Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as a signaling molecule, is involved in the regulation of growth and development in plants. Recent studies have indicated that H2S also plays important roles in regulating postharvest senescence of horticultural products. The focus of this review is to summarize the synthesis of H2S in plants and its potential roles in alleviating the senescence of cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables during postharvest storage. During postharvest of horticultural products, H2S could scavenge reactive oxygen species via promoting the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby, sustaining the integrity of the membrane. In fruits, H2S effectively enhanced the tolerance of chilling by increasing the content of proline and polyphenol compounds. During postharvest storage of perishable fruits and vegetables, H2S significantly alleviated decay, which was caused by fungi by inhibiting the growth of fungi spores. Moreover, H2S interacted with other molecules synergistically (NO) or antagonistically (ethylene) to alleviate senescence of horticultural products. At the transcriptional level, H2S regulated the expression of senescence-related genes, which were related to degradation of proteins and chlorophyll, to delay the senescence of horticultural products. Thus, H2S does not only possess positive antioxidant and antifungal properties, but also significantly regulates the senescence-related gene during postharvest of horticultural products. Future studies of H2S in postharvest storage should focus on its molecular mechanism in the posttranslational modifications of proteins as well as its safety attributes in treated fruits and vegetables.
Highlights
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless gas with an odor of rotten eggs, is a new gaseous signaling molecule that regulates physiological processes in plants (Li et al, 2016b)
A number of studies have suggested that H2S played a significant role in maintaining the postharvest freshness of horticultural products
Available reports have suggested that H2S promotes postharvest life of horticultural products mainly by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, alleviating chilling stress, inhibiting the growth of fungi, interacting with other molecules, and regulating senescence-related genes
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless gas with an odor of rotten eggs, is a new gaseous signaling molecule that regulates physiological processes in plants (Li et al, 2016b). Hydrogen Sulfide in Postharvest Lifetime studies showed that H2S played an important role in delaying senescence of horticultural products during postharvest storage with examples in kiwifruits (Zhu et al, 2014), daylily (Liu et al, 2017), and cut flowers (Zhang et al, 2011). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by oxidative damage could accelerate senescence and ripening of horticultural products during postharvest storage. Recent investigations suggested that H2S could delay the senescence and ripening of horticultural products by alleviating the oxidative damage caused during postharvest storage. H2S reduced the damage of lipid peroxidation and membrane by scavenging ROS, thereby, alleviating the senescence and ripening of fruits (Figure 1B). H2S alleviated the damage of lipid peroxidation and delayed the postharvest senescence of cut flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
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