The Pre- and Postharvest Physiology and Molecular Biology of Fruit and Vegetables

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit and vegetables, which represent an important part of our daily diet, are important sources of carbohydrates, proteins, organic acids, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Consumption of fruit and vegetables not only provides basic nutrition for humans but also has potential health-promoting effects in reducing inflammation and preventing chronic diseases. Since fruit and vegetables are still alive after harvest, they are highly perishable products with an active metabolism subjected to several losses between harvest and consumption through microbial decay, physical injury, and senescence during postharvest life. To reduce losses and improve quality, handlers and producers need understand the biological, environmental, and technological factors affecting quality and deterioration. In recent years, various techniques for delaying postharvest senescence of fruit and vegetables have been investigated, such as modified atmosphere (MA) or controlled atmosphere (CA), different types of packaging, treatment with chemicals and plant hormones or their inhibitors, ethanol vapour treatment, and edible coatings. In this Special Issue, we aim to discuss the pre- and postharvest physiology, biological basis, and molecular mechanisms of ripening and senescence of fruit and vegetables. We warmly welcome submissions, including original papers and reviews, on (but not limited to) the following topics:

• Improvement of quality of fruit and vegetables after harvest
• New preservation and processing technologies for postharvest fruit and vegetables
• Biosynthesis of bioactive compounds in pre and postharvest fruit and vegetables
• The regulation mechanisms of physiological disorders occurring in postharvest fruit and vegetables
• Novel techniques controlling postharvest diseases in fruit and vegetables
• The molecular mechanisms of ripening and senescence in postharvest fruit and vegetables

Dr. Gang Ma
Prof. Dr. Masaya Kato
Guest Editors

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