant activity, oxygen permeability, and thermal stability. SEM and AFM analyses showed that the additions were well-distributed into the CH matrix, but MMT induced a more compact and rougher structure. The CH-based film formula was optimized using the single-factor test and Box-Behnken design and was 0.15% MMT, 0.15% APE, and 1.50% CH. Besides, the optimized coating was applied in the postharvest preservation of A. trifoliata fruits, which yielded a significant effect on the delaying crack and mature of the fruits during 35 days of storage at 5 °C., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study describes the impact of utilising different strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the fermentation of papaya puree and their effect on the quality parameters and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds during simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Papaya was processed into puree; pasteurised and fermented at 37 °C for 2 days; and stored for 7 days at 4 °C using LAB strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 75 ( L75*D2 ; L75*D7 ), Weissella cibaria 64 ( W64*D2 ; W64*D7 ) and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides 56 ( L56*D2 ; L56*D7 ), respectively. Non-fermented samples at 0 ( PPD0 ), 2 ( PPD2 ) and 7 days ( PPD7 ) served as controls. pH was reduced with fermentation and was lowest in L56*D2 (3.03) and L75*D2 (3.16) after storage. The colour change ( ΔE ) increased with the fermentation and storage of purees; L75*D7 showed the highest ΔE (13.8), and its sourness reduced with storage. The fermentation by W64*D7 and L75*D7 increased the % recovery of chlorogenic, vanillic, syringic, ellagic, ferulic acids, catechin, epicatechin and quercetin in the intestinal fraction compared to the L56*D7 and PPD7 . Fermentation by W64*D7 and L75*D7 significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of the dialysed fraction compared to the L56*D7 or PPD7 . L56*D7 -fermented papaya puree showed the highest inhibitory effect of α-glucosidase activity followed by L75*D7 . L75*D7 had a significantly higher survival rate. LAB fermentation affected the bioacessibilities of phenolics and was strain dependent. This study recommends the use of Lpb. plantarum 75 for fermenting papaya puree.

Avocados (Persea americana) are a fruit, whose shelf-life is jeopardized by rapid ripening and fungal diseases, which heighten the necessity for postharvest treatments. The use of refrigeration during storage and transport helps delay the ripening process and phytopathogen growth but it is not enough to attenuate the problem, especially once avocados are placed in ambient temperatures. Fungicides are effective in controlling fungal prevalence, but their possible adverse environmental and human health effects have spurred interest in finding safer, natural substitutes. The objective of this paper is to review recent advances and trends in the use of edible coatings as a safe alternative to preserve and extend avocados shelf-life. Edible biopolymer coatings have gained considerable attention due to their ability to extend fruit and vegetable shelf-life. These coatings are a novel type of biodegradable primary packaging made from biological compounds like polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and other polymers. Coatings are considered nonactive if they only form a physical barrier, separating avocados from their immediate environment, controlling gas and moisture transfer. Active coatings can contain supplementary ingredients with additional properties like antioxidant and antifungal activity. The application of edible coatings shows promising potential in extending avocado shelf-life, replacing synthetic fungicides and reducing economic losses from avocado spoilage., (© 2020 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

We report the inclusion of cyclolipopeptides (CL) from Bacillus subtilis in the production of an easily removed alginate coating for the preservation of vulnerable berries. The sodium alginate-CL (SA-CL) coating films exhibited potent antifungal and freshness-maintaining properties during the storage of blueberries, the 3% CL-added film decreased total fungal count to 2.5 × 10 3  cfu/g at the end of the storage. The SA-CL films had poor mechanical properties (i.e., tensile strength and elongation at break), low water vapor permeability and high water solubility. The addition of CL (3%) decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break of the SA-CL film to 0.37 mPa and 2.57%, respectively, and increased the water solubility to 28.92%. But the water vapor permeability of the 3% film was lowered to 398.10 g/m 2 /day. These results implied the film was suitable for the coating of vulnerable berries. Further research revealed that ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions between CL and alginate stabilized the network of the coating film while the fatty acid moiety weakened the strength and crystallinity and restricted the water transfer of the coating film. Our findings provide an effective route to an easily washed alginate coating film through inclusion of amphiphilic antifungal substances., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Freshly harvested mature tomato fruits were treated with different concentrations of potassium permanganate to evaluate their effect on color and texture of the fruits. This was to determine the degree of acceptability and shelf life of the tomatoes. Fifty grams of mature unripe tomato fruits was washed and weighed into a transparent plastic container containing different concentrations of potassium permanganate (control, 2.5 ppm, 5.0 ppm, 7.5 ppm. 10.0 ppm, 12.5 ppm, and 15.0 ppm). The experiment was carried out in a complete randomized design and replicated four times. All the treatments were refrigerated at a temperature range 14-18°C and a sensory assessment of color and textural changes was carried out through a team of selected panelists using the hedonic scale ranking to determine the degree of acceptability. Results obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance DMRT at 5% level of probability and least significant difference (LSD). Results obtained indicated that 7.5 ppm of potassium permanganate had a preservative effect on color and texture of refrigerated tomatoes. Therefore, the tomatoes were of acceptable color and texture for a period of 21 days as revealed in the result. Color quality had a mean score of 1.64 and texture ranking was 1.73 after 3 weeks of storage.

The respiration rate of mushrooms is an important indicator of postharvest senescence. Storage temperature plays a major role in their rate of respiration and, therefore, in their postharvest life. In this context, reliable predictions of respiration rates are critical for the development of modified atmosphere packaging that ultimately will maximise the quality of the product to be presented to consumers. This work was undertaken to study the influence of storage time and temperature on the respiration rate of oyster mushrooms. For that purpose, oyster mushrooms were stored at constant temperatures of 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 ℃ under ambient atmosphere. Respiration rate data were measured with 8-h intervals up to 240 h. A decrease of respiration rate was found after cutting of the carpophores. Therefore, time effect on respiration rate was modelled using a first-order decay model. The results also show the positive influence of temperature on mushroom respiration rate. The model explaining the effect of time on oyster mushroom's respiration rate included the temperature dependence according to the Arrhenius equation, and the inclusion of a parameter describing the decrease of the respiration rate, from the initial time until equilibrium. These yielded an overall model that fitted well to the experimental data. Moreover, results show that the overall model is useful to predict respiration rate of oyster mushrooms at different temperatures and times, using the initial respiration rate of mushrooms. Furthermore, predictive modelling can be relevant for the choice of an appropriate packaging system for fresh oyster mushrooms., (© The Author(s) 2014.)