Interaction of melatonin on post-harvest physiology and quality of horticultural crops

Abstract

Melatonin is a plant growth regulator and biostimulator that regulates plant growth and development, improves plant stress tolerance, and delays the aging process. As research has deepened, the role and application of melatonin in the preservation of fresh horticultural produce such as vegetables and fruits have also been reported in the literature. Recent research's shows that melatonin plays an important regulatory role in delaying post-harvest senescence and quality deterioration in horticultural crops. This article first briefly described the synthesis pathway of melatonin in plants, the levels of melatonin in some horticultural crops and its influencing factors, and focused on the effects of melatonin on post-harvest physiology (respiration, ethylene production, antioxidant enzyme) and the quality of melatonin in horticultural crops. (Color, biologically active substances, antioxidant activity) and finally analyze the problems and future research priorities of melatonin in post-harvest preservation of horticultural crops, providing a reference for melatonin research and application of in the future.