Melatonin Prolongs the Postharvest Storability of Strawberry Fruits through Reduced Oxidative Stress and Improved Enzyme Activity

Abstract

Strawberry fruits are popular among consumers because of their unique flavor and reported health benefits. However, microbial growth and oxidative stress that occur in postharvest storage cause strawberry fruits to have a relatively short postharvest life, which reduces consumer acceptance. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin application on the enzymatic activity and postharvest quality of strawberry fruits that are stored at 4 ± 0.5 °C. A total of 288 fruits with four replicates for each of the three treatments (control, 200 μM melatonin, and 500 μM melatonin) were used. Several quality metrics were regularly assessed at 3-day intervals during the 18-day storage trials. The results suggested that the exogenous melatonin application significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes at the physiological level, including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase which led to reductions in weight loss, the decay incidence, and the malondialdehyde level. The use of melatonin successfully delayed changes in the soluble solids concentration, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, and fruit firmness. The results indicated that applying 500 μM melatonin to strawberries would be a useful strategy for increasing their shelf life.