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Foods
Special Issues
Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products
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Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Packaging and Preservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 6048

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Peng Jin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: fruit
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Postharvest fruits and vegetables are highly susceptible to quality deterioration and microbial decay, ultimately resulting in a short shelf life. Moreover, consumer demand for high-quality fruits and vegetables, which are fresh and nutritious, has led to an increased interest in postharvest technologies and applications in food products. Recently, the application of physical techniques (ultrasonication, adjusting temperature and humidity, nano-packaging materials, etc.), chemical treatments (hydrogen sulphide, 2,4-epibrassinolide, phytosulfokine, etc.), and biotechnologies (microbial secondary metabolite preservatives) has made great progress in postharvest preservation, extending the storage life of fruits and vegetables. Postharvest technological innovations and applications of fruits and vegetables can effectively reduce postharvest losses of food. Therefore, we invite you to submit a review or research article to this Special Issue on the latest knowledge and novel research trends in these areas.

Prof. Dr. Peng Jin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • postharvest fruits and vegetables
  • postharvest technology
  • postharvest physiology
  • quality deterioration
  • microbial decay

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
β-Ionone Treatment Enhances the Antioxidant Capacity in Postharvest Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica) by Maintaining the Levels of Bioactive Substances
by Feng Zhang, Mengze Cao, Letong Shen, Liyu Shi, Wei Chen and Zhenfeng Yang
Foods 2025, 14(5), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050762 - 24 Feb 2025
Viewed by 690
Abstract
Broccoli is prone to nutrient loss during postharvest storage due to its high respiratory metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of 0.1 mm β-ionone on bioactive substances and antioxidant capacity during postharvest storage of broccoli. We found that the decline in [...] Read more.
Broccoli is prone to nutrient loss during postharvest storage due to its high respiratory metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of 0.1 mm β-ionone on bioactive substances and antioxidant capacity during postharvest storage of broccoli. We found that the decline in the scavenging rates of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) radicals was delayed in the treated florets. This delay is attributed to β-ionone treatment, which upregulated the expression of biosynthetic genes related to glucosinolates and riboflavin in broccoli, thereby slowing the loss of these nutrients. Additionally, β-ionone treatment increased the transcript levels of anabolic genes while reducing the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the catabolism of ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), resulting in higher levels of AsA and GSH in treated broccoli compared to the control. Overall, β-ionone treatment enhanced antioxidant capacity by delaying the loss of bioactive substances in postharvest broccoli. These findings provide the first evidence that exogenous β-ionone helps preserve antioxidant capacity in postharvest horticultural products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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17 pages, 3458 KiB  
Article
Ursolic Acid Induces Multifaceted Defense Responses Against Postharvest Blue Mold Rot in Apple Fruit
by Chang Shu, Wenxiao Jiao, Kuanbo Cui, Jiankang Cao and Weibo Jiang
Foods 2025, 14(5), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050761 - 23 Feb 2025
Viewed by 549
Abstract
The disease resistance and defense mechanisms induced by ursolic acid (UA) in apple fruit were studied in this paper. UA was directly mixed with potato dextrose agar and broth media to assay its antifungal activity in vitro. The results showed that UA exerted [...] Read more.
The disease resistance and defense mechanisms induced by ursolic acid (UA) in apple fruit were studied in this paper. UA was directly mixed with potato dextrose agar and broth media to assay its antifungal activity in vitro. The results showed that UA exerted inherent antifungal activity and directly inhibited the in vitro growth and spore germination of Penicillium expansum. Its half-maximal inhibitory concentration for hyphal growth was 175.6 mg L−1. Apple fruit were immersed in UA solution, followed by inoculation with P. expansum, to measure their disease response. The results demonstrated that UA induced significant disease resistance in apple fruit and that its mechanisms are multifaceted and associated with defensive and antioxidative enzymes and the phenylpropanoid pathway. Chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase were activated and maintained at relatively high levels. The activities of enzymes and their metabolites in the phenylpropanoid pathway, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase were significantly increased; accordingly, total phenolics, flavonoid, and lignin contents were significantly increased. The activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were enhanced upon UA treatment, while catalase activity was suppressed, which regulates hydrogen peroxide accumulation to defend against pathogens. These results suggest that UA induces defense responses against postharvest blue mold rot in apple fruit and that it may be a promising elicitor to induce fruit disease resistance to control postharvest decay. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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18 pages, 5856 KiB  
Article
Myrica rubra Preharvest Treatment with Melatonin Improves Antioxidant and Phenylpropanoid Pathways During Postharvest Storage
by Jun-Quan Chen, Yun-Shuang Ma, Hejiang Zhou, Rui-Xue Yu, Miao Xiong, Na Yang, Ji-Qiu Wang, Yang Tian and Ling-Yan Su
Foods 2025, 14(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010064 - 29 Dec 2024
Viewed by 882
Abstract
Myrica rubra is known for its popularity and robust nutritional value. While fresh Myrica rubra fruit is a perishable commodity, it has a short post-harvest life and is susceptible to fungal decay after harvest. Melatonin has been reported to delay the aging and [...] Read more.
Myrica rubra is known for its popularity and robust nutritional value. While fresh Myrica rubra fruit is a perishable commodity, it has a short post-harvest life and is susceptible to fungal decay after harvest. Melatonin has been reported to delay the aging and quality decline of various fruits and vegetables after harvest. However, the effects of pre-harvest melatonin treatment on the maintenance of post-harvest quality and storage extension of fresh Myrica rubra fruit are still unclear. The impact of pre-harvest spraying of melatonin at different concentrations (100 μM, 300 μM, and 500 μM) on the fruit quality of Myrica rubra during storage at room temperature or 4 °C was investigated. The results indicated that in the final stage of storage, compared with the control group, different concentrations of melatonin reduced the decay index by 13.0–47.1% and also decreased the weight loss, the content of O2−•, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), respectively. Meanwhile, melatonin increased the content of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), as well as the total polyphenols and flavonoids content. Finally, RNA transcriptome sequencing revealed that melatonin enhanced the antioxidant capacity by increasing the expression of both antioxidant enzymes and changing phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes, therefore maintaining the fresh Myrica rubra quality. Our findings uncovered a potent role and mechanism of melatonin in maintaining Myrica rubra fruit quality during storage and suggest that pre-harvest melatonin spraying may be a convenient and effective method for prolonging storage and maintaining quality of fruits after picking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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16 pages, 2931 KiB  
Article
L-Cysteine Treatment Delays Leaf Senescence in Chinese Flowering Cabbage by Regulating ROS Metabolism and Stimulating Endogenous H2S Production
by Linzhi Gan, Zhenliang Mou, Jianye Chen, Wei Shan, Jianfei Kuang, Wangjin Lu, Yating Zhao and Wei Wei
Foods 2025, 14(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010029 - 25 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 876
Abstract
Leaf senescence is a major concern for postharvest leafy vegetables, as leaves are highly prone to yellowing and nutrient loss, resulting in reduced commercial value and limited shelf-life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of L-cysteine (L-cys) on postharvest Chinese flowering cabbage [...] Read more.
Leaf senescence is a major concern for postharvest leafy vegetables, as leaves are highly prone to yellowing and nutrient loss, resulting in reduced commercial value and limited shelf-life. This study aimed to investigate the effect of L-cysteine (L-cys) on postharvest Chinese flowering cabbage stored at 20 °C. The results showed that 0.5 g L−1 L-cys treatment effectively slowed leaf senescence by downregulating chlorophyll degradation genes (BrNYC1, BrNOL, BrPPH, BrPAO, BrNYE, and BrSAGs) and senescence marker gene BrSAG12. Moreover, this treatment exhibited positive influence on the nutritional quality of cabbage. Also, L-cys treatment maintained ROS homeostasis, preventing excessive ROS accumulation and lipid membrane oxidation. L-cys treatment also maintained a higher total antioxidant capacity and scavenging rate of •OH and O2•−. Additionally, L-cys treatment maintained high levels of ascorbate and glutathione and activated antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) and the expression of the encoding genes. Furthermore, L-cys treatment elevated endogenous H2S levels, which are correlated with increased L-cysteine desulfhydrase activity and the upregulation of H2S biosynthesis-related genes. These findings suggest that L-cys can delay leaf senescence by reducing chlorophyll breakdown, maintaining ROS homeostasis, and stimulating endogenous H2S production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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14 pages, 4742 KiB  
Article
Ultrasound as a Physical Elicitor to Improve Texture in Blueberry Fruit: Physiological Indicator and Transcriptomic Analysis
by Yuanyuan Hou, Yinggang Ge, Ailikemu Mulati, Yuting Yang and Jiayi Wang
Foods 2024, 13(20), 3246; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13203246 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1125
Abstract
Ultrasound (US) washing has been verified to improve the quality of postharvest blueberry fruit. However, its physiological and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the present study, an US with a frequency of 25 kHz and a power density of 400 W for [...] Read more.
Ultrasound (US) washing has been verified to improve the quality of postharvest blueberry fruit. However, its physiological and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the present study, an US with a frequency of 25 kHz and a power density of 400 W for 2 min was performed to investigate its role in impacting the quality of blueberries. The results showed that US washing improved the quality of blueberries, with a higher firmness and lignin content (p < 0.05) than the control. Moreover, US washing inhibited the levels of superoxide radical (O2·−) production rate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content while stimulating the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of the blueberry fruit. Transcriptomic analysis screened 163 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the key DEGs were mainly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and plant–pathogen interaction pathways. Furthermore, the transcription factors and the structural genes associated with lignin biosynthesis were also identified from the DEGs. More importantly, the correlation analysis revealed that firmness and lignin content were positively correlated with the expression of C4H, COMT1, and POD52 in blueberry fruit, indicating that these genes might be involved in the regulation of US-mediated lignin synthesis. The findings provide new insight into the US-enhanced quality of blueberry fruits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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14 pages, 2852 KiB  
Article
EjWRKY6 Is Involved in the ABA-Induced Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Loquat Fruit during Ripening
by Yan Yu, Zeyang Bao, Qihang Zhou, Wei Wu, Wei Chen, Zhenfeng Yang, Li Wang, Xuewen Li, Shifeng Cao and Liyu Shi
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172829 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1164
Abstract
The yellow-fleshed loquat is abundant in carotenoids, which determine the fruit’s color, provide vitamin A, and offer anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits. In this research, the impact of abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone, on carotenoid metabolism and flesh pigmentation in ripening loquat [...] Read more.
The yellow-fleshed loquat is abundant in carotenoids, which determine the fruit’s color, provide vitamin A, and offer anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits. In this research, the impact of abscisic acid (ABA), a plant hormone, on carotenoid metabolism and flesh pigmentation in ripening loquat fruits was determined. Results revealed that ABA treatment enhanced the overall content of carotenoids in loquat fruit, including major components like β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and β-carotene, linked to the upregulation of most genes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, a transcription factor, EjWRKY6, whose expression was induced by ABA, was identified and was thought to play a role in ABA-induced carotenoid acceleration. Transient overexpression of EjWRKY6 in Nicotiana benthamiana and stable genetic transformation in Nicotiana tabacum with EjWRKY6 indicated that both carotenoid production and genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis could be upregulated in transgenic plants. A dual-luciferase assay proposed a probable transcriptional control between EjWRKY6 and promoters of genes associated with carotenoid production. To sum up, pre-harvest ABA application could lead to carotenoid biosynthesis in loquat fruit through the EjWRKY6-induced carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Postharvest Technologies and Applications in Food and Its Products)
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