Search Results (1,388)

The lipoxygenase–hydroperoxide lyase (LOX-HPL) pathway is responsible for the biosynthesis of green leaf volatiles and traumatic acid (TA) in plants; however, the feedback regulatory role of TA in tea plant remains poorly understood. Here, we applied a gradient of exogenous TA concentrations (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁴ M) to both pre- and post-harvest tea leaves, and systematically determined fatty acid precursors, key enzyme activities, and structural gene genes in the LOX-HPL pathway. Moderate TA treatment (10⁻⁷ M) markedly enhanced the activities of LOX and ADH in post-harvest leaves, while concurrently upregulating multiple upstream CsLOX genes. Higher TA concentrations suppressed both enzyme activities and gene transcription. In pre-harvest leaves, the optimal concentration shifted to 10⁻⁶ M for gene upregulation. Higher TA concentrations (≥10⁻⁶ M post-harvest, ≥10⁻⁵ M pre-harvest) consistently suppressed both enzyme activities and gene transcription. Optimal TA treatment also markedly reduced ALA accumulation, indicating feedback inhibition on precursor pools. TA mediates feedback regulation of the LOX-HPL pathway, with its regulatory effect influenced by TA concentration and tissue type, providing a potential strategy for modulating fatty acid-derived flavor quality in tea production. Full article

Enzymatic browning, primarily catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), is a major cause of postharvest losses and quality degradation in fresh-cut fruit and vegetable processing. To control this browning, conventional methods such as sulfite treatment and thermal inactivation have been widely used, yet they increasingly face safety, sensory, and regulatory concerns. Because of this, more attention has been directed toward natural PPO inhibitors from agro-industrial by-products as safer, value-added alternatives. However, current knowledge of PPO inhibition mechanisms and rational inhibitor discovery remains fragmented across the literature, limiting the development of effective and sustainable anti-browning approaches. To address this gap, this review presents an integrated framework that covers (i) the structural and kinetic basis of PPO catalysis at the binuclear copper active site; (ii) the mechanistic classification of reversible and irreversible inhibitors, together with kinetic characterization using IC₅₀, K_i, and nonlinear regression approaches; (iii) computational screening strategies, including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations as modern tools for predicting enzyme–inhibitor interactions and prioritizing candidate inhibitors; and (iv) the potential of agro-industrial by-products as renewable sources of natural PPO inhibitors for extending the shelf life of fresh-cut produce. Through this framework, this review provides an integrated perspective to support the rational evaluation and future development of effective, sustainable PPO inhibitors for food processing. Full article

The present study investigated the chemical composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal, and food preservation potential of Ligusticum chuanxiong CO₂ oil (LCCO) standardised to a ligustilide content of ≥35%. The volatile composition of LCCO was characterised by GC-MS and found to be dominated by cis-ligustilide (63.3%), senkyunolide (15.8%), 3-butylidenephthalide (5.4%), and trans-neocnidilide (4.9%). In vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution against six bacterial and five yeast reference strains. The largest inhibition zones were observed against Enterococcus faecalis (14.33 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (13.67 mm). MIC₅₀ values ranged from 0.064 mg/mL (Yersinia enterocolitica) to 3.492 mg/mL (Candida tropicalis), while MIC₉₀ values ranged from 0.151 to 3.800 mg/mL. In situ vapour-phase antimicrobial activity was evaluated on pear, banana, white radish, and carrot at concentrations of 62.5–500 µL/L, demonstrating a clear concentration-dependent inhibitory effect across all tested food matrices and microorganisms. Insecticidal activity against Callosobruchus maculatus and Megabruchidius dorsalis was confirmed under fumigation conditions, with LC₅₀ values of 17.50% and 20.99% and LC90 values of 83.10% and 87.60%, respectively. The effect of LCCO, applied alone and in combination with vacuum packaging, on the microbiological quality of fresh white radish was evaluated over 28 days of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. The combined treatment resulted in the lowest total viable count (2.75 log CFU/g) and coliform bacteria count (2.58 log CFU/g) on day 28. A total of 404 bacterial isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS Biotyper, comprising 22 species. Acinetobacter pittii was the predominant species (33%), followed by Pantoea agglomerans (7%) and Serratia nematodiphila (7%). No Pseudomonas species were recovered from the EO vacuum treatment. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of LCCO, particularly in combination with vacuum packaging, as a natural antimicrobial agent for the postharvest preservation of fresh white radish. Full article

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is an important functional fruit with high levels of bioactive compounds. However, its high moisture content limits its postharvest shelf life. The biochemical properties of jujube fruits influenced by hot-air drying at 50, 60, and 70 °C were studied and predictive models were evaluated to optimize drying. The drying kinetics were modeled using the six classical thin-layer models and artificial neural network (ANN) approach. The Midilli–Kucuk model was the best classical model, and the ANN model showed the best predictive performance, with the RMSE values improved up to 19.52% in the independent validation dataset. The drying temperature significantly influenced the color, composition of sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Color difference (ΔE = 5.88) and browning index of the 70 °C treatment showed less color change, indicating better color retention. Sugar and organic acid concentrations were significantly higher in dried fruits than in fresh fruits. The highest total phenolic content (5393.43 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (73.56%) were found at 50 °C and progressively decreased with increasing drying temperature. Multivariate analyses further showed clear biochemical differentiation between fresh and dried samples according to drying temperature. Generally, the drying temperature had a significant effect on the nutritional and functional quality of jujube fruits. Although 50 °C was the most effective for maintaining phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, 70 °C offered better color retention and shorter drying time. The ANN method was a useful tool to predict the drying behavior and optimize processing conditions in the production of jujube fruit. Full article

Stem-end rot (SER) is an important postharvest disease that reduces the quality and marketability of star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito L.), while biological control offers a more sustainable alternative to chemical management. This study aimed to (i) select fungal strains causing SER disease in star apple and (ii) select and appraise strains of Trichoderma spp. fungi as antagonists to the selected fungi causing SER disease under in vitro conditions. Ten fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic fruits, and 35 Trichoderma isolates were recovered from star apple rhizosphere soils. Five rapidly growing fungal isolates were evaluated using a detached-fruit pathogenicity assay, with three fruits per treatment. The five strains with the strongest expression of SER were selected and identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae L-SA01, L-SA03, and L-SA07, L. venezuelensis L-SA02, and L. egytiacae L-SA06. Among 25 Trichoderma isolates screened for extracellular enzyme activities, T-SA05, T-SA30, and T-SA32 were selected for broad antagonistic activity and were provisionally associated with T. asperellum, T. yunnanense, and T. viride, respectively. At 72 h, these isolates showed antagonistic efficiencies of 55.4–58.9% against L-SA01, 64.9–69.6% against L-SA02, 80.8–82.4% against L-SA03, 58.6–59.3% against L-SA06, and 49.9–54.1% against L-SA07. L. venezuelensis and L. egytiacae were the two fungal species first found to cause SER. T. yunnanense was recently proven to control the Lasiodiplodia spp. fungi that cause SER. The selected isolates also exhibited chitinase and glucanase activities, although their enzyme profiles did not fully correspond to their antagonistic efficiencies. These findings identify indigenous Trichoderma isolates for further taxonomic confirmation and evaluation in postharvest fruit assays. Full article

The disposal of stone mine tailings (SMTs) near agricultural lands has become a major environmental concern because of their elevated concentrations of environmentally hazardous metals (EHMs). The minimization of the potential detrimental effects of soil pollution on crop cultivation and food safety are the major concerns in modern agricultural practice. Vermitechnology has emerged as a sustainable bioconversion approach for biotically stabilizing mine tailings into a nature-friendly organic amendment. However, the agronomic potential and environmental safety of vermiprocessed stone mine tailings remain poorly understood. To fill this research gap, this study assessed the effectiveness of mine-tailing-derived vermicompost as an organic amendment for Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) cultivation. Vermicompost was prepared from both inorganic mine tailings and organic cow dung (1:1 and 2:1 ratios, w/w) together using earthworm Eisenia fetida species. The results demonstrated that the treatment amended with 1:1 vermicomposted tailings supplemented with the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (T3) outperformed all other treatments by enhancing soil microbial activity, the concentration of bioavailable NPK, improved fruit yield, different biochemical parameters, and reduced post-harvest bioavailable Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cd concentration. Severity Adjustment Margin of Exposure (SAMOE) analysis indicated estimated dietary risk (Class 5) for Cr (VI) and Cd in tomatoes grown on untreated mine tailings, whereas vermicompost-amended treatments reduced the risk to low or negligible levels. Overall, the findings suggest that vermicomposted stone mine tailings emerged as a potential complementary soil amendment and an eco-friendly strategy which improve crop growth while reducing metal availability and its associated health risks. Full article

Strawberry is a nutritive fruit with a short life and postharvest losses. In this study, the quality and shelf life of strawberries during storage at 4 °C were evaluated after applying hurdle treatment of packaging with active polylactic acid (PLA)/Gelatine (G)-based films loaded with essential oils (EOs) and/or AgNPs and combined with low-energy (L-E) X-ray at a dose of 0.5 kGy. The results showed that the addition of EOs, AgNPs, or their combination decreased the tensile strength (TS) of films from 16.70 to 6.65–10.01 MPa and increased elongation at break (Eb) from 215.4 to 218.2–398.2%. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of films increased from 219.7 to 274.8–298.6 cm³/m²·day, which promoted the development of gas selective films for equilibrium-modified atmosphere packaging (EMAP). A level of 20% decay (primary shelf life criterion) of strawberries was observed on day 8 for the commercial control (polyethylene terephtalate clamshell), on day 9 for the PLA/G-AgNPs films, and on day 10 for the PLA/G-EOs films and PLA/G-EOs + AgNPs films. The combined application of the active films with L-E X-ray irradiation (PLA/G/EOs + AgNPs + I) extended the time to reach 20% decay to day 13 compared to day 9 for irradiated commercial control. An EMAP was achieved after 6–9 days of storage, with a gas composition around 13–14% O₂ and 8–9% CO₂. The combined treatment of EOs, AgNPs containing films, and L-E X-ray irradiation prevented firmness and total soluble solid loss of strawberries. The redness of strawberries and their total phenolic/anthocyanin content increased after irradiation treatment and maintained significantly higher levels (p ≤ 0.05) than those of non-irradiated samples during storage. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining active PLA/G films and L-E X-ray irradiation in extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of fresh strawberries. Full article

Cocoa fermentation is a critical postharvest process that determines the physicochemical and sensory quality of cocoa beans through complex microbial and biochemical transformations. This study evaluated the effect of selected lactic acid bacteria (LAB), i.e., Weissella confusa and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and the fermentation system on the fermentation dynamics and final quality of two cocoa genotypes (i.e., Theobroma cacao L.; Nacional and CCN-51). A completely randomized 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design was applied, considering cocoa genotypes, LAB species, and fermentation system (i.e., laboratory fermentation and cascade-type box fermentation). During fermentation, pH, temperature, and total soluble solids (°Brix) were monitored at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. In addition, cut test parameters and the physicochemical properties of the final cocoa paste were evaluated. The results showed a progressive decrease in pH (from 3.13 to 4.17), accompanied by a temperature increase up to 46.50 °C and a marked reduction in soluble solids during the final fermentation stages, reflecting intense microbial metabolism and substrate utilization. Treatments inoculated with L. plantarum achieved the highest proportion of well-fermented beans (up to 93.73%), indicating enhanced fermentation performance. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of the final cocoa paste, including moisture, fat, ash, pH, and °Brix, were significantly influenced by the interaction among cocoa genotype, LAB species, and fermentation system. Overall, controlled fermentation using selected LAB species represents a promising biotechnological strategy for improving cocoa fermentation consistency and enhancing postharvest cocoa quality. Full article

Postharvest soft rot is a major constraint in kiwifruit production, causing substantial economic losses and raising food safety concerns. Therefore, the development of sustainable biocontrol alternatives to conventional chemical treatments is urgently needed. In this study, thirty-seven fungi were isolated from healthy kiwifruit tissues and rhizosphere soil and screened for their biocontrol potential. Three highly effective antagonistic strains were ultimately identified: Mucor circinelloides N2-1-1, Aspergillus niger Pb-2-2, and Trichoderma hamatum Nd-1-1. In vitro antagonism assays showed that A. niger Pb-2-2 exhibited the strongest and broadest-spectrum inhibitory activity against four postharvest pathogens, namely Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Botryosphaeriaceae sp., and Phomopsis sp. In contrast, in vivo protection assays demonstrated that T. hamatum Nd-1-1 almost provided the highest control efficacy against all four pathogens in kiwifruit fruit. Fermentation broth protection experiments further revealed that A. niger Pb-2-2 produced stable and broad-spectrum antimicrobial metabolites. Although M. circinelloides N2-1-1 showed the weakest antagonistic activity among the three fungi, this is the first report indicating that M. circinelloides has antagonistic activity against phytopathogenic fungi. Physiological analyses indicated that all three antagonistic fungi alleviated the inhibitory effects of pathogens on superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities, helped maintain reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and activated the phenylpropanoid pathway, thereby enhancing disease resistance in kiwifruit. These findings provide a theoretical basis and promising microbial resources for the biological control of postharvest soft rot in kiwifruit. Full article

Chitosan, a chitin-derived biopolymer, is widely used in agriculture and food preservation. Fungal-derived chitosan offers a sustainable alternative to crustacean sources, and Ganoderma lucidum represents a promising source of this functional material. This study characterized fungal chitosan (F.Cs) extracted from G. lucidum cell-wall chitin by FT-IR, molecular weight, viscosity, and degree of deacetylation. Its antimicrobial activity was evaluated in vitro, and its preservative and disease control efficacy against Monilinia fructicola on postharvest apples was compared to commercial chitosan (C.Cs). DNA/protein leakage of the studied FGs and C.Cs were investigated to reveal the antimicrobial mechanisms. In particular, F.Cs exhibited promising in vitro antimicrobial activity, with MIC/MFC values of 0.75/0.75 mg/mL against M. fructicola and 0.75/1.5 mg/mL against Botrytis cinerea, compared to C.Cs. In addition, F.Cs induced greater membrane damage in M. fructicola than C.Cs, as evidenced by higher DNA leakage (24% vs. 13%) and more pronounced protein leakage (102% vs. 98%). In vivo assay demonstrated that F.Cs formed an effective protective coating layer, reducing fruit moisture loss, preserving firmness s, and significantly limiting M. fructicola-induced decay compared to C.Cs. Particularly, F.Cs (1.5%) were most effective, reducing disease incidence to 12.5% (preventive) and 20.8% (curative), with decay rates of 18 and 31%, respectively. C.Cs (1.5%) provided moderate protection, with disease incidences of 37.5 and 43.7% in preventive and curative treatments, respectively. These results demonstrate the superior efficacy of F.Cs over C.Cs in preserving apple quality and enhancing resistance to M. fructicola, highlighting the potential of G. lucidum-derived chitosan as a sustainable, multifunctional biopolymer for postharvest disease control and fruit quality preservation. Full article

Predicting plantation establishment-failure prior to planting remains a major operational challenge due to the strong spatial variability in post-harvest environmental conditions. This study developed a spatially explicit modelling framework that integrated pre-planting unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived environmental, structural, terrain, and operational-treatment data to predict establishment risk across plantation landscapes. Environmental, terrain, vegetation, and structural predictors were derived from pre-planting multispectral UAV imagery, while plantation establishment outcomes were quantified approximately 21 months later using an automated tree-detection and assessment framework. The datasets were integrated within a ridge-regularised logistic regression model incorporating interaction terms, multi-scale predictors, operational treatment masks, and blocked spatial cross-validation. The model achieved strong predictive performance under within-site blocked spatial cross-validation, with moisture-related variables, vegetation condition, and structural metrics contributing most strongly to establishment-failure prediction. Predicted risk surfaces closely matched observed patterns of reduced stocking density and suppressed growth. Beyond predicting establishment-failure, the framework enables plantation managers to screen model-predicted outcomes under alternative treatment encodings before planting and to integrate the composite stocking-density and height response within a spatially explicit Establishment Index. The framework therefore demonstrates that future plantation establishment can be predicted from environmental conditions measured before planting and provides a scalable pathway for translating high-resolution UAV data into operational decision support. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of placing wood chips (F-Wood chip) or pumice (F-Pumice) at the bottom of poultry feather compost on open-field ginger soilless media production. Root control bags were prepared with 10 L of wood chips or pumice overlain by 20 L of feather compost, with three ginger rhizomes planted. Crops were drip-irrigated without synthetic fertilization and replenished with compost three times. Results indicated that bottom-placed wood chips or pumice improved water infiltration. Ginger yield was significantly higher in the F-Wood chip treatment than in the F-Pumice, with fresh weights of 3.4 and 2.5 kg, and dry weights of 451.8 and 332.7 g, respectively. Furthermore, F-Wood chip significantly increased rhizome calcium levels. Although no significant differences were observed between treatments regarding leaf and post-harvest media nutrient contents, the F-Wood chip group exhibited higher microbial abundance (9.5 ± 4.5 × 10⁵ CFU ⁻¹) and greater endophytic diversity, spanning 7 genera and 11 species with potential plant growth-promoting and stress-resistance functions. Overall, this innovative integrated crop management strategy demonstrates great potential to substitute for fossil-fuel-based chemical fertilizers, this innovative production mode eliminates the need for fossil-fuel-based chemical fertilizers, offering an applicable and sustainable soilless cultivation solution for open-field ginger production under extreme weather conditions like typhoons and heavy rainfall. Full article

Postharvest water loss in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is largely determined by the pericarp tissue structure. This study investigated the effects of three soil conditioners: rhyolite tuff (RT), composted and pelletized poultry litter (CPPL), and a clarifying agent (CA) on fruit microanatomy and 14-day water loss dynamics (using intact and cuticle-removed fruits) in technologically mature Capsicum annuum L. ‘Tizenegyes’ and biologically mature ‘Csángó F1’ peppers. The results were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s post hoc test, Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The treatments significantly reduced water loss but induced distinct tissue-level adaptations. ‘Tizenegyes’ exhibited a hypodermis-centered response (VIP = 1.22); RT increased collenchyma and parenchyma thickness, reducing water loss by 25.7%. Moreover, RT-treated fruits remained highly resistant to water loss even after cuticle removal, showing only a 2.5% increase. In contrast, ‘Csángó F1’ responded through coordinated structural rearrangements across the entire pericarp. Although CPPL reduced cuticle thickness by 48.7% in ‘Csángó F1’, the CA treatment provided the most stable physiological performance and consistently low water loss in both genotypes. These findings demonstrate that soil conditioning is an effective strategy for improving postharvest quality. Water retention depends not only on cuticle thickness but also on genotype-specific tissue adaptations, particularly the reinforcement of the hypodermis and its collenchyma. Full article

Cherry tomatoes are highly susceptible to Salmonella contamination during pre- and post-harvest handling, leading to foodborne illness outbreaks and significant economic losses. Edible coatings incorporating natural antimicrobials offer a promising alternative to conventional chemical treatments for enhancing food safety while maintaining produce quality. This study developed and evaluated a pectin-based edible coating enriched with zinc nanohydroxide-thymol nanohybrids (ZnNH-T) for controlling Salmonella contamination and extending shelf-life of cherry tomatoes. ZnNH-T nanohybrids were synthesized via precipitation, followed by thymol intercalation, and characterized by SEM. Four coating formulations were prepared: pectin alone (P), pectin-thymol (PT), pectin-ZnNH (PNH), and pectin-ZnNH-T (PNHT). Antibacterial activity of the four coatings was first screened in vitro by disc diffusion against six S. enterica serovars; three serovars (Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Montevideo) showing a statistically significant, coating-dependent inhibition response were selected for the postharvest assay. Cherry tomatoes were coated and dip-inoculated with three Salmonella serotypes (Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Montevideo) at approximately 10⁵ CFU/mL and stored at 25 °C for 12 days. Antimicrobial efficacy, antioxidant activity (ABTS assay), and physicochemical quality parameters (weight loss, color, pH, and total soluble solids) were evaluated. Zinc nanohydroxides were successfully synthesized, as observed in SEM morphology. ABTS radical scavenging activity of filmogenic solutions was highest for PT (92.4%) and moderate for PNHT (65.9%), while P and PNH showed minimal activity (20.1% and 17.8%, respectively). PNHT coating achieved an approximately 2-log CFU/g reduction in Salmonella populations compared to uncoated controls over 12 days of storage, demonstrating sustained antimicrobial efficacy. Coated tomatoes exhibited significantly reduced weight loss (8% for PNHT vs. 13% for control), better color retention, lycopene content, maintained firmness, and stable pH and TSS values compared to uncoated controls. The pectin-ZnNH-T coating system represents a novel multifunctional approach for enhancing cherry tomato safety and quality. The use of thymol from the layered hydroxide structure, combined with zinc ion antimicrobial effects, provides sustained pathogen reduction while maintaining desirable physicochemical properties. This natural, biodegradable coating technology has potential for commercial application in fresh produce preservation. Full article

Agrivoltaic (AV) systems represent a promising strategy for integrating renewable energy production and agricultural activity on the same land unit, while contributing to soil water conservation under increasingly frequent drought conditions. This preliminary, single-site case study investigates the effects of a horizontal biaxial tracking AV system on soil water dynamics in a durum wheat field in the Po Valley (Borgo Virgilio, Mantua, Italy) over a full monitoring period, covering the final crop growth stages and the post-harvest bare soil phase (May–December 2024). Monitoring of soil temperature, volumetric water content (VWC), and soil water potential (SWP) was conducted at four depths (15, 30, 45, and 60 cm) at one representative monitoring station per treatment, comparing soil under AV cover (AVC) and in unshaded conditions (UC), located 10 m apart. Paired VWC and SWP measurements were used to derive site-specific soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) and to calibrate the agro-hydrological model CRITERIA-1D, which was used to estimate available water (AW) in the first 80 cm of depth for both treatments. Measured VWC values were higher in the AVC profile than in the UC profile at all monitored depths throughout the May–September period, with differences persisting, although at lower values through October–December. Estimated AW was consistently higher under AVC than in UC during both the dry and wet periods. Despite higher VWC, the AVC profile showed more negative average SWP values at all depths during summer. This pattern is consistent with the shape of the derived SWCCs and may point to differences in water-retaining capacity between the two profiles, possibly related to structural modifications induced by 13 years of AV system operation. These preliminary findings suggest that AV systems could potentially improve soil water availability in the root zone of rainfed cereal crops and propose the hypothesis that long-term AV cover may act as a driver of changes in soil hydraulic properties, with implications for the sustainability and climate resilience of dryland farming systems. However, given the design of this case study, with only one monitoring point per treatment, the observed differences reflect the specific monitored locations and cannot fully disentangle the AV treatment effect from pre-existing spatial heterogeneity in soil properties. The preliminary results obtained in this study should therefore not be generalised beyond the specific conditions of this case study, and the interpretations proposed here should be treated as unproven hypotheses rather than established conclusions. Further studies with spatial replication and multi-year monitoring are needed to confirm these patterns. Full article