Postharvest Biology and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Meclofenamic acid sodium inhibits litchi fruit senescence via integrated regulation of oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and m6A modification","authors":"Mengting Liu ,&nbsp;Mengling Qin ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Xiao ,&nbsp;Yueming Jiang ,&nbsp;Xuewu Duan ,&nbsp;Guoxiang Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114167","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114167","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Litchi fruit is highly susceptible to rapid postharvest deterioration, primarily manifested as pericarp browning and senescence, which severely compromise its commercial value. Meclofenamic acid sodium (MA), an arylacetic acid-type nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with recognized antioxidant properties, presents a potential intervention strategy, yet its efficacy and mechanistic role in postharvest litchi preservation remain unexplored. In this study, we demonstrate that postharvest MA treatment significantly delayed pericarp browning, maintained visual quality, suppressed respiration rate, and extended marketability. At the physiological and biochemical levels, MA application effectively attenuated oxidative stress, as evidenced by reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide) and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde), alongside elevated pools of non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and anthocyanins). Furthermore, MA enhanced the activities of key antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) while inhibiting the activities of browning-related enzymes (peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase). To sustain cellular energy homeostasis, MA treatment elevated ATP content and energy charge by activating succinate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase. Transcriptomic and RT-qPCR analyses corroborated these findings, showing upregulation of genes involved in flavonoid/anthocyanin biosynthesis, oxidative stress response, and energy metabolism. Importantly, MA treatment mitigated the storage-induced decline in global N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation and increased m⁶A modification levels in specific senescence-related transcripts. Collectively, our results indicate that MA delays litchi senescence and browning through an integrated mechanism involving the modulation of oxidative stress, maintenance of energy homeostasis, and regulation of m⁶A modifications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114167"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976234","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":"Phospholipid remodeling during maturation and cold storage modulates maturity-dependent chilling tolerance in mango","authors":"Jhih-Ting Hsiao ,&nbsp;Yen-Chou Kuan ,&nbsp;Fuu Sheu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mango fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI) at temperatures below 13 °C. Although CI tolerance in mangoes has been reported to increase with fruit maturation, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the contribution of membrane phospholipid (PL) composition and its regulation to maturity-dependent chilling tolerance in ‘Irwin’ mangoes. CI symptoms developed in mature green (MG) fruit but not in tree-ripe fruit after storage at 5 °C. At harvest, tree-ripe fruit exhibited a higher phosphatidylcholine (PC)/ phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio and a lower degree of PL unsaturation compared with MG fruit. Under 5 °C conditions, the PC/PE ratio remained stable in both tree-ripe and MG fruit, with tree-ripe fruit consistently maintaining the higher ratio than MG. Additionally, both fruit types enhanced PC unsaturation to comparable levels, while PE unsaturation remained largely unchanged, with tree-ripe fruit consistently retaining lower PE unsaturation than MG fruit throughout the chilling period. At the transcriptional level, tree-ripe fruit induced the expression of <em>fatty acid desaturase 2</em> during cold storage, whereas MG fruit upregulated phospholipase genes during the rewarming phase. These findings indicated that cold-induced PC desaturation was a universal response to chilling in both MG and tree-ripe fruit, while the superior chilling tolerance in tree-ripe fruit was primarily attributed to the higher PC/PE ratio and lower PE unsaturation level established during pre-harvest maturation. This study provides novel mechanistic insight into how PL remodeling during maturation and chilling storage modulates maturity-dependent chilling tolerance in mango.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114168"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976236","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":"LcMYB6 transcription factor confers resistance to pericarp dehydration and browning in litchi fruit through the regulation of aquaporin genes","authors":"Benfeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Jialiang Liu ,&nbsp;Yicheng Yang ,&nbsp;Jiabao Wang ,&nbsp;Gangshuai Liu ,&nbsp;Lisha Zhu ,&nbsp;Xiangbin Xu ,&nbsp;Zhengke Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pericarp dehydration is a primary factor contributing to litchi fruit browning, severely limiting the marketability of the product. Aquaporins (AQPs), a class of multifunctional membrane proteins, play a pivotal role in regulating the transmembrane transport of water in plants. However, the specific involvement of AQPs in the dehydration and browning of litchi fruit, along with their underlying regulatory mechanisms, remain to be fully elucidated. The results of the present study demonstrated that control (unpackaged) litchi fruit exhibited complete browning, which was accompanied by severe weight loss (10.2 %), discoloration, and membrane damage after 60 h of storage. These rapid physiological changes were alleviated by the use of polyethylene bag packaging, an effective high-humidity maintenance method. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differential expression of 12 AQP genes across the experimental groups, among which four genes (<em>LcPIP1;1</em>, <em>LcPIP2;2</em>, <em>LcPIP2;5</em> and <em>LcSIP2;1</em>) were upregulated, while eight genes (<em>LcPIP2;7</em>, <em>LcTIP1;2</em>, <em>LcTIP2;1</em>, <em>LcTIP4;1</em>, <em>LcTIP1;1</em>, <em>LcSIP2;2</em>, <em>LcNIP1;1</em> and <em>LcNIP1;2</em>) were downregulated in control fruit during storage. The changes in the expression of most AQP genes observed in control fruit were substantially counteracted by packaging treatment, thereby ameliorating pericarp dehydration and browning in litchi fruit. Furthermore, LcMYB6, a MYB transcription factor that is induced by packaging treatment, binds to the promoters of <em>LcPIP1;1</em> and <em>LcPIP2;5</em>. Promoter binding assays verified that LcMYB6 is a nuclear protein that directly represses the transcription of <em>LcPIP1;1</em> and <em>LcPIP2;5.</em> Transient silencing of <em>LcMYB6</em> promoted the upregulation of <em>LcPIP1;1</em> and <em>LcPIP2;5</em> expression while accelerating pericarp dehydration and browning. These results indicate that LcMYB6 may increase litchi dehydration resistance by directly repressing the transcription of AQP genes (<em>LcPIP1;1</em> and <em>LcPIP2;5</em>), potentially offering new strategies for controlling pericarp browning in litchi fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114188"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037450","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":"Ethephon and alternating magnetic field inhibit the browning of fresh-cut stem lettuce by regulating phenolic and reactive oxygen species metabolism","authors":"Tuankui Ou ,&nbsp;Mengsheng Deng ,&nbsp;Yingmei Tao ,&nbsp;Huina Li ,&nbsp;Wenao Sun ,&nbsp;Xingyong Zhang ,&nbsp;Dong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enzymatic browning significantly reduces the quality of fresh-cut stem lettuce. This study evaluated the combined effect of ethephon (ET) and alternating magnetic field (AMF) on enzymatic browning, and clarified the inhibition mechanism involved in fresh-cut stem lettuce browning. The results indicated that the ET+AMF combination exhibited the best inhibitory effect on the browning of fresh-cut stem lettuce, compared to both the control and individual treatments of ET or AMF. ET+AMF effectively retarded the decline of quality parameters, including firmness, soluble solids, and ascorbic acid, and modulated key physiological processes by suppressing the respiration rate and mitigating weight and chlorophyll loss. Further investigation suggested that ET+AMF downregulated phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase activities, resulting in the reduced accumulation of phenolics, including chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and protocatechuic acid, and reducing quinone formation. Meanwhile, ET+AMF coordinately accelerated reactive oxygen species scavenging, primarily by augmenting the activities of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase, and ultimately maintained the cell membrane integrity of fresh-cut stem lettuce, as evidenced by reduced relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde content. These findings demonstrated that ET and AMF combined to inhibit stem lettuce browning by dual-regulating phenolic metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, offering a novel strategy for controlling enzymatic browning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114173"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037405","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":"Propyl gallate treatment protects against chilling injury in peach fruit during storage through the regulation of antioxidant metabolism","authors":"Yiheng He,&nbsp;Yuyang Wang,&nbsp;Wenlong Xu,&nbsp;Tingting Xu,&nbsp;Xiaoxiang Geng,&nbsp;Peng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peach (<em>Prunus persica</em> L.) fruit is prone to chilling injury (CI) during postharvest storage at low temperature, a problem that substantially limits its commercial shelf life. Here, treatment with the phenolic antioxidant propyl gallate (PG) markedly reduced CI symptoms in peach fruit during 35 d of cold storage at 1 °C followed by 3 d of shelf life at 20 °C. PG-treated fruit exhibited a lower CI index, reduced electrolyte leakage, and decreased levels of malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, and O₂^⋅−. Activity levels for important enzymes, including peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), were also modulated by PG treatment. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, we combined transcriptomic and widely targeted metabolomic approaches. PG treatment altered the expression of 3049 genes and the abundance of 112 metabolites. Integrated pathway analysis revealed a substantial reconfiguration of phenylpropanoid metabolism, including the suppression of upstream biosynthetic genes (<em>PAL, 4CL, CHS</em>), the accumulation of protective downstream metabolites (cynaroside, epigallocatechin, pinoresinol), and reduced levels of browning-prone compounds such as scopolin. In parallel, PG upregulated genes encoding superoxide dismutase and catalase while suppressing <em>RBOH</em>, thereby enhancing the antioxidant defense system. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that PG alleviates CI by redirecting metabolic flux toward protective phenolics and strengthening antioxidant capacity, offering valuable insight into postharvest management strategies for peach fruit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114104"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616905","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":"Low-temperature storage affects the quality and antioxidant capacity of “Xiahui No. 8” peach fruit: Mechanisms involving the regulation of the antioxidant system and pentose phosphate pathway","authors":"Yujie Zhang ,&nbsp;Qiurong Dan ,&nbsp;Dandan Zhou ,&nbsp;Yuqing Yan ,&nbsp;Leiqing Pan ,&nbsp;Kang Tu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Peaches are highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during low-temperature storage, but the mechanisms of how different temperatures regulate the antioxidant defense and the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of three temperatures (1 °C, 5 °C, and 10 °C) on CI development, quality attributes, antioxidant systems, and PPP in ‘Xiahui No. 8’ peaches. Results showed that storage at 5 °C induced the most severe CI, with internal browning index reaching 43 % on day 35, accompanied by excessive membrane damage and ROS accumulation. Storage at 10 °C accelerated fruit senescence, leading to weight loss (33 % on day 35), and a rapid decline of firmness. In contrast, 1 °C mitigated CI by maintaining membrane integrity, sustaining higher contents of ascorbic acid (0.14 g kg⁻¹), glutathione (69.81 μmol kg⁻¹), total phenolics, and soluble proteins on day 35, and enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes (APX, GR) on day 28. Importantly, storage at 1 °C induced a continuous activation of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, which ensured a stable nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) supply on day 35 to support AsA-GSH cycle regeneration and flavonoid synthesis. The relative expression of <em>PpSOD</em>, <em>PpPOD</em>, <em>PpCAT</em>, and <em>PpGR</em> was also the highest at 1 °C on day 35, synergistically reinforcing ROS scavenging. In summary, 1 °C storage alleviated peach CI by coordinately upregulating the antioxidant system and maintaining PPP-mediated NADPH production. This study provides insights into the temperature-dependent mechanisms of CI, thereby supporting optimized storage strategies for peaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114098"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616527","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":"Hypobaric with nitric oxide fumigation treatment alleviates chilling injury in prune by regulating antioxidant defense and phenolic accumulation","authors":"Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiarui Liang ,&nbsp;Yage Xing ,&nbsp;Quanming Tian ,&nbsp;Shijun Xing ,&nbsp;Zheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Jia Wei ,&nbsp;Yuyao Yuan ,&nbsp;Bin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Browning induced by chilling injury was identified as a key barrier to postharvest storage of prune, resulting in substantial quality degradation during cold storage, which underscored the need for innovative interventions. In this study, a combined hypobaric treatment (HYT) with nitric oxide (NO) fumigation (HYT - NO) was developed and assessed. The results demonstrated that the penetration and uniform distribution of NO in fruit tissues were enhanced by HYT - NO treatment. Moreover, HYT - NO treatment suppressed chilling injury induced browning in prune fruit, reduced soluble quinone accumulation, and maintained overall storage quality, exhibiting markedly stronger efficacy than HYT, NO, and the Control group. Further analysis revealed that the HYT - NO treatment upregulated the gene expression levels of antioxidant enzymes and enhanced their activities, while the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants were maintained. As a result, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anion (O₂^·-), and malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly suppressed, and the increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) was effectively inhibited. In addition, the activities and gene expression levels of key enzymes in the phenylpropanoid pathway were enhanced by the HYT - NO treatment. This up-regulation contributed to the stability of the phenolic pool for antioxidant defense. Concurrently, the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was suppressed. Collectively, these changes contributed to a reduced browning incidence in plums under cold stress. In conclusion, HYT - NO treatment alleviated postharvest chilling injury in prune fruit through multiple mechanisms, including improved penetration efficiency, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, increased membrane stability, and the regulation of phenylpropanoid metabolism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114119"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737251","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":"LsCLE12 peptide delays senescence in lettuce and prolongs postharvest life of roses","authors":"Sally Shuxian Koh ,&nbsp;Kasey Goh ,&nbsp;Zheng Yong Poh ,&nbsp;Javier Jingheng Tan ,&nbsp;Daisuke Urano","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread use of agrochemicals raises concerns about long-term environmental and health effects, increasing the demand for sustainable alternatives. Peptide-hormone signalling, particularly those regulating senescence, holds promise for developing such alternatives in postharvest technologies, however most research remains focused on model species. This study identifies the <em>Lactuca sativa</em> CLAVATA3/ENDOSPERM-SURROUNDING REGION-related (CLE) peptide, LsCLE12p, as a potential postharvest regulator in crops and ornamentals. LsCLE12p interacts with high salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and ethylene pathways, influencing lettuce development and morphology. Notably, LsCLE12p induces stomatal closure similarly to ABA and transcriptionally modulates immune responses, fluid transport, and senescence-related pathways, suggesting a regulatory role in leaf aging. Consistent with these molecular functions, LsCLE12p delays dark-induced senescence in lettuce and extends the longevity of cut roses. These findings highlight the potential of CLE peptides in non-model species to enhance postharvest shelf life in crops and ornamentals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114073"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145555140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gibberellin delays the red-turning of jujube fruit during storage via browning inhibition: Insights from targeted metabolomics","authors":"Tianyu Li ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Liu ,&nbsp;Jialin Tao ,&nbsp;Tong Wu ,&nbsp;Mengjun Liu ,&nbsp;Shoukun Han","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.114147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postharvest red-turning critically impacts jujube fruit quality and shelf life. This study demonstrated that gibberellin acid (GA₃) treatment significantly delayed jujube fruit red-turning during storage, preserving the contents of anthocyanins, carotenoids, and chlorophylls in severe red-turning pericarp. Integrated metabolomic and biochemical analyses revealed decreased anthocyanins and flavonoids but enriched phenolic acids and lipids during red-turning, distinguishing the postharvest red-turning from preharvest coloration of jujube fruit. Furthermore, we also found that GA₃ delayed red-turning by maintaining phenolic and flavonoid levels and inhibiting the accumulation of phenolic acids and lipids while suppressing lignin synthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Crucially, GA₃ concurrently inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO), laccase (LAC), and peroxidase (POD) activities and downregulated key genes (including <em>ZjPPO1</em>, <em>ZjPPO2</em>, <em>ZjLAC7</em>, and <em>ZjPOD1</em>), confirming the key role of pericarp browning in red-turning. Correlation analysis further elucidated the close connections between red-turning and the activities of PPO and POD, levels of ROS and lignin, as well as the content of phenolic compounds. These findings elucidate GA₃-regulated red-turning mechanisms in postharvest jujube fruit and provide theoretical foundations for innovative jujube storage technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114147"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883434","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 metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses provide insights into flavor and color regulation during tomato postharvest ripening","authors":"Xian-Kang Xiao ,&nbsp;Wei-Xin Liu ,&nbsp;Xiao Lu ,&nbsp;Cai-Rui Chen ,&nbsp;Xin-Yi Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Jun Pu ,&nbsp;Feng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.postharvbio.2026.114155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tomatoes are often harvested prematurely to reduce losses during transport and storage, yet the regulation of flavor and color development after detachment remains poorly understood. In this study, we systematically analyzed tomato fruits at 0, 3, 6, and 9 days postharvest, which correspond to the mature green, breaker, pink, and red-ripe stages, respectively. Physiological and biochemical assays revealed progressive softening, lycopene accumulation, chlorophyll degradation, acid depletion, and a transient sugar peak at the pink stage, elevating the Brix/acid ratio 3.19-fold by day 9. Metabolomic analysis identified 609 differentially accumulated metabolites, highlighting the breaker-to-pink transition as a critical metabolic pivot. Transcriptomics combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis uncovered stage-specific regulatory modules, notably a blue module associated with early transcriptional control and a red module linked to later color and flavor development of tomato fruit. Integrated multi-omics analysis demonstrated tight coordination between gene expression and metabolic flux in detached fruit. Further examination of core biosynthesis and hormone signaling pathways indicated ethylene- and jasmonic acid–dominated regulatory control following tomato detachment. Additionally, temporal expression analysis underscored clusters 5 and 8 as key transcriptional hubs related to tomato flavor and pigmentation. Together, these results advance the mechanistic understanding of postharvest ripening and provide a theoretical basis for improving tomato commercial storage and handling practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20328,"journal":{"name":"Postharvest Biology and Technology","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 114155"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976233","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}