Postharvest Biology and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Multi-targeted antifungal mechanism of punicalagin against Botrytis cinerea and its role in preserving strawberry quality","authors":"Muhammad Nawaz ,&nbsp;Junkun Pan ,&nbsp;Hui Liu ,&nbsp;Keying Feng ,&nbsp;Jiechao Liu ,&nbsp;Wenbo Yang ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Lv ,&nbsp;Qiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhonggao Jiao","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gray mold, caused by the fungus <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>, is a key postharvest disease of strawberries, resulting in substantial fruit rot and economic losses. This study elucidated the comprehensive antifungal mechanism of punicalagin against <em>B. cinerea</em>. The antifungal action of punicalagin primarily involved the disruption of fungal cell membrane integrity, as evidenced by the induction of cytoplasmic leakage, accumulation of malondialdehyde and reduction in ergosterol and trehalose. Ultrastructural analysis revealed severe hyphal damage after punicalagin treatment. Punicalagin also induced apoptosis through mitochondrial membrane dysfunction and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis identified 2589 downregulated and 1157 upregulated genes in punicalagin-treated mycelia, with a particular impact on membrane lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways. These transcriptomic alterations, representing impaired energy production and antioxidant systems, were further validated by corresponding metabolomic analysis. Additionally, punicalagin treatment preserved the quality of strawberry fruit by improving cell wall structure to maintain firmness and augmenting phenolic content, potentially enhancing resistance. These multifaceted mechanisms collectively contributed to the exceptional efficacy of punicalagin in controlling <em>B. cinerea</em>. These findings suggest that punicalagin could be a promising natural antifungal alternative, offering effective control of gray mold and maintaining the quality of strawberries in storage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114156"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037407","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":"Integrated volatilomics and transcriptomics reveal the aroma formation mechanism in Actinidia arguta during postharvest ripening","authors":"Heran Xu,&nbsp;Guanlin Qian,&nbsp;Miao Yan,&nbsp;Huanyu Wang,&nbsp;Naizhu Liu,&nbsp;Bin Li,&nbsp;Weiyu Liu,&nbsp;Guang Xin,&nbsp;Song Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aroma is a critical quality attribute determining consumer acceptance of <em>Actinidia arguta</em>. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying aroma formation during postharvest ripening remain poorly understood. This study employed integrated volatilomics and transcriptomics approaches to elucidate the dynamic changes in aroma-active compounds and their biosynthetic regulation of <em>A. arguta</em> ‘Changjiang No. 1’ stored at 20 °C for 12 days. A total of 51 volatile organic compounds were identified, with dramatic compositional shifts from C6/C9 aldehydes (<em>trans</em>-2-hexenal, (2<em>E</em>,6<em>Z</em>)-nona-2,6-dienal) to fruity-floral terpenoids (<em>β</em>-ionone, <em>β</em>-damascenone) and esters during ripening. The odor activity value (OAV) analysis revealed a significant aroma transformation during fruit ripening. This process involved a substantial decline in green aroma aldehydes, notably (2<em>E</em>,6<em>Z</em>)-nona-2,6-dienal (OAV decreasing from 415 to undetectable), coupled with a prominent increase in fruity-floral terpenoids. <em>β</em>-Ionone became the dominant aroma contributor, with its OAV increasing from 8.3 to 1485.71, complemented by <em>β</em>-damascenone (OAV = 733.33). Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in fatty acid metabolism, terpenoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified two key modules: MEturquoise (associated with green aroma biosynthesis) and MEbrown (associated with floral-fruity aroma formation). Hub gene analysis revealed <em>AaLOX</em>, <em>AaHPL</em>, and <em>AaAAT</em> as key regulators of green volatiles, while <em>AaHMGR</em>, <em>AaMDS</em>, <em>AaHDR</em> and <em>AaGPPS</em> emerged as central to terpenoid biosynthesis. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the molecular regulation of aroma development in <em>A. arguta</em> and establish a foundation for targeted postharvest quality management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114118"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737248","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":"Chlorine dioxide fumigation induces transcriptomic and metabolomic reprogramming enhancing resistance to soft rot in kiwifruit","authors":"Ang Li ,&nbsp;Shuang Luo ,&nbsp;Di Feng ,&nbsp;Xiaoya Chen ,&nbsp;Zhidan Zhao ,&nbsp;Tiantian Li ,&nbsp;Yunhe Meng ,&nbsp;Xiaoqin Yang ,&nbsp;Yunjiang Cheng ,&nbsp;Yunliu Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soft rot is a major cause of postharvest decay in kiwifruit. Chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) has been widely applied as a preservative in many fruit and vegetables, but its efficacy and underlying mechanisms against soft rot in kiwifruit are largely unknown. In this study, ClO₂ fumigant was applied to suppress two primary soft rot fungal pathogens, <em>Botryosphaeria dothidea</em> and <em>Diaporthe eres</em> in ‘Yunhai No. 1’ and ‘Hongyang’ kiwifruit (<em>Actinidia chinensis</em>). Treatment with 400 mg ClO₂ reduced disease incidence by up to 93 % and lesion diameter by 22.5 mm. Integrated transcriptome-metabolome analyses were performed to investigate its effect on the induction of plant defense responses. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 2828 differentially expressed genes, highlighting enrichment in defense-related pathways and upregulation of ERF, MYB, and WRKY transcription factors. Metabolomic profiling identified 1172 metabolites, with strong accumulation of antifungal compounds like jasmonic acid and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide under ClO₂ treatment. Correlation analysis confirmed strong associations between ERF transcription factors and key antimicrobial metabolites. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ClO₂ fumigation controls soft rot not only through direct antifungal action but also by inducing host defense mechanisms, thereby providing new insights and practical references for eco-friendly preservation of kiwifruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114117"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737319","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":"Non-destructive monitoring of postharvest quality changes in chili (Capsicum frutescens) during storage using image processing coupled with machine learning","authors":"Wong Junyang ,&nbsp;Mohamad Yusof Maskat ,&nbsp;Maimunah Mohd Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chili (<em>Capsicum frutescens</em>) is an important vegetable crop widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, where postharvest quality deterioration particularly color and freshness loss, poses significant challenges during storage. Traditional visual inspection methods are often subjective and inconsistent. This study evaluated the postharvest quality of bird’s eye chilies stored at 5 °C and 28 °C on Days 1, 3, and 5 using non-destructive image processing combined with machine learning approach. Image features were extracted from chili samples and classified using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN), and ensemble model. Using a 70:30 training–testing split, SVM achieved the highest average classification accuracy (69.1 % at 5 °C and 66.7 % at 28 °C). Under 10-fold stratified cross-validation, k-NN and ensemble models demonstrated improved robustness, with the ensemble yielding the highest average classification accuracy (74.08 % at 5 °C and 79.26 % at 28 °C). To complement the machine learning models, deep learning models where a feature-level 1D-Convolutional Neural Network was implemented, achieving an average 57.6 % accuracy under 10-fold, while an image-based MobileNetV2 architecture achieved 78.8 % validation accuracy. These results highlighted that automatic feature extraction can outperform hand-crafted features for postharvest chili quality assessment. Additionally, Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression identified the L* value as the most effective color parameter for quality detection (R² &gt; 0.93). Overall, integrating image processing with machine learning and supported by deep learning offers a reliable, non-invasive framework for evaluating postharvest chili quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114140"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839509","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":"Sound treatment accelerates banana peel degreening via calcium-signaling-mediated ethylene action","authors":"Shuhan Yang ,&nbsp;Jiayi Liu ,&nbsp;Yicheng Ren ,&nbsp;Dong Li ,&nbsp;Zisheng Luo ,&nbsp;Yanpei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sound treatment (ST) is a non-invasive and eco-friendly technology with potential in postharvest fruit quality regulation. However, its effects and underlying mechanisms in postharvest climacteric fruits remain an unexplored frontier. This study evaluated the effects of ST (1 kHz, 100 dB, 12 h/d) on the postharvest ripening of bananas (<em>Musa acuminata</em> cv. Huangjinjiao, AAA) under ethephon-based ethylene fumigation. ST significantly accelerated peel degreening, with chlorophyll content in the control group 2.3 times higher than that in the ST group by 8 d. In addition, the firmness in the ST group was 57.9 % (peel) and 10.3 % (flesh) of the value in the CT group on 8 d, reflecting an accelerated softening process. Under ST, the soluble calcium level in the ST group was 1.58 times that in the CT group, and the expression of genes related to calcium and ethylene signaling was upregulated. Moreover, the activities of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes were enhanced, thereby promoting ethylene production. Consequently, chlorophyll-degrading enzymes were activated, accelerating peel degreening. Overall, this study provides the first systematic evidence of how ST modulates calcium–ethylene crosstalk to regulate fruit quality during ripening and highlights its potential as a green strategy for improving postharvest management and commercial handling of bananas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114121"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786582","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":"A hidden alliance: The potential role of bacteria in the virulence of postharvest fungal pathogens","authors":"Samir Droby ,&nbsp;V. Yeka Zhimo ,&nbsp;Vijay Kumar Sharma ,&nbsp;Rotem Bartuv ,&nbsp;Michael Wisniewski ,&nbsp;Hongyin Zhang ,&nbsp;Shiri Freilich ,&nbsp;Davide Spadaro","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114130","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114130","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest losses caused by fungal pathogens are traditionally explained through a single-pathogen paradigm, where disease results from pathogen pathogenicity and virulence factors acting on a susceptible host under favorable conditions. However, emerging evidence challenges this view, pointing instead to the role of microbial consortia - the postharvest pathobiome - in shaping infection outcomes. In this opinion article, we explore the potential hidden alliance between fungi and bacteria that enhances the virulence of postharvest pathogens. Using apple - <em>P. expansum</em> as a model system, preliminary experiments revealed that co-inoculation with certain bacterial isolates significantly increased lesion development compared to the fungus alone, whereas bacteria alone were non-pathogenic. Amplicon sequencing further showed that fungal infection altered the wound microbiome, favoring the proliferation of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. We discuss multiple mechanisms by which bacteria may contribute to fungal virulence, including nutrient cross-feeding, biofilm formation, chemical signaling, pH modulation, alteration of host defenses, and the formation of endosymbiotic alliances. Recognition of this fungal-bacterial synergy has profound implications for postharvest management, as fungicide or biocontrol-based strategies may overlook the supportive role of bacteria and inadvertently favor more resilient pathogenic consortia. We propose that future disease control strategies adopt a microbiome-driven perspective, integrating high-throughput sequencing, metabolomics, imaging, and <em>in silico</em> modeling to disentangle these interactions and guide the development of sustainable, biologically informed interventions. Understanding and manipulating such inter-kingdom alliances may represent a crucial step toward reducing postharvest decay and improving global food security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114130"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145786604","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":"Calcium chloride inhibits water-soaking disorder of fresh-cut cantaloupe through regulating sugar, organic acid, and anaerobic respiration metabolisms","authors":"Wanli You ,&nbsp;Jinglin Zhang ,&nbsp;Xueyin Ru ,&nbsp;Feng Xu ,&nbsp;Zhengguo Wu ,&nbsp;Peng Jin ,&nbsp;Yonghua Zheng ,&nbsp;Shifeng Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The effect of exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl₂) treatment on water-soaking disorder inhibition and quality maintenance in fresh-cut cantaloupe was studied. Results indicated that CaCl₂ preserved visual appearance, microbiological safety, and nutrient composition. Transcriptome analysis identified 5416 differentially expressed genes and most were enriched in sugar-related metabolisms. Moreover, less reducing sugar accumulation including glucose and fructose and lower activities of acidic invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI), as well as expressions of <em>CmAI1</em> and <em>CmNI</em>, were resulted from CaCl₂ treatment. Additionally, CaCl₂ treatment retained more organic acid and inhibited anaerobic respiration through downregulating corresponding expressions and enzyme activities of pyruvate decarboxylase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as reducing the accumulation of anaerobic metabolites including ethanol, acetaldehyde, and pyruvate. Therefore, these findings implied that CaCl₂ application was practical for storage performance improvement and water-soaking disorder inhibition via modulating sugar, organic acid, and anaerobic respiration metabolism of fresh-cut cantaloupe, thus serving as a theoretical basis for fresh-cut product processing and preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114125"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737317","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":"Antifungal efficacy and mechanism of the biogenic volatile organic compound 2-undecanone against Botrytis cinerea in tomato","authors":"Yu Chen ,&nbsp;Qing Yao ,&nbsp;Tong Liu ,&nbsp;Yaqian Zhu ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Li ,&nbsp;Youcheng Qin ,&nbsp;Haiying Liu ,&nbsp;Junxing Lu ,&nbsp;Jin Guo ,&nbsp;Zhengguo Li ,&nbsp;Zhengwu Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Jian","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Botrytis cinerea</em> (<em>B. cinerea</em>) is one of the most destructive plant pathogenic fungi, capable of infecting over 1400 species of fruit, vegetables, and ornamental plants, including tomato, causing significant economic losses. 2-Undecanone is a bio-based product widely found in nature with substantial application potential, and is also the core volatile compound released by the biocontrol strain HE-23. However, research on the potential of 2-undecanone to control fruit and vegetable fungal diseases and its mechanism of action remains limited. This study comprehensively explored the antifungal activity of 2-undecanone against <em>B. cinerea</em> and its underlying mechanisms. <em>In vitro</em> experiments confirmed that 2-undecanone exhibited excellent antifungal activity against <em>B. cinerea</em>, with EC₅₀ values of 9.04 and 17.42 μL L⁻¹ under fumigation and direct contact conditions, respectively. Further analysis revealed that 2-undecanone disrupted the hyphal morphology and the permeability of the fungal cell membrane. <em>In vivo</em> experiments demonstrated that 2-undecanone significantly inhibited <em>B. cinerea</em> growth in tomato fruit, with a 23.11-fold reduction in fungal content in treated fruit compared to the control group at 120 h. Additionally, 2-undecanone induced the expression of key genes involved in salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and antioxidant pathways in tomato fruit. Consistently, transcriptome sequencing revealed that 2-undecanone severely disrupted multiple pathways including oxidative stress, membrane component synthesis, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism in <em>B. cinerea</em>. Overall, these results provide a foundation for the development of 2-undecanone as a fungicide for food and agriculture, while also providing valuable references for the green control of plant diseases in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114123"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737320","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":"Bioprotective potential of Bacillus spp. against postharvest pathogens of Khasi Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) with enhanced shelf life","authors":"Trishna Taye ,&nbsp;Popy Bora","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global citrus industry faces significant annual economic losses due to postharvest decay pathogens. This study focused on identifying the major postharvest pathogens affecting Khasi Mandarin (<em>Citrus reticulata</em> Blanco) and evaluating the efficacy of <em>Bacillus</em> spp. as biocontrol agents, as well as their impact on fruit quality. Based on morpho-cultural characteristics, the isolated pathogens were identified as <em>Penicillium digitatum</em> (PQ606361) and <em>Aspergillus niger</em> (PV657140). Four <em>Bacillus</em> spp. Cell-free supernatants (CFS) were screened against these pathogens, all of which significantly inhibited fungal mycelial growth. Among them, <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> LB22 CFS exhibited the highest inhibition, at 74.60 % for <em>P. digitatum</em> and 86.20 % for <em>A. niger</em>. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed morphological disintegration in fungal hyphae and spores upon treatment with <em>B. subtilis</em> LB22 CFS. GC-MS analysis of the LB22 CFS identified nine antimicrobial and four ethylene-inhibiting compounds, including 4-di-tert-butylphenol, <em>n</em>-hexadecanoic acid, and 1H-indene derivatives. <em>In-vivo</em> assays of CFS demonstrated that fruit coating with the <em>B. subtilis</em> CFS prevented <em>A. niger</em> and <em>P. digitatum</em> invasion in khasi mandarin fruits with 100 % bioprotective efficiency upto 15 days against 100 % fruit decay in control at 3 days. Quality assessment of treated fruits after 15 days of storage revealed a total soluble solids (TSS) value of 11.90°Brix and titratable acidity of 0.85 %, both statistically non-significant compared to the control. Organoleptic evaluations, based on colour, flavour, texture, taste, and overall acceptability, supported the efficacy of the treatment. Collectively, our findings confirm that <em>B. subtilis</em> LB22 acts as a potent biocontrol agent against green and black mold in both in vitro and <em>in vivo</em> conditions. Our study hence perch <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> LB22 CFS based fruit coating as a promising option for post harvest handling of Khasi mandarin fruits, preventing fruit decay and enhancing the shelf life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114142"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839506","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":"Biocontrol effect of Bullera alba PGY-2 on postharvest black spot of pear and insights into the associated defense mechanisms","authors":"Xiaoyan Yu ,&nbsp;Kuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhiqi Yang ,&nbsp;Bowen Guo ,&nbsp;Xinru Yang ,&nbsp;Yan Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiayi Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenhua Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiangjing Wang ,&nbsp;Junwei Zhao ,&nbsp;Wensheng Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 as a biocontrol agent against pear black spot caused by <em>Alternaria alternata</em>. <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 significantly reduced disease incidence by 73.28 % and lesion diameter by 47.61 %, with higher efficacy when applied prior to pathogen inoculation. It was capable of rapid colonization and stable growth at pear wounds under both 25 ℃ and 4 ℃, demonstrating strong adaptability and competitiveness against <em>A. alternata</em> for nutrients and space. <em>Bullera alba</em> PGY-2 enhanced the activity of POD, PPO, PAL, and CHI closely associated with disease resistance in plants. It also upregulated the expression of genes in plant defense-related pathways, including flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and glutathione metabolism. Furthermore, <em>B</em>. <em>alba</em> PGY-2 increased the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, and lignin, strengthening pear resistance to black spot. These findings highlight the potential of <em>B</em>. <em>alba</em> PGY-2 as an effective biocontrol agent and provide novel insights into its physiological and molecular defense mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114094"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}