Chilling Injury In Fruit Research Articles

The effects of controlled freezing-point storage on the postharvest quality of satsuma mandarin

Present study introduced a controlled freezing-point storage (CFPS) technique for the postharvest storage of satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. Miyagawa Wase), with the environment temperature of −2°C during the whole storage period. The postharvest loss and quality changes of satsuma mandarin were investigated. According to the results, CFPS completely prevented fruit decay in the 90 days storage and the following shelf period without causing fruit chilling injury. In comparison, the decay rate of fruit stored at 10°C increased with the elongation of storage time, and reach to 6.67% after 90 days storage, then further increased to 33.33% after transferring to the shelf. CFPS significantly reduced the incidences of calyx browning, completely prevented fruit puffing, alleviated the decreases of citric acid, fructose and glucose in the long-term storage and the following shelf life of satsuma mandarin, compared with the 10°C storage. But CFPS alleviated the postharvest rind color development of satsuma mandarin, leading to paler rind color compared to the 10°C storage group. Both 10°C storage and CFPS group showed significant decrease of total aroma volatiles contents in the pulp after more than two months’ storage. But most of the volatiles, including all of the monoterpenes and aliphatic alcohols, as well as part of the monoterpenes derivatives and aliphatic aldehydes, rebound after being transferred to the 20°C shelf, with the extent much higher in 10°C storage group than that in CFPS group. In the shelf-life, the total volatile content of the 10°C storage group was about 2 fold that of the newly-harvested fruit, but the volatiles of the CFPS group were more similar to the newly-harvested fruit in content and composition. Correspondingly, the consumer's sensory evaluation results showed that the fruit of CFPS group was slightly sourer and with better typical mandarin flavor than those stored at 10°C. Comprehensively, CFPS was applicable in reducing the postharvest loss and alleviating quality deterioration in the long-term storage of satsuma mandarin.

Role of methyl jasmonate in alleviating chilling injury in 'Xuxiang' kiwifruit: Insights from transcriptomic evidence

'Xuxiang' kiwifruit is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during prolonged low-temperature storage, significantly impacting its storage quality and shelf life. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has emerged as a pivotal signaling molecule for alleviating CI in fruit. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the changes in physiological and biochemical indicators and related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through transcriptomics in kiwifruit treated with 10 μM MeJA during low-temperature storage. The results demonstrated that exogenous MeJA effectively alleviated the symptoms of CI in kiwifruit by suppressing the activity of membrane lipid peroxidation-related substances and enzymes, as well as regulating multiple genes associated with ethylene biosynthesis, cell wall degradation, plant hormone signal transduction, and relevant transcription factors. These genes were screened by cis-acting element analysis, and the physical and chemical properties of the proteins were predicted. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the physiological and biochemical mechanisms and related key genes of exogenous MeJA in alleviating the CI of kiwifruit.

Salicylic acid mitigates 'Hayward' kiwifruit chilling injury by regulating hormone and proline metabolism, as well as maintaining cellular structure

The 'Hayward' kiwifruit is extremely susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during the late stages of cold storage, thus limiting its storage quality and life. Therefore, mitigating the losses caused by CI is imperative. Salicylic acid (SA) has been demonstrated to mitigate CI in fruit and vegetables. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of proline metabolism, key endogenous hormone levels, as well as the effects on cell structure and membrane lipid oxidation in kiwifruit treated with 1 mM SA during low-temperature storage. The results showed that SA could attenuate lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, enhance catalase (CAT) activity, suppress the elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, mitigate starch granule degradation in cells, and preserve cell structure integrity. Moreover, SA was found to enhance proline biosynthesis by activating ornithine transaminase (OAT) and pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) while concurrently suppressing proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity. Additionally, exogenous SA increased endogenous levels of both SA and abscisic acid (ABA), while simultaneously decreasing the concentration of gibberellic acid (GA) in fruit. In conclusion, exogenous SA treatment could alleviate the development of CI in kiwifruit by maintaining cell structure, promoting proline synthesis, and balancing endogenous hormone content. Our study offers a theoretical foundation for understanding the mechanism by which SA mitigates cold damage in kiwifruit, and provides novel insights into the low-temperature preservation of kiwifruit.

Preliminary Analysis, Combined with Omics of Chilling Injury Mechanism of Peach Fruits with Different Cold Sensitivities during Postharvest Cold Storage

The storage of peach fruits at 4–5 °C can easily lead to chilling injury and greatly reduce the quality and commercial value of peach fruits. In this study, two kinds of peach fruits (CX and CM) were selected to analyze the mechanisms of chilling injury in fruits with different chilling sensitivity by means of their lipidomic, transcriptome, and dynamic changes in plant hormones. We found that the ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA), and lipid contents changed differently between CX and CM. The ABA and dilactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) contents significantly increased after refrigeration in CM fruit, leading to strong cold resistance. However, low temperatures induced a greater accumulation of ethylene, phospholipids, and ABA-GE in CX fruit than in CM fruit, eventually leading to more severe CI symptoms in CX fruit. Additionally, a transcriptional regulatory network for CM and CX fruits during cold storage was constructed, providing a new theoretical reference for the cultivation of cold-resistant peach cultivars and the development of postharvest preservation technology.

Azacytidine shows potential in controlling the chilling injury of banana peel during cold storage

Banana suffers from chilling injury at low temperatures, which significantly challenges industrial banana quality control worldwide without a widely-accepted solution, to date. In this study, 5-azacytidine (5-azaC), a common DNA methylation inhibitor (DNA methylation is a conserved modification that regulates physiological processes), was used to treat banana fingers with subsequent storage at 7 °C for 9 days, which can be a novel strategy for controlling banana peel chilling injury and quality deterioration. In most sampling days, 5-azaC treatment significantly increased lightness value (L*), hue angle, and firmness while significantly decreased the browning index. Surprisingly, the chilling injury index was persistently declined by 5-azaC up to 26.8 % (p < 0.05). 5-azaC also reduced electrolyte leakage and levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species, indicating the control of chilling injury development. Further results showed that 5-azaC-inhibited DNA methylation contributed to banana chilling injury control by modulating the redox system and energy homeostasis. Collectively, this study offered new insights into fruit chilling injury development and control, as well as inspired potential strategies for postharvest quality control.

Melatonin: A biomolecule for mitigating postharvest chilling injury in fruits and vegetables

AbstractThe best strategy to extend the shelf life of fresh horticultural produce is to keep it at a low temperature. However, storing fruits and vegetables at a temperature lower than their recommended storage temperature and above the freezing point for a prolonged time leads to the development of chilling injury (CI). Melatonin (MT) being a versatile biological signal has been reported to possess antioxidant properties that aid in mediating stress response and extending the postharvest storage life of horticultural crops. Among CI‐induced mechanisms, MT substantially reduces oxidative stress by elevating the reactive oxygen species scavenging and triggering the phenol accumulation in association with 2, 2‐diphenyl‐1 picryl hydrazyl scavenging activity. Besides, MT increases intracellular energy by maintaining a proper ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid and improving cellular fluidity. Additionally, MT regulates arginine metabolism by maintaining the γ‐aminobutyric acid synthesis. Furthermore, MT encodes the mitogen‐activated protein kinases, and calcium‐dependent protein kinases cascade and acclimate to cold stress by activating C‐repeat binding factors and helps in maintaining postharvest quality. This review reports the recent progress of MT‐induced physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms for enhancing chilling tolerance, which can elevate the marketability and earnings from postharvest horticultural crops.

MaBEL1 regulates banana fruit ripening by activating cell wall and starch degradation-related genes.

Banana is a typical subtropical fruit, sensitive to chilling injuries and prone to softening disorder. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the softening disorder caused by cold stress remain obscure. Herein, we found that BEL1-LIKE HOMEODOMAIN transcription factor 1 (MaBEL1) and its associated proteins regulate the fruit softening and ripening process. The transcript and protein levels of MaBEL1 were up-regulated with fruit ripening but severely repressed by the chilling stress. Moreover, the MaBEL1 protein interacted directly with the promoters of the cell wall and starch degradation-related genes, such as MaAMY3, MaXYL32, and MaEXP-A8. The transient overexpression of MaBEL1 alleviated fruit chilling injury and ripening disorder caused by cold stress and promoted fruit softening and ripening of "Fenjiao" banana by inducing ethylene production and starch and cell wall degradation. The accelerated ripening was also validated by the ectopic overexpression in tomatoes. Conversely, MaBEL1-silencing aggravated the chilling injury and ripening disorder and repressed fruit softening and ripening by inhibiting ethylene production and starch and cell wall degradation. MaABI5-like and MaEBF1, the two positive regulators of the fruit softening process, interacted with MaBEL1 to enhance the promoter activity of the starch and cell wall degradation-related genes. Moreover, the F-box protein MaEBF1 does not modulate the degradation of MaBEL1, which regulates the transcription of MaABI5-like protein. Overall, we report a novel MaBEL1-MaEBF1-MaABI5-like complex system that mediates the fruit softening and ripening disorder in "Fenjiao" bananas caused by cold stress.

Brassinosteroids Improve Postharvest Quality, Antioxidant Compounds, and Reduce Chilling Injury in ‘Arrayana’ Mandarin Fruits under Cold Storage

‘Arrayana’ mandarin is one of the most cultivated citrus species in Colombia, but this fruit has a short postharvest life and is sensitive to chilling injury (CI) during cold storage. Generating strategies that decrease CI to mandarin can reduce quantitative and qualitative losses postharvest. Brassinosteroids (BR) have been used as a sustainable technology to alleviate CI in fruits and improve postharvest quality. This study evaluated the effect of applying the 24-epibrasinolide analogue (EBR), at doses of 5 mg L−1; DI-31 analogue, at 5 and 10 mg L−1; and control, on the main physical and biochemical characteristics of ‘Arrayana’ mandarin stored at 4 °C for 40 days and, subsequently, 7 days at room temperature (shelf life). The application of EBR and DI-31 analogues reduced the appearance of CI in the exocarp of ‘Arrayana’ mandarin fruits by reducing electrolyte leakage, maintaining membrane integrity, and increasing antioxidant activity and phenol content at the end of cold storage and shelf life. This was especially pronounced with 5 mg L−1 of EBR. Similarly, the BR maintained the postharvest quality of mandarins by reducing weight loss, respiratory intensity, and chlorophyll degradation; increasing β-carotene; and maintaining titratable acidity and soluble solids. Our research reports, for the first time, CI tolerance in Arrayana mandarin using natural (EBR) and spirostanic (DI-31) analogues and illustrates the tolerance functionality of the DI-31 analogue on CI in the fruit postharvest.

Preharvest Elicitors Spray Improves Antioxidant Activity, Alleviates Chilling Injury, and Maintains Quality in Harvested Fruit

Antioxidant activity is an important feature for evaluating fruit quality and tolerance to biotic or abiotic stresses. Moreover, antioxidant activity is involved in chilling injury (CI) response and postharvest quality in fruit. Chemical elicitors can induce systemic acquired resistance in fruit against pathogens, which could partially replace synthetic fungicides. Recently, researchers have found that preharvest sprays with chemical elicitors can improve antioxidant activity, reduce CI, and maintain quality in harvested fruit. In this review, we summarize that preharvest elicitors spray improve antioxidant activity in harvested fruit by promoting antioxidant components biosynthesis as well as antioxidant ability in vitro. Moreover, preharvest elicitors spray alleviates CI in fruit by regulation of membrane lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species metabolism. In addition, preharvest elicitors spray maintains fruit quality by modulation of respiration and ethylene release. Finally, this review points out the issues existing and proposes an outlook on preharvest elicitors spray to maintain postharvest fruit quality.

MaMYB13 is involved in response to chilling stress via activating expression of VLCFAs and phenylpropanoids biosynthesis-related genes in postharvest banana fruit

Fruit chilling injury is the result of physiological dysfunction due to membrane lipid phase change, oxidative damage of biomacromolecules and respiratory metabolism abnormality. However, the involvement of transcription factors in response to fruits chilling tolerance remains largely unclear. Here, MaMYB13 was identified to participate in banana fruit response to chilling stress. MaMYB13 has transcriptional activation activity. When exposed to low temperature, expression of MaMYB13 was enormously induced. Moreover, MaMYB13 promoter was activated by chilling stress. MaMYB13 bound to the promoters of several important very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and phenylpropanoids biosynthesis-related genes, including MaKCS11, Ma4CL6 and MaAAE1, and activated their transcription. Furthermore, MaKIN10 X1/3 interacted with MaMYB13 and enhanced MaMYB13-mediated transcriptional activation possibly via phosphorylation. Altogether, our results unravel the mechanism of MaMYB13-MaKIN10 X1/3 interaction regulating banana fruit chilling tolerance through activating the expression of MaKCS11, Ma4CL6 and MaAAE1, providing new insights into the regulatory network of MYB transcription factor.

Silencing of Sly-miR171d increased the expression of GRAS24 and enhanced postharvest chilling tolerance of tomato fruit.

The role of Sly-miR171d on tomato fruit chilling injury (CI) was investigated. The results showed that silencing the endogenous Sly-miR171d effectively delayed the increase of CI and electrolyte leakage (EL) in tomato fruit, and maintained fruit firmness and quality. After low temperature storage, the expression of target gene GRAS24 increased in STTM-miR171d tomato fruit, the level of GA3 anabolism and the expression of CBF1, an important regulator of cold resistance, both increased in STTM-miR171d tomato fruit, indicated that silencing the Sly-miR171d can improve the resistance ability of postharvest tomato fruit to chilling tolerance.

Abscisic acid alleviates chilling injury in cold-stored peach fruit by regulating ethylene and hydrogen peroxide metabolism.

Peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) is susceptible to chilling injury under improper low-temperature storage (2°C–5°C). Previous research has shown that abscisic acid (ABA) alleviates chilling injury in fruits and vegetables, but the potential mechanism is still unclear. To explore its effectiveness and potential mechanism in alleviating chilling injury during cold storage, exogenous ABA was applied to peach fruit by immersion in 100 μmol L−1 solutions for 10 min. In our experiment, ABA alleviated chilling injury by reducing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and ethylene production. In addition, ABA inhibited the expression of the ethylene synthesis-related genes PpACO1 and PpEIN2. At the same time, ABA activated the antioxidant enzymatic pathway and the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle, the transcript abundance encoding genes related to antioxidant enzyme activities also changed correspondingly. The results suggested that ABA alleviated chilling injury by scavenging excessive H2O2 by promoting antioxidant enzymes and the AsA-GSH pathway.

Melatonin maintained higher contents of unsaturated fatty acid and cell membrane structure integrity in banana peel and alleviated postharvest chilling injury

Exogenous melatonin confers the chilling tolerance of banana fruit by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging system and inducing the unsaturated fatty acid synthesis. The results showed that melatonin treatment increased the contents of phospholipids, promoted the ROS scavenging enzyme, and restrained the activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), and thus reduced the lipid peroxidation of banana peel. In addition, melatonin treatment increased the flavonoids and proline contents, which was conducive to antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, the enhanced antioxidant capacity is conducive to the stability of unsaturated fatty acids and reduce the enzymatic browning reaction. Moreover, melatonin treatment induced the expression of omega-3/6 fatty acid desaturase and triggered the fatty acid metabolism activity, by which maintained higher contents of unsaturated fatty acid in banana peel. Moreover, melatonin treatment stimulated the accumulation of fatty acids in banana peel, and was involved in alleviating fruit chilling injury.

Efficacy of Various Low Temperature and Exposure Time Combinations for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Larvae.

A systems approach was developed as an alternative to a standalone quarantine disinfestation treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta in citrus fruit exported from South Africa. The systems approach consists of three measures: pre and postharvest controls and measurements, postpacking inspection, and postharvest exposure to low temperatures. Different cold treatment conditions with a range of efficacy levels can be used for this last measure. A series of trials reported here evaluated the efficacy of seven temperatures ranging from 0 to 5°C for durations from 14 d to 26 d. Mortality of the most cold-tolerant larval stages of T. leucotreta was determined. Temperatures of 0, 1, 2, and 3°C for 16, 19, 20, and 24 d respectively, induced 100% mortality of the tested populations. Probit 9 level treatment efficacy was achieved at 0 and 1°C for 16 and 19 d respectively. Mortalities higher than 90% were obtained with temperatures of 4, 4.5, and 5°C, after exposure for the longer durations. We demonstrated a significant difference in cold-induced insecticidal efficacy between 1, 2, 3, and 4°C. There was no significant difference in insecticidal efficacy between 4 and 4.5°C, but both of these temperatures were more efficacious than 5°C. The results of this study are valuable to support the use of cold treatment conditions with lower risk of fruit chilling injury in an effective systems approach, where the cold treatment efficacy can be augmented with other components of the systems approach.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals the potential mechanism of hot water treatment alleviated-chilling injury in banana fruit

Banana fruit is prone to chilling injury (CI) during cold storage, resulting in quality deterioration and commodity reduction. The hot water treatment (HWT), dipping banana fruit in hot water (52 °C) for 3 min, reduced CI symptom at 7 °C storage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential molecular mechanism of HWT on the alleviation of CI of postharvest banana fruit. It was found that HWT treatment obviously inhibited the increases in CI index, relative electrolytic leakage, and the contents of malonaldehyde (MDA) and O2•-, while enhanced proline accumulation. Further transcriptome analysis in the pericarp of banana fruit was evaluated during storage. The results showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the comparison between control and HWT group were mainly enriched in photosynthesis, chlorophyll metabolism, lipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and brassinosteroid and carotenoid biosynthesis. Moreover, transcriptome expression profiles and RT-qPCR analyses exhibited that the corresponding genes involved in these metabolism pathways and heat shock proteins (HSPs) were upregulated by HWT during cold storage. In general, our findings clearly reveal the potential pathways by which HWT alleviates CI in banana fruit, enriching the theoretical basis for the application of hot water to reduce CI in fruits.

Transcriptome and DNA methylome analysis reveal new insights into methyl jasmonate-alleviated chilling injury of peach fruit after cold storage

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has been used to alleviate the chilling injury (CI) caused by postharvest cold storage of horticultural crops involving peach fruit. However, the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we treated melting peach fruit (Prunus persica L. Batsch., cv. Hujingmilu) with different concentrations of MeJA, followed by storage at 0 °C up to 28 d. Peach fruit treated with 1 mM MeJA delayed the development of CI during 3 d shelf-life followed by 28 d cold after storage (C28dS3). The alleviated CI was associated with significant higher content of JA-Ile in peach fruit after MeJA treatment than controls. RNA-Seq revealed significant alternations in expression of genes related to ethylene synthesis, fruit softening, flesh browning and aroma-related volatile synthesis. Transcription factors associated with fruit ripening such as PpNAC1 and JA signaling such as PpMYC2.2 showed higher transcript levels in MeJA treated peach fruit than controls. Peach fruit with CI symptom had higher genome methylation level than MeJA treated fruit after cold storage at C28dS3. Reverse patterns between transcript abundance and DNA methylation in promoter were observed for transcription factor PpNAC1 and downstream PpACS1 for ethylene synthesis, PpExp1 for softening, and PpAAT1 for volatile ester and lactone production. Overall, in addition to providing new insights into the regulatory mechanism for MeJA in alleviating fruit chilling injury through integration of transcriptome and DNA methylome, our study also establishes a foundation for fruit quality maintaining after cold storage of peach fruit.

Postharvest 24-epibrassinolide treatment alleviates pomegranate fruit chilling injury by regulating proline metabolism and antioxidant activities

Pomegranate fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during long term cold storage. In the current work, we studied the impact of pre-storage 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) application for CI amelioration of pomegranate during cold storage. The fruit were treated with 0, 5, 10 and 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL and stored for 84 d at 5 ± 1 ºC. Results showed that 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL treatment markedly alleviated CI, suppressed weight loss and reduced decay. Similarly, 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL application stimulated the activity of ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (OAT) and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) along with suppressed increase in proline dehydrogenase (PDH) enzyme which subsequently resulted in increased proline accumulation. The 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL treated pomegranate fruit had substantially lower activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme along with reduced concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2•−) contents. In addition, 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL treated pomegranate fruit showed significantly higher activity of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme in contrast with control. The 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL treated pomegranate fruit showed higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and had lower polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity that subsequently resulted in conserved total phenols content. In the same way, pomegranate fruit treated with 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL had markedly higher total anthocyanins content, ascorbic acid and glutathione content as compared with control. It was also observed that 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL treated pomegranate fruit showed lower juice pH, higher titratable acidity (TA) and relatively lower soluble solids content (SSC) in contrast with control. In conclusion, 15 µmol L−1 24-EBL could be considered suitable for CI alleviation and quality maintenance of pomegranate fruit under cold storage.

Eggplant grafting on a cold-tolerant rootstock reduces fruit chilling susceptibility and improves antioxidant stability during storage.

Vegetable grafting has been increasingly evaluated to improve preharvest tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, very few studies have identified rootstock-scion combinations able to improve fruit shelf life and reduce the susceptibility to postharvest disorders. Herein, a purple eggplant scion (cv. Monarca) was grafted onto a cold-tolerant hybrid Solanum rootstock ('Java') and the changes in growth, quality, postharvest chilling tolerance, and antioxidant stability were evaluated. Eggplant grafting enhanced plant vigor and fruit growth rate, decreasing the time from set to harvest by 10-15%. Grafted eggplants had a thinner shape and lighter pulp color than the control. The rootstock-scion combination tested showed lower respiration (~60%), dry matter (~15-20%), and phenolic compounds contents (~15-20%) than eggplants from non-grafted plants. Grafting markedly improved fruit performance during postharvest storage. Remarkably, grafted eggplants showed much higher tolerance to chilling injury than the control did, evidenced by a reduction of surface scalds along with decreased softening and pulp browning. The trend in antioxidants found at harvest time was reversed after cold storage due to enhanced stability (20% and 100% for pulp and peel respectively) in fruit from grafted plants. Purple eggplant (cv. Monarca) grafting onto 'Java' hybrid rootstock modulated fruit growth, quality at harvest, and increased fruit chilling injury tolerance during storage. Grafting may be a bona fide strategy to induce phenotypic traits able to improve vegetable postharvest performance. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Revealing the Specific Regulations of Brassinolide on Tomato Fruit Chilling Injury by Integrated Multi-Omics.

Tomato fruit is susceptible to chilling injury (CI) when stored at low temperatures, limiting its storage potential, and resulting in economic loss if inappropriate temperatures are used. Brassinolide (BR) is a plant growth regulator that is known to decrease the susceptibility of fruit to CI. In this study, transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome analysis revealed the regulation mechanism of BR treatment in alleviating tomato fruit CI. The results showed that the differentially expressed metabolites mainly included amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in plant cold stress response (HSFA3, SHSP, and TPR), fruit redox process (POD, PAL, and LOX), related to the fruit texture (CESA, β-Gal, and PAE), plant hormone signal transduction (ACS3, ARF, and ERF,), transcription factors (TCP, bHLH, GATA). Moreover, differentially expressed proteins were associated with fruit texture (CESA, PE, PL, and CHI), plant oxidation processes (LOX, GPX, CAT, and POD), plant cold stress response (HSF, HSP20, HSP70, and HSP90B), plant hormone signal transduction (BSK1 and JAR1) and transcription factors (WRKY and MYB). Our study showed that BR alleviates CI symptoms of tomato fruit by regulating LOX in the α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway, enhancing jasmonic acid-CoA (JA-CoA) synthesis, inhibiting cell wall and membrane lipid damage. The results provided a theoretical basis for further study on the CI mechanism of tomato fruit.

Application of Melatonin in Maintaining Post Harvest Quality of Fruits and Vegetables: A Review

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a nontoxic biological molecule produced naturally in a pineal gland of animals and different tissues of plants. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant during postharvest storage and augments the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Our review highlighted the role of pre and post harvest application of melatonin in extending post harvest shelf life and alleviating chilling injury in fruits and vegetables in cold storage. Review also included available information regarding biosynthesis of melatonin in plants and mode of action of melatonin in maintaining post harvest quality.