Postharvest Biology and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Impact of packaging on physiological properties, chemical composition, and bioactive compounds in organic and conventional artichokes during cold storage and in simulated market condition","authors":"A. Palma ,&nbsp;L. Ledda ,&nbsp;P.A. Deligios ,&nbsp;M.T. Tiloca ,&nbsp;M.M. Sassu ,&nbsp;S. D’Aquino","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>‘Spinoso sardo’ is a specialty vegetable with a unique taste and rich in nutraceutical compounds, particularly suitable for early season production, with a short shelf-life even when marketed in modified atmosphere packaging. A survey at local retailers revealed that the short shelf-life is in part due to poor handling procedures, and packaging solutions not based on a rationale design of the packaging which frequently lead to restricted gas exchange and asphyxiating condition. A preliminary study showed that a package made with a macroperforated film able to maintain a high level of humidity without significantly altering the gas composition tested on ‘Spinoso sardo’ artichokes grown under conventional (CONV) or organic (ORG) protocols, effectively prolonged the shelf-life and the chemical properties of samples of both growing systems for at least 10 d at 5 °C plus 3 d of simulated marketing conditions at 18 °C. Molds developed after 15 d, but no physiological disorder occurred. At harvest ORG artichokes showed levels of phenols and antioxidant activity slightly but significantly higher than CONV samples, but the rate of physio-chemical changes over storage did not differ between the two growing systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113622"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899832","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}

{"title":"Exudates secreted: Penicillium expansum's means of conquering the external environment","authors":"Ophélie Rocher ,&nbsp;Chrystian Zetina-Serrano ,&nbsp;Carole Pichereaux ,&nbsp;Claire Naylies ,&nbsp;Yannick Lippi ,&nbsp;Bernard Henrissat ,&nbsp;Selma P. Snini ,&nbsp;Isabelle P. Oswald ,&nbsp;Olivier Puel ,&nbsp;Christine Coméra ,&nbsp;Sophie Lorber","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113614","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113614","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Penicillium expansum</em>, the causal agent of apple blue rot, produces patulin, a well-known mycotoxin regulated in many countries. When grown on various synthetic media, <em>P. expansum</em> secretes exudates. The release of the latter has been previously described in fungi and contribute to their virulence by secreting toxic specialized metabolites (SMs) into the external environment. Exudates are no longer produced in a mutant deleted for PatL, a transcription factor essential for patulin biosynthesis, suggesting a link between patulin and exudate production. In this context, the content of exudates produced by <em>P. expansum</em> was characterized by metabolomics and proteomics. These analyses revealed 20 SMs such as patulin and citrinin, and 194 proteins in the secretome, mainly involved in carbohydrate metabolism to degrade the plant wall, and to build or modify the fungal wall. Four of the secreted proteins (PatE, PatB, PatO, PatF) are involved in patulin biosynthesis, especially PatE, the last enzyme in the patulin biosynthetic pathway. The fact that its substrate, ascladiol, was also present suggests that the final step of patulin secretion may occur outside the fungus. In parallel, a comparative transcriptomic study of wild-type and null mutant Δ<em>patL</em> strains unveiled that PatL negatively or positively regulated the expression of 294 genes. Among them, 21 genes encode proteins present in exudates, i.e. 11 % of the exudates, including four proteins involved in patulin biosynthesis, but also enzymes involved in starch degradation. Our results suggest a broader role for PatL than the sole regulation of patulin biosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113614"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143899831","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}

{"title":"Post-harvest precooling technology and fresh-keeping mechanism of fruits and vegetables: A review","authors":"Oujun Dai ,&nbsp;Yueguang Wang ,&nbsp;Meining Li,&nbsp;Wanxin Hong,&nbsp;Xin Lei,&nbsp;Ziwei Ye,&nbsp;Jie Pang,&nbsp;Yilan Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In order to meet consumers' requirements for high quality of fruits and vegetables, post-harvest pre-cooling technology of fruits and vegetables is being continuously improved by using computer technology, and with the deepening of research on pre-cooling preservation mechanism, it is found that fruits and vegetables are affected by many aspects. This review first reviews the precooling technology of fruits and vegetables, including the classification of precooling technology according to the cooling medium, evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of precooling methods, and summarizes the scope of fruits and vegetables applicable to the precooling strategy. Then the preservation mechanism of fruits and vegetables stimulated by low temperature and enzyme reaction, gene regulation and other preservation mechanisms were described, which provided technical and theoretical support for future technological updating and improvement. At the same time, the application of numerical analysis in precooling evaluation and improvement is summarized. Finally, the development direction of fruit and vegetable precooling technology is prospected, and it is proposed to combine with artificial intelligence, new energy and other technologies to provide different fruit and vegetable precooling programs and control and solve the problems of large energy consumption and environmental protection. The purpose of this review is to provide the latest information and ideas for the research on postharvest precooling of fruits and vegetables, and promote the development of fruit and vegetable preservation industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113623"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143890512","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}

{"title":"Moisture state and volatile flavor behavior characterization of Naematelia aurantialba during postharvest in modified atmosphere packaging storage after treated with ultraviolet radiation C","authors":"Bihe Zhu ,&nbsp;Sai Jing ,&nbsp;Shuwei Nian ,&nbsp;Yufen Xi ,&nbsp;Huaide Xu ,&nbsp;Yaming Mao ,&nbsp;Du Qian ,&nbsp;Liping Kou","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Naematelia aurantialba</em> (<em>N. aurantialba</em>), a rare edible mushroom, is valued for its unique texture, rich flavor, and abundant bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and carotenoids. However, its exceptionally high moisture content makes it highly perishable, leading to rapid quality deterioration, water loss, and undesirable flavor changes during storage. In our previous study, we established the optimal composite storage conditions for <em>N. aurantialba</em>, where 0.19 kJ/m² ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation was applied under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions (oxygen permeability: 4081 mL m^-² d⁻¹ atm⁻¹) to effectively maintain postharvest quality. This study builds upon those findings by investigating the effects of UVC treatment on moisture migration and volatile compounds in <em>N. aurantialba</em>, comparing the UVC-treated group with a non-UVC control group. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF NMR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and an electronic nose (E-Nose) were employed to analyze water migration and volatile compound dynamics. The results indicated that UVC treatment significantly slowed free water migration, reduced moisture loss (2.46 ± 0.37 % at the end of storage), enhanced key flavor compounds such as alcohols and esters, and inhibited undesirable odors. Sensory evaluations confirmed improvements in flavor, texture, and overall acceptability. These findings provide new insights into the physiological responses of <em>N. aurantialba</em> to UVC treatment, offering a scientific basis for optimizing postharvest storage strategies and improving quality retention in high-moisture edible fungi.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113611"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143885559","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}

{"title":"Characterization of Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis causing banana black rot in Korea and its biocontrol by Paraburkholderia busanensis P39 through volatile-mediated microbiome modulation","authors":"Mohamed Mannaa ,&nbsp;Taeho Jung ,&nbsp;Andy Kim ,&nbsp;Duyoung Lee ,&nbsp;Young-Su Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Post-harvest diseases significantly reduce fruit quality and storage longevity, necessitating sustainable management strategies. In this study, we identified <em>Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis</em> as the causative agent of black rot in bananas in South Korea, marking the first confirmed report in the region. Morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses were performed for precise species identification. Given the increasing need for biological control solutions, the antagonistic activity of <em>Paraburkholderia busanensis</em> P39 against <em>L. brasiliensis</em> was investigated through direct and volatile-mediated interactions. Dual-culture assays demonstrated strong antifungal activity of P39 against the pathogen, whereas mycophagy assays further revealed its ability to exploit fungal mycelia as a nutrient source. In addition to direct inhibition, P39 volatiles significantly suppressed black rot symptoms in bananas without physical contact and effectively extended the fruit shelf life. A microbiome analysis of banana peels treated with P39 volatiles was performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Metabarcoding of the bacterial and fungal communities revealed distinct microbial communities, including the enrichment of <em>Paraburkholderia</em> and suppression of spoilage-associated bacteria (<em>Pseudomonas</em> and <em>Enterobacter</em>). Fungal community analysis indicated a significant increase in the abundance of yeast-like fungi, suggesting a microbiome-mediated contribution to fruit preservation. Correlation analysis further supported the role of P39 volatiles in the restructuring of microbial interactions, leading to enhanced disease suppression and delayed ripening. These findings highlighted the dual functionality of P39 volatiles in pathogen inhibition and fruit preservation, positioning them as promising residue-free alternatives for post-harvest disease management. This study provides critical insights into the microbiome-driven mechanisms underlying biological control and offers a foundation for the development of microbial-based post-harvest preservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113621"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891392","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}

{"title":"Exogenous application of glycine betaine facilitates yam tuber healing via positively regulating suberin deposition and energy status","authors":"Guo Liu ,&nbsp;Ping Geng ,&nbsp;Xiaozhe Gu ,&nbsp;Xiaoyuan Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaopeng Wei ,&nbsp;Jiaying Chen ,&nbsp;Wenjie Gong ,&nbsp;Xing Yao ,&nbsp;Yuyao Zhou ,&nbsp;Yalin Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113617","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113617","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Suberin deposition at wound site severs as protective barrier accelerating fruit and vegetables healing. Studies have manifested that glycine betaine (GB) is able to enhance tolerance toward abiotic stresses in fruit and vegetables. However, knowledge on the function of GB on suberin deposition during yam tuber healing has not been revealed. In this study, yam tubers treated with GB had significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) content, electrolyte leakage (EL), weight loss (WL) and disease index (DI) compared to control tubers. GB treatment increased genes expression and activities of enzymes associated with suberin biosynthesis, such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (DoPAL), cytochrome P450 fatty acid ω-hydroxylases (DoCYP86A1 and DoCYP94B3) and GDSL lipase/esterase proteins (DoGELP38, DoGELP51 and DoGELP96), resulting in monomers accumulation (including hydroxycinnamic acids, C20 fatty acid, ω-hydroxyacids and α, ω-diacids) and suberin deposition. Tubers treated with GB had higher activities of H⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase and cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase (CCO), thereby maintaining higher energy status (ATP and ADP content, and energy charge (EC)). Furthermore, ATP content in GB group displayed positive correlations with suberin monomers accumulation. The results indicate that GB application is able to enhance suberin biosynthetic genes expression and enzymes activities and offer essential energy for suberin biosynthesis by improving energy status, eventually resulting in suberin deposition at wound sites for yam tuber healing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113617"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143885560","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}

{"title":"Preparation of MeJA-loaded PVA/CCNFs nanofiber film via electrospinning for blueberry preservation: Development, characterization, and application","authors":"Lu Cheng ,&nbsp;Yaqiong Wu ,&nbsp;Shuqiong Xia ,&nbsp;Chong Shi ,&nbsp;Lianfei Lyu ,&nbsp;Yicheng Wang ,&nbsp;Zilong Deng ,&nbsp;Fuliang Cao ,&nbsp;Weilin Li ,&nbsp;Donglu Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel nanofiber film to extend the shelf life of blueberries was developed via electrospinning by combining polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CCNFs), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The results show that films with 8 wt% and 10 wt% MeJA exhibited significant antimicrobial activity; however, concentrations exceeding 8 wt% compromised the mechanical strength and water vapor barrier performance of the films. Consequently, the 8 wt% MeJA/CCNFs/PVA film was selected for further microstructural characterization and blueberry preservation studies. The incorporation of MeJA reduced the average fiber diameter to 128.1 nm and ensured homogeneous component distribution. The nanofiber films exhibited excellent biodegradability and were completely degraded within 3 h under natural conditions. Because of its sustained-release capability, the 8 wt% MeJA/CCNFs/PVA film effectively reduced postharvest decay and weight loss, delayed softening, and minimized nutrient degradation, thereby extending the shelf life of blueberries. These findings highlight the potential of MeJA-loaded PVA/CCNFs nanofiber films as an innovative and sustainable solution for postharvest preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113605"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882075","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}

{"title":"Multi-target of capric acid against Botrytis cinerea infection in postharvest grape","authors":"Shengyun Lv,&nbsp;Jie Guo ,&nbsp;Siheng Shen,&nbsp;Deming Liu,&nbsp;Yanlin Liu,&nbsp;Xixi Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113616","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113616","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Botrytis cinerea</em> critically undermines postharvest grape sustainability through rapid conidial dispersion and pectinase-mediated tissue maceration, resulting in annual economic losses exceeding $ 10 billion globally. This study establishes capric acid as a novel biocontrol agent demonstrating dual antifungal and resistance-inducing activities. At the cellular level, capric acid disrupted <em>B. cinerea</em> membrane integrity and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction through peroxisome-associated gene downregulation and impaired TCA cycle efficiency. Multi-omics integration revealed system-level reprogramming in treated grapes: (1) Antipathogenic effects: Suppression of fungal survival pathways; (2) Host metabolic activation: Enhanced phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and ROS-scavenging enzymes. Practical application in postharvest trials exhibited significant quality preservation: reduction in decay rate, lower weight loss, and maintenance of soluble solids versus controls. The multi-target mechanisms spanning pathogen inhibition (membrane disruption, mitochondrial distress) and host priming (secondary metabolite induction, redox homeostasis) position capric acid as a sustainable phytoprotection strategy for grape postharvest systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113616"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882076","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}

{"title":"Genome-wide analysis of TGACG motif-binding factor (TGA) family and mechanism of PpTGA2.1-L and PpTGA7-L response to salicylic acid regulating fruit senescence through interaction with PpNPR1 in sand pear","authors":"Yue Xu ,&nbsp;Yuguang Liu ,&nbsp;Huiying Wang,&nbsp;Liyue Huo,&nbsp;Haiyan Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sand pear fruit are well-regarded for their rich nutritional content and desirable flavor. Despite their popularity, their limited postharvest longevity poses a challenge for commercial distribution. Research has demonstrated that salicylic acid (SA) can effectively slow down fruit senescence processes and enhance storage duration. However, there is limited research on the interaction between TGA proteins and the SA receptor protein NPR1 in the regulation of fruit senescence. In this study, 14 <em>TGA</em> genes were identified in sand pear. Transcriptomic analysis revealed two genes (<em>PpTGA2.1-L</em> and <em>PpTGA7-L</em>). The 14 TGA proteins in sand pear were divided into five subgroups. <em>PpTGA2.1-L</em> and <em>PpTGA7-L</em> exhibited distinct expression patterns across various sand pear tissues, with both genes showing preferential expression levels during the fruit senescence stage. Exogenous SA treatment up-regulated the expression of <em>PpTGA2.1-L</em> while down-regulating the expression of <em>PpTGA7-L</em>. Further experiments using yeast two-hybrid and luciferase assays confirmed that both PpTGA2.1-L and PpTGA7-L interact with PpNPR1. Functional analysis revealed that <em>PpTGA2.1-L</em> delayed sand pear fruit senescence, whereas <em>PpTGA7-L</em> had the opposite effect. Further investigations demonstrated that <em>PpTGA2.1-L</em>, in coordination with the SA receptor <em>NPR1</em>, enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, increases the content of SA, while reducing the accumulation of malondialdehyde, ethylene, polygalacturonase, pectin methyl ester, and cellulase, thus delaying fruit senescence. SA treatment further delays fruit senescence. In contrast, <em>PpTGA7-L</em> modulates the senescence process by antagonizing the action of <em>PpNPR1</em>. This senescence process was delayed after SA treatment. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed that PpTGA2.1-L and PpTGA7-L play key roles in pear fruit senescence by interacting with PpNPR1 through the SA signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113615"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882067","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}

{"title":"Delay of pericarp browning by chondroitin sulfate attributes of enhancing antioxidant activity and membrane integrity in litchi fruit after harvest","authors":"Hua Huang ,&nbsp;Hailun Liu ,&nbsp;Jiaying Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Litchi fruit is prone to rapid pericarp browning, which impacts its marketability. Herein, the application of a natural glycosaminoglycan polysaccharide, chondroitin sulfate to inhibit the development of pericarp browning in litchi fruit was investigated. The results revealed that chondroitin sulfate suppressed browning progression and changes in color indicated by chromaticity values. It markedly reduced the production rates of superoxide anion (O₂^.-) radical and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), retarded the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative electrolyte leakage rate, thereby preserving membrane integrity. Chondroitin sulfate also prevented the decline in total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity, as evidenced by maintained scavenging capacity of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and reducing power. It enhanced the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), which are critical for antioxidant defense, while suppressing the activities of oxidative enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and laccase (LAC). Furthermore, chondroitin sulfate modulated the expression levels of key genes such as <em>LcPAL1</em>, <em>LcANS1, LcANS2</em> associated with phenol synthesis, and <em>LcPPO1/2, LcPOD1/12, LcLAC2/14</em> for the oxidative enzymes involved in phenol synthesis. These findings demonstrate that chondroitin sulfate effectively regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) status and enhances antioxidant activity, underscoring its potential as a natural preservative for extending shelf life of litchi fruit during storage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"227 ","pages":"Article 113612"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882178","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}