Molecular Mechanisms and Postharvest Technologies to Enhance Fruit and Vegetable Quality and Shelf Life
A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 60
Special Issue Editors
Interests: science and technology of plant-based food products; postharvest and preservation technologies for fruits and vegetables; sensory analysis; statistical analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: quality and postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables; bioactive compounds
Interests: use of unconventional parts of fruits and vegetables; valorization of agro-industrial by-products; innovation in plant-based foods; sensory quality assessment; nutritional composition; bioactive compounds related to postharvest quality and shelf life
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The postharvest life of fruits and vegetables is shaped by intricate molecular mechanisms regulating ripening, senescence, and stress responses. Hormones such as ethylene and abscisic acid, together with key enzymes and transcription factors, influence color, texture, flavor, and nutritional value, while oxidative processes and cell wall degradation drive quality loss. Recent advances in omics technologies have shed light on pathways and molecular markers associated with shelf life.
In parallel, a wide range of postharvest technologies have been developed to maintain quality and extend storage. Classical tools such as refrigeration, modified atmosphere, and 1-MCP have been joined by innovative approaches including edible coatings, biocontrol agents, and nanotechnology. Physical methods such as UV-C, pulsed light, ozone, and ionizing radiation (X and gamma rays) are also gaining attention.
This Special Issue “Molecular Mechanisms and Postharvest Technologies to Enhance Fruit and Vegetable Quality and Shelf Life” welcomes original research and reviews addressing either molecular aspects, technological innovations, or their integration.
Prof. Dr. Paula Porrelli Moreira Da Silva
Prof. Dr. Christiane de Fátima Martins França
Prof. Dr. Nataly Maria Viva de Toledo
Guest Editors
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. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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 physiology
- molecular regulation
- shelf life
- quality preservation
- innovative technologies
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