Impact of Climate Change on Postharvest Physiology of Edible Plant Products

Abstract

Climate change has shown a significant impact on preharvest physiology affecting subsequent postharvest quality and storage potential of various edible plant products. Our edible plant-based products such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and seeds are derived from different systems of agriculture. Climate change-induced alterations in precipitation, temperature, carbon dioxide, solar radiation, ozone, and UV radiations directly influence agricultural produces during preharvest production stage. It is important to understand the impact of climatic-based alterations on the postharvest storage and quality of the said edible products. It is a well-established fact that different environmental factors during preharvest stages substantially influence and modify postharvest physiology and related quality attributes of different edible plant products during storage. Due to altered climatic conditions during preharvest stage, the harvested products have different levels of secondary metabolites, nutraceutical compounds, mycotoxins, nutrients status, ethylene biosynthesis, respiration rate, and postharvest shelf- or storage-life potential. Moreover, climate change, by affecting the food quality, is indirectly affecting the markets and industries related to harvested produce. The changing global climate pattern also influences various plant pest and pathogen infestation especially along with the increase in mycotoxin contamination, ultimately making the plant-based edible produce unsuitable for human consumption. Due to climate-induced alterations, proper cold supply chain should be maintained to slow down different metabolic changes as well as to reduce food poisoning pathogens of the harvested edible produce. So, the basic understanding of climate change on the said aspects is very imperative for global food security. The current chapter covers a comprehensive overview regarding the impacts of climate change on physiology and quality of edible plant-based products during postharvest life.