Molecular Mechanisms in Postharvest Biology
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026
Special Issue Editor
Interests: tomato fruit ripening and senescence; postharvest biology; hydrogen sulfide signal and ethylene
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Postharvest biology plays a pivotal role in mitigating the quality deterioration of fruits and vegetables after harvest, extending their shelf life, and reducing food loss—critical challenges in the context of global demands for sustainable agriculture and food security.
Currently, unlocking the genetic basis underlying postharvest traits and translating mechanistic insights into innovative preservation technologies remain pressing scientific frontiers. This Special Issue prioritizes research that leverages molecular biology, genomics, and synthetic biology tools to unravel gene regulatory networks governing postharvest ripening, senescence, stress tolerance, and disease resistance.
We also welcome studies on novel postharvest technologies—such as nanotechnology, controlled atmosphere storage, and biostimulants—with emphasis on their functional mechanisms and practical applications.
We invite original research articles, critical reviews, and short communications that advance fundamental knowledge or technological innovation in this field. By integrating global research efforts, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the translation of postharvest biology discoveries into practical solutions for enhanced food sustainability.
Dr. Kangdi Hu
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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 biology
- fruit ripening
- senescence
- stress tolerance
- disease resistance
- molecular biology
- gene regulatory networks
- genomics
- synthetic biology
- nanotechnology
- controlled atmosphere
- biostimulants
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