Postharvest Preservation Research Articles

Individual and combined treatments of 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) maintain the postharvest quality of baby mustard

Baby mustard is a characteristic vegetable of the Southwest China, and its quality, including appearance quality and nutritional quality, deteriorated during the postharvest senescence process. This study investigated the effects of individual and combined treatments with 2,4-epibrassinolide (EBR) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) on the visual quality and health-promoting compounds of baby mustard stored at room temperature. In terms of appearance, individual treatments with EBR and CaCl2 were more effective than the control and combined treatment in sensory evaluation and weight loss inhibition. All three exogenous treatments maintained the content of pigments, especially individual treatments. The total chlorophyll content was 1.6-, 1.6-, and 1.1-fold higher in EBR-, CaCl2-, and EBR + CaCl2-treated samples than in control samples at 4 days, respectively. In terms of nutritional quality, all three exogenous treatments delayed the decrease in glucosinolates and soluble protein content, with EBR treatment being the most effective in preserving the content of indolic glucosinolates. Additionally, three exogenous treatments effectively maintained antioxidant levels, thereby reducing hydrogen peroxide accumulation. Combined treatment inhibited brassinosteroid signaling, revealing a potential antagonistic relationship between EBR and CaCl2. The results suggest that the three exogenous treatments delayed senescence and preserved the postharvest quality of baby mustard. EBR treatment was the most effective in preserving pigments. This experiment provides potential technical and theoretical basis for the postharvest preservation of baby mustard.

Self-reinforced multifunctional starch nanocomposite film for litchi fruit postharvest preservation

Consumers enjoy fruit because of its delicious flavor and nutritional value. However, fruit is also prone to oxidation and microbial infection after picking. Therefore, it is imperative to produce safe antiseptic packing materials. Starch films have received considerable attention as an alternative to conventional plastics. The addition of other antibacterial active materials to starch film can significantly improve performance, including water resistance, anti-oxidation, and antibacterial properties. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have exceptional anti-oxidation and antibacterial characteristics and are therefore considered effective antibacterial agents. In this study, we utilized polyphenol and polysaccharide interactions to improve the structure-biological activity of SeNPs to introduce anti-oxidation, antibacterial properties, and UV-blocking performance to extend the shelf life of food and achieve self-reinforcement, thus improving the mechanical properties of the material and making it suitable for food packaging. Notably, the process for the preparation of the SeNPs-embedded starch film was environmentally friendly (water as the solvent) and simple, with mild reaction conditions. The results from this study demonstrated the ability of starch film to reduce dehydration, prevent nutrient loss, inhibit microbe growth, preserve litchi quality, and extend the shelf life during storage. In addition, the film demonstrated biodegradability (11 days in soil), good biocompatibility, and biosafety, offering significant potential for the development of safe and sustainable food packaging systems. This phytochemical nano-enhancement starch film offers a promising solution for multipurpose active food packaging.

Comparison of Nutritional Diversity in Five Fresh Legumes Using Flavonoids Metabolomics and Postharvest Botrytis cinerea Defense Analysis of Peas Mediated by Sakuranetin.

Legumes possess several bioactive nutrients, including flavonoids, and the study of the flavonoid profile of legumes is of great significance to human health. Using widely targeted metabolomics, we revealed the flavonoid profiles of five popular fresh legumes: cowpea, soybean, pea, fava bean, and kidney bean. A total of 259 flavonoids were identified, and the flavonoid accumulation patterns of the five legumes were remarkably different. In addition to analyzing common and species-specific flavonoids in the five legumes, we also generalized representative flavonoids of various subclasses. We related these to the health-promoting effects of legumes. Furthermore, legumes' total flavonoid content and antioxidant system activity were also detected. Intriguingly, sakuranetin, the sole flavonoid phytoalexin that can be induced by UV radiation, was detected only in the peas by metabolomics. Meanwhile, we found that UV treatment could significantly increase the sakuranetin content and the postharvest Botrytis cinerea resistance of pea pods. This study provides clues for the target diet, industrial development of legumes, and a new idea for the postharvest preservation of peas.

A novel multifunctional carboxymethyl cellulose packaging film with encapsulated lemon oil for quality enhancement of cherry tomato and baby spinach leaves

This is the first report on fabricating an active edible film based on CMC and lemon essential oil (LEO) micro/nanocapsules for packaging cherry tomatoes and baby spinach leaves. LEO extracted by hydrodistillation from lemon peels was efficiently encapsulated by oil-in-water emulsification method using high dextrose equivalent maltodextrin (MD) as the sole wall material, yielding physically stable MD-LEO micro/nanocapsules with potent cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells, and antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Incorporating LEO micro/nanocapsules into CMC confirmed by SEM/FTIR analyses, significantly improved the film's water vapor permeability by 37.50%, increased its thermal stability by 25 ℃, and reduced its moisture content/water absorption. The transparent film demonstrated strong DPPH radicle scavenging activity, UV-blocking ability, low moisture, enhanced tensile strength, and soil biodegradability (96.84%) within 14 days. Direct application of the novel film as a single-layer overwrap to cherry tomatoes and spinach leaves stored at abusive temperature for up to 4 days revealed good prospects of preserving physical appearance, preventing water/texture loss, maintaining pH, and inhibiting growth of aerobic mesophilic/E. coli O157:H7 populations by 0.65 and 1.0 log units, respectively, highlighting that CMC is an optimal vehicle for encapsulated LEO. The data emphasizes the significant contribution of the novel film to active packaging of minimally processed fresh produce and its potential to compete with inert plastic films dominating food markets. Extending the film's applicability range to other pertinent food systems may promote industrial interest for production upscaling as a commercially viable postharvest preservation strategy to meet the demands of sustainable packaging industry in Egypt.

Chitosan-based films grafted with citrus waste-derived antifungal agents: An innovative and sustainable approach to enhance post-harvest preservation of citrus fruit

This paper reports the synthesis, characterization, and properties of chitosan films (CHI) grafted with a natural antifungal agent with the aim of developing active films of natural origin to prevent post-harvest losses of citrus fruit. The antifungal agent was prepared by fermentation using lemon peel (AntiFun-LM), a citrus waste, and grafted on chitosan using different coupling agents (CHI/AntiFun-LM). Bioactive films were prepared by solvent casting. FTIR-ATR and ToF-SIMS analyses provided compelling evidence of the successful grafting process. TGA-DSC demonstrated that the films are stable after grafting. SEM studies showed the continuous and compact surface of the films. WCA measurements proved that CHI/AntiFun-LM films are more hydrophilic than CHI films. Moreover, the CHI/AntiFun-LM films showed stronger UV shielding effect when compared to CHI. The biological evaluation demonstrated that CHI/AntiFun-LM films gained considerable antifungal properties against most fungi responsible for post-harvest decay. Cytotoxicity tests showed that CHI/AntiFun-LM films did not cause any toxic effect against L929 fibroblasts. This study highlights the great potential of chemical grafting of antifungal agents produced from citrus waste to chitosan and preparation of natural-based films to act as a powerful alternative in post-harvest protection of citrus fruit in a perspective of circular economy.

Combination of Sodium Nitroprusside and Controlled Atmosphere Maintains Postharvest Quality of Chestnuts through Enhancement of Antioxidant Capacity.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of CA (controlled atmosphere, 2-3% O2 + 3% CO2) and NO (nitric oxide, generated by 0.4 nM sodium nitroprusside), alone or combined (CA + NO), on the physio-chemical properties, enzyme activities and antioxidant capacities of chestnuts during storage at 0 °C for 180 d. Compared with control (CT), CA and CA+NO both improved the storage quality of the samples, but only CA resulted in more ethanol production. Moreover, these improvements were further enhanced and ethanol synthesis was inhibited by the addition of NO. A spectrometer was used to assess the production of phenolic content (TPC) and activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), superoxide dismutas (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) as influenced by CA or CA+NO treatments. Higher TPC, PAL, SOD, POD, CAT, and lower PPO were observed in CA alone, and more so in the combination with NO group. The increased antioxidant production and enhanced antioxidant activities contributed to scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA). This study unveiled the correlations and differences between the effects of CA and CA+NO on storage quality, providing valuable insights into postharvest preservation and suggesting that the combination (CA+NO) was more beneficial for quality maintenance in chestnuts.

Development and characterization of chia oil-activated ginger starch-feather keratin biocomposite for prolonged post-harvest preservation of tomato fruits

In response to the challenges posed by current postharvest preservation methods, this study focuses on the development and characterization of a ginger starch-waste feather keratin (GS-FK) composite functionalized with chia oil (CO). Composite films functionalized with 0.5 (GS-FK-CO0.5), 1.0 (GS-FK-CO1.0), and 1.5 (GS-FK-CO1.5) mL of chia oil were fabricated and characterized using standard analytical techniques. GS-FK-CO films in comparison to GS-FK showed increases in thickness and tensile strength, as well as reductions in moisture content, transparency, water solubility, WVP, and elongation at break. GS-FK-CO films demonstrated superior thermal stability and were evaluated for their efficacy in the post-harvest management of tomato fruits. Following coating and storage at 25 ± 2 °C for 21 days, the GS-FK-CO coated tomato fruits exhibited significantly (p > 0.05) lower weight loss, pH, brix value, and ripening index compared to the uncoated control. GS-FK-CO coated fruits in comparison to control displayed elevated levels of titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic acid, along with suppressed activities of polyphenol oxidase, pectin methyl esterase, and polygalacturonase. This study underscores the potential of the chia oil functionalized GS-FK biocomposite as a promising packaging alternative for extended shelf life and enhanced preservation of tomato fruits.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Preservation Effect of Three Essential Oil Microcapsules on Okra

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.) essential oil microcapsules, oregano (Origanum sp.) essential oil microcapsules, and oregano–thyme (Thymus sp.) essential oil microcapsules are rarely used in the postharvest preservation treatment of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The mechanism of these three essential oil microcapsules on the postharvest preservation of okra is also not yet well understood. In this study, fresh okra was preserved by three kinds of essential oil microcapsules (cinnamon essential oil microcapsules, oregano essential oil microcapsules, and oregano–thyme essential oil microcapsules). The effect of essential oil microcapsules on the postharvest storage quality of okra was discussed. We also used RNA-Seq to preliminarily explore the mechanism of oregano–thyme essential oil microcapsules on the pre-harvest storage quality of okra. The results showed that the three kinds of essential oil microcapsules could maintain the high sensory evaluation quality and firmness of okra, slow down the increase in respiratory intensity, slow down the total number of colonies on the fruit surface, and slow down weight loss. Through analysis, it was found that the effect of oregano–thyme essential oil microcapsules was remarkably better than that of cinnamon essential oil microcapsules and oregano essential oil microcapsules. The preservation mechanism of oregano–thyme essential oil microcapsules on postharvest okra was preliminarily elucidated by RNA-Seq. This study provides a certain basis for a follow-up study of essential oil microcapsules in the preservation of okra.

The Preservation Effect of Chitosan-hawthorn Leaf Extract Coating on Strawberries

Strawberries rapidly deteriorate postharvest, necessitating effective measures to extend their shelf life. This study focused on developing an eco-friendly chitosan-based protective film for strawberry preservation. Strawberries were treated with a coating solution containing varying concentrations of hawthorn leaf extract (HLE) (0.4%, 0.7%, and 1.0%), 1.5% chitosan (CH), and 1% acetic acid. The results demonstrated that coating strawberry fruit with 1% CH-HLE notably delayed fruit spoilage. In-depth analysis revealed that, compared with the uncoated strawberry fruits, the 1% CH-HLE coating effectively reduced weight loss, the respiration intensity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide anion (O2·−) production. Additionally, the coated strawberries exhibited improved firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), vitamin C (Vc) content, titratable acidity (TA), and total phenolic compound (TPC) content. The enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the CH-HLE-coated strawberries were greater than those in their uncoated counterparts. The application of a 1% CH-HLE coating successfully delayed spoilage and extend the shelf life of the strawberries by approximately 4–5 days. These findings suggest that CH-HLE has significant potential as a resource for protecting fruits and vegetables, offering an environmentally sustainable solution for postharvest preservation.

IoT Based Onion Storage Monitoring and Automation Control System

Onions are a staple crop globally, consumed in various culinary dishes and food products. However, their post-harvest preservation presents a significant challenge. Onions are sensitive to moisture, temperature, and humidity variations, making them prone to rot and spoilage during storage. Traditional storage methods often rely on periodic manual checks and manual intervention, which can be ineffective and resource-intensive. This project aims to address these challenges by implementing an Internet of Things (IoT) based solution that leverages moisture sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, microcontrollers, and an IoT platform to continuously monitor and regulate storage conditions, ensuring optimal onion quality and extended shelf life. Onions, a fundamental and widely consumed vegetable in global culinary traditions, face significant post- harvest preservation challenges. Sensitivity to variations in storage conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and moisture levels, often leads to spoilage and a rapid decline in quality. Traditional storage methods reliant on manual monitoring prove resource-intensive, prone to human error, and lack real-time insights into the evolving storage environment. This project introduces an innovative solution, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based onion storage monitoring system, to address these challenges. The system deploys sensors to continuously collect data on storage conditions, transmitting it to a cloud-based platform for real-time analysis. The analysis identifies trends and anomalies, triggering alerts and recommendations via a user-friendly interface. The anticipated outcomes of this project include enhanced onion quality, reduced spoilage, and increased resource efficiency for farmers and storage facility operators. This technology-driven approach contributes to the availability of high-quality onions in the market, serving both agricultural and culinary sectors. The IoT-based onion storage monitoring system represents a substantial step forward in post-harvest preservation, marking a promising advancement in the agriculture industry

The Postharvest Safety and Quality of Fresh Basil as Affected by the Use of Cypriot Oregano (Origanum dubium) Extracts

The use of natural products (including essential oil—EO from medicinal and aromatic plants) on fresh commodities such as leafy greens has gained a lot of attention due to the beneficial effects of those products. However, fresh herbs are highly perishable commodities, and very little is known for their postharvest preservation. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the effects of Cypriot oregano (Origanum dubium) EO and hydrosol (at different concentrations and times of application) on fresh basil’s quality attributes and preservation and (ii) examine the efficacy of selected doses of O. dubium EO and hydrosol against two major foodborne pathogens inoculated on fresh basil stored at 4 °C for six days. The results of the current study indicated that the application of O. dubium EO at high concentrations in combination with a longer dipping time presented a less aromatic (less basil-like aroma) and preferable commodity, whereas hydrosol application resulted in a more acceptable and marketable commodity. In addition, an increase in antioxidant capacity and ascorbic acid content were observed with the EO, whilst hydrosol application was found to decrease basil’s antioxidant capacity. Both investigated products (EO and hydrosol) where found to present great antibacterial activity against Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated on fresh basil even six days after the application. Overall, the investigated natural products (i.e., O. dubium EO and hydrosol) could be considered alternative sanitizing agents during the postharvest processing of fresh basil, whilst preserving and/or improving its nutritional value (i.e., an increase in antioxidants or flavonoids). However, caution should be taken when using it at high concentrations; thus, further research is needed for future commercial-scale use and on other fresh produce.

Edible composite films: enhancing the postharvest preservation of blueberry

Edible composite films: enhancing the postharvest preservation of blueberry

Exploring the potential in postharvest preservation of sweet potato: 2-methylbutanoic acid, isobutyric acid, perillaldehyde and salicylaldehyde, to control Rhizopus stolonifer

Soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer is one of the most destructive postharvest diseases inducing massive loss of sweet potato tuberous roots (TRs). Inhibitory effects of 2-methylbutanoic acid (2-ME), isobutyric acid (IS), perillaldehyde (PE) and salicylaldehyde (SA) against R. stolonifer was investigated, to explore their potential in postharvest preservation of sweet potato. The 2-ME, IS, PE and SA completely inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination, destroyed cell membrane integrity, and induced nucleic acids and proteins leakage of R. stolonifer. Compared to 2-ME and IS, SA caused the most severe ultrastructure damage to R. stolonifer, enhanced cell membrane permeability, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced more endogenous ROS production, followed by PE. In addition, SA better controlled R. stolonifer infection, decreased MDA content and increased disease-resistant enzyme activities in TRs during 15 d of storage. Therefore, SA might be a promising alternative to fungicides in postharvest preservation of sweet potato TRs.

Bio-based nanomaterial suspensions as sprayable coatings for maintaining blueberry postharvest quality

The growing concerns about postharvest fruit spoilage demand sustainable active coating materials with high performance. In this work, bioactive spray coating suspensions were developed for the postharvest preservation of blueberries using chitosan, cellulose, and lignocellulose nanofibers (ChNFs, CNFs, and LCNFs), sodium alginate (SA), and tea tree essential oil (TTO). Characteristics, including the rheological properties of coatings and the effect on physicochemical postharvest quality parameters of blueberry fruit were investigated. The nanomaterials and SA were shown to make stable and sprayable coating suspensions with high surface charge (zeta potential value of −61.3 mV), shear thinning behavior, steady viscosity, and outstanding viscoelastic behavior from their ability to restore fibrous network structure and ion strength of SA to inhibit nanofibers aggregation. The coatings with LCNFs and SA were more effective in retarding moisture loss of postharvest blueberries during storage compared with coatings without LCNFs and SA. Blueberries coated with ChNF/LCNF/SA/TTO had a soluble solids content (SSC) increase of 16.2% after 15 storage days, while uncoated and other coated blueberries had more than a 21.7% SSC increase. In addition, the ChNF/LCNF/SA/TTO coating had an entangled matrix structure and enhanced hydrophobicity, improving gas barrier performance on the blueberry surface. As a result, the coating was able to preserve the moisture, stiffness, firmness, and individual sugar contents of blueberries during storage. Utilizing nanomaterials and other natural polysaccharides in coatings can offer an economically feasible and sustainable approach for functionalizing biomass materials to preserve fruits.

DcEIL3-1, DcWRKY75 and DcHB30 transcription factors form an activation-inhibition module to regulate petal senescence in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

Petal senescence affects the ornamental and economic value of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), one of the most important and typical ethylene sensitive cut flowers worldwide. Previous studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms of DcEIL3–1-DcWRKY75 transcriptional activation module and antagonistic competition between transcription factors DcWRKY75 and DcHB30 in regulating the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes DcACS1 and DcACO1 and senescence associated genes DcSAG12 and DcSAG29 during ethylene induced petal senescence in carnation, but the regulatory mechanism among these three transcription factors is still unknown. Here, we investigated the transcriptional regulation network between these three transcription factors, and found that DcWRKY75 and DcHB30 can directly bind each other’s promoter and inhibit each other’s expression. Further, we found that DcEIL3–1 and DcHB30 also can directly bind each other’s promoter and inhibit each other’s expression. These findings further enrich our understanding about the molecular mechanism in regulating ethylene induced petal senescence in carnation, and also provide new strategies for postharvest preservation of cut carnation flowers.

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.

Determination of the Effects of Silver Nano-Particle Packaging Materials on Storability of Tomatoes

ABSRTACT
 The need to extend the shelf life of tomatoes has arisen due to the issue of post-harvest losses. This has prompted an exploration into active packaging materials. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticle packaging material on tomatoes. Freshly cleaned tomatoes were stored at room temperature using two types of packaging materials, namely Styrofoam and High-Density Plastic (HDP). These packaging materials were then either covered with nylon film infused with silver nanoparticles or with regular nylon film. The tomatoes were left in storage for a period of 9 days, during which changes in fruit mass, moisture content, firmness, and the number of damaged tomatoes were carefully assessed. After 9 days, the weight of tomatoes infused with nanoparticles is 142g to 96g compared to the normal condition of 150g to 40g for high-density plastic (HDP) and 166g to 86g compared to the normal condition of 114g to 64g for Styrofoam. Overall, the results of the study demonstrated that post-harvest preservation of tomatoes using the investigated techniques of Silver Nanoparticle under two packaging materials extended days of firmness and reduced mold concentration count by 50%, thereby reducing the number of losses by 65-70%. The results obtained provide highly useful information in the field of post-harvest storage and preservation.
 Keywords: silver nanoparticles, Styrofoam, high-density plastic, tomatoes, preservation.

Chemical and Thermal Treatment for Drying Cassava Tubers: Optimization, Microstructure, and Dehydration Kinetics.

Perishable commodities like cassava necessitate effective postharvest preservation for various industrial applications. Hence, optimizing pretreatment processes and modeling drying kinetics hold paramount importance. This study aimed to optimize cassava pretreatment using the central composite design of a response surface methodology while also assessing microstructure and dehydration kinetics. Diverse chemical and thermal pretreatments were explored, encompassing sodium metabisulfite concentrations (0-4% w/w), citric acid concentrations (0-4% w/w), and blanching time (0-4 min). The four investigated responses were moisture content, whiteness index, activation energy (Ea), and effective moisture diffusivity (Deff). Employing five established drying models, suitability was appraised after optimal pretreatment conditions were determined. The findings revealed that moisture content ranged from 5.82 to 9.42% db, whereas the whiteness index ranged from 87.16 to 94.23. Deff and Ea ranged from 5.06 × 10-9 to 6.71 × 10-9 m2/s and 29.65-33.28 kJ/mol, respectively. The optimal pretreatment conditions for dried cassava were identified by optimizing the use of 1.31% citric acid, 1.03% sodium metabisulfite, and blanching time for 1.01 min. The microstructure indicated that particular chemical and thermal pretreatment configurations yielded particles in the shape of circular and elliptical granules. The logarithmic model provided the most accurate description of the dehydration kinetics, with the highest R2 value (0.9859) and the lowest χ2, RSME, and SSE values of 0.0351, 0.0015, and 0.0123, respectively.

Synergistic improvement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties of carbon quantum complexes with zinc doping and chlorogenic acid for longan preservation

The deterioration of fruit could reduce the shelf life, decreased marketability and substantial economic value. Thus, a safe, simple, economical and environmentally friendly preservation technology for fruit is of great significance. Here, the postharvest preservation technology was investigated with zinc-doped carbon quantum dots and chlorogenic acid (Zn-CQDs/CGA) composite. Zn-CQDs/CGA composite were synthesized, which exhibits superior antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The binding mechanism of the Zn-CQDs/CGA composite was investigated, which revealed that the bindings of two components were mainly driven by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces to create a novel composite. The Zn-CQDs/CGA composite was applied to longan preservation and was found to significantly reduce the incidence of mildew spot, browning of fruit endocarp and pulp, as well as the degree of degradation of quality indexes. These results suggest that the Zn-CQDs/CGA composite has the potential for inhibiting browning and preserving the quality of longan during storage.

Effect of exogenous essential oil treatments on the storage behaviour of apricot fruit harvested at different altitudes

ABSTRACT Due to the short shelf life of fresh apricots, special postharvest preservation techniques and practices are necessary to avoid significant economic losses. The purpose of the current study is to bring to light an approach that can be used to extend the storage life of apricot fruits treated with essential oils (EOs) (peppermint, thyme and carob EO) and examine the effects of two altitudes (1000 m and 1200 m) on the organic acid levels and respiration rate of apricot fruit during long-term storage. The results show that growing apricots at high altitudes increases the level of organic acids in the fruit, improving its quality and extending its postharvest life. Additionally, treating apricots with EOs postharvest slows down the respiration rate, reducing the consumption of organic acids during storage compared to the untreated fruit. The organic acid content was significantly higher in ‘Kabaaşi’ than in ‘Hacihaliloğlu’, and fruit harvested at 1200 m had significantly higher levels of organic acid than the fruit harvested at 1000 m. During storage, the highest organic acid content and the lowest respiration rate were observed in the fruit of both cultivars treated with peppermint, carob, and thyme oil, as compared to control fruit, respectively. To summarize, the use of EOs as postharvest treatment for apricot is recommended for maintaining the quality of the fruit during extended storage.