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Horticulturae
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Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds...
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Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops

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: 25 June 2024 | Viewed by 6250

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhaojun Ban

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Biological & Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Interests: postharvest biology; natural antimicrobial; encapsulation of active compounds
Dr. Cunkun Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300384, China
Interests: postharvest technology; molecular biology; food quality
Dr. Li Li

E-Mail
Guest Editor
College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: food preservation; bioactive compounds delivery; food flavor and control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Horticultural crops usually include fruit, vegetables, various ornamental plants, spice plants, and medicinal plants, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and functional ingredients. Postharvest horticultural crops will experience the process of ripening, senescence, and deterioration, which will affect their physical quality and conversion of secondary metabolites. Traditional chemical preservatives are not accepted by consumers because of residue and food safety problems. Therefore, it is necessary to apply advanced green preservation technology in horticultural crops to maintain the quality of postharvest horticultural crops, such as ozone and cold plasma preservation technologies, and further exploring the mechanism of these green preservation technologies is encouraged. Meanwhile, the transformation and extraction of active substances in postharvest horticultural crops during storage are also aspects that we need to focus on. The Special Issue on “Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops” is dedicated to original research papers, reviews, opinions, and short communications considering advanced research on postharvest horticultural crops. This includes research on physiology and molecular biology, explorations in flavor regulation and sensory evaluation, innovative techniques/methods for quality maintenance, active compound extraction, and utilization of postharvest horticultural crops.

Dr. Zhaojun Ban
Dr. Cunkun Chen
Dr. Li Li
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 horticultural product
  • quality control
  • secondary metabolites
  • advanced preservation technologies
  • extraction and utilization of bioactive compounds
  • edible coating and active packaging
  • molecular biology
  • omics
  • natural antimicrobials

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 740 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Storage in a Modified Atmosphere Affects the Chemical Profile of Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Fruit
by Tina Smrke, Nika Cvelbar Weber, Jaka Razinger, Aljaz Medic, Robert Veberic, Metka Hudina and Jerneja Jakopic
Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020194 - 19 Feb 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
Short-term modified-atmosphere storage with an adjusted CO2 and/or O2 concentration could recover blueberry fruit infested with the larvae of quarantine pests. However, this could significantly affect the fruit quality. In our experiment we investigated the performance of highbush blueberry ‘Bluecrop’ fruit [...] Read more.
Short-term modified-atmosphere storage with an adjusted CO2 and/or O2 concentration could recover blueberry fruit infested with the larvae of quarantine pests. However, this could significantly affect the fruit quality. In our experiment we investigated the performance of highbush blueberry ‘Bluecrop’ fruit (firmness, peel color, individual phenolics, sugars, and organic acids) under four short-term storage regimes: (1) a regular atmosphere with 0.03% CO2, 21% O2, and 78% N2 at 22 °C, i.e., the control; (2) a regular atmosphere with 0.03% CO2, 21% O2, and 78% N2 at 2 °C; (3) a modified atmosphere with 10% CO2, 5% O2, and 85% N2 at 2 °C; and (4) a modified atmosphere with 100% CO2 at 2 °C. Fruit sampling took place after 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Fruit firmness was not significantly altered by storage regime or duration, while some significant, but minor, changes were detected in the color parameters. Regarding the primary metabolites, the sugar/organic acid ratio stagnated in the first 48 h in all storage regimes. The content of the majority of the individual phenolics was significantly higher in the fruit stored under control conditions. From our results, we can conclude that the short-term storage of highbush blueberry ‘Bluecrop’ fruit for 24 h in a cold atmosphere does not affect the phenolic content, and storage for 48 h does not affect the total sugar/organic acid ratio, regardless of the atmosphere composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops)
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14 pages, 13659 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of Streptomyces spp. Extracts In Vitro and on Post-Harvest Tomato Fruits against Plant Pathogenic Fungi
by David Tomás Montesdeoca-Flores, Eduardo Hernández-Bolaños, Milagros León-Barrios, Eduardo Hernández-Amador, Selene Díaz-González, Néstor Abreu-Acosta and Juan Cristo Luis-Jorge
Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121319 - 07 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1272
Abstract
Plant pathogenic fungi are the most important cause of losses in agriculture. In the context of the overuse of synthetic fungicides, natural products are an encouraging alternative to control these plant pathogenic fungi. In this study, we tested the antifungal capacity of four [...] Read more.
Plant pathogenic fungi are the most important cause of losses in agriculture. In the context of the overuse of synthetic fungicides, natural products are an encouraging alternative to control these plant pathogenic fungi. In this study, we tested the antifungal capacity of four strains of the genus Streptomyces against the plant pathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum. We also investigated the effect of applying the extracts with the highest antifungal activities in a post-harvest setting for the control of B. cinerea on cherry tomato fruits. The results revealed the ability of these strains, especially Streptomyces netropsis A52M, to inhibit in vitro the growth and, in some cases, the sporulation of plant pathogenic fungi. The protective effect of the S. netropsis A52M extracts on post-harvest cherry tomato fruits infected with B. cinerea was demonstrated. In addition, when grown in co-culture, we observed an interesting phenomenon in which the Streptomyces mycelium physically encapsulated the fungal mycelium, contributing to its inhibition. This outcome offers the potential for research into the role of physical microbial interactions in fungal biocontrol. To sum up, the findings outlined here for the interactions between Streptomyces strains and plant pathogenic fungi are a promising, safer, and more sustainable biocontrol alternative to chemicals for agriculture. This is of particular interest in the protection of perishable agricultural products during the post-harvest phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops)
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17 pages, 4229 KiB  
Article
Preharvest Foliar Spraying Combined with Postharvest Salicylic Acid Treatment Regulates Panzao (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Jingcang1’) Fruit Quality and Softening during Storage
by Yang Geng, Binbin Li, Ping Zhang, Lian Yang, Xiaomei Zhao and Yupeng Tan
Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121260 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1000
Abstract
Panzao (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Jingcang1’) have a short shelf-life, which hampers their marketability. To investigate effects of combined pre- and postharvest treatments on quality and softening during storage, preharvest Guomantian foliar fertilizer (FF) spray and postharvest salicylic acid (SA) dip were [...] Read more.
Panzao (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. ‘Jingcang1’) have a short shelf-life, which hampers their marketability. To investigate effects of combined pre- and postharvest treatments on quality and softening during storage, preharvest Guomantian foliar fertilizer (FF) spray and postharvest salicylic acid (SA) dip were applied to panzao. By day 63 of storage, fruit firmness responded to treatment in the order of FF+SA treatment > FF or SA treatments > Control. All treatments inhibited fruit reddening during storage and, compared with those of the control, alleviated the decline in total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and phenol contents and decreased the oxidative aging process, which was consistent with the change in firmness. The FF+SA treatment reduced the activities of amylase, cellulase, polygalacturonase, and β-glucosidase, which decreased the degradation of macromolecules including starch, cellulose, and pectin. Principal component analysis showed that FF+SA exhibited a synergistic effect and was the most effective treatment for maintaining fruit quality during storage. FF increased accumulation of nutrients during growth and improved quality, while SA delayed the decline in fruit quality and reduced softening. These results provide the theoretical basis and technical knowledge for improving the shelf-life of panzao during storage and long-distance transportation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops)
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15 pages, 3051 KiB  
Article
Coatings Based on Gelatin and Chitosan in the Conservation of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Minimally Processed
by Kátia Gomes da Silva, Mônica Tejo Cavalcanti, Laesio Pereira Martinsa, Rita de Cássia Alves, Fernando Azevedo de Lucena, Max Suel Alves Santos, Samarone Xavier da Silva, Franciscleudo Bezerra da Costa, Inacia dos Santos Moreira and Emmanuel Moreira Pereira
Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070729 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1135
Abstract
Minimally processed fruits undergo changes that require careful monitoring. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of edible coatings based on chitosan and gelatin using various application techniques for minimally processed papayas. The treatments included: control (distilled water), 1% chitosan, 4% gelatin, 1% [...] Read more.
Minimally processed fruits undergo changes that require careful monitoring. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of edible coatings based on chitosan and gelatin using various application techniques for minimally processed papayas. The treatments included: control (distilled water), 1% chitosan, 4% gelatin, 1% chitosan + 4% gelatin (blend), and 1% chitosan with a 4% gelatin undercoat (layer-by-layer). The coatings’ infrared spectroscopies (FTIR) were analyzed, and the fruits’ fresh mass, firmness, pulp color (L*, a*, b*, and hue angle), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, lycopene, β-carotene, total sugars, and catalase activity were measured. The results revealed that gelatin and the layer-by-layer treatment positively influenced the preservation of minimally processed papaya. These coatings effectively reduced fresh mass loss while maintaining firmness and the characteristic orange color of the mesocarp. Furthermore, the treated samples consistently exhibited low soluble solids content during the storage period, with minimal variations in acidity, thereby influencing the maturation process. Gelatin coatings demonstrated low polyphenol content, while the layer-by-layer treatment showed no significant changes in vitamin C levels. Lycopene and β-carotene levels remained stable throughout the storage period, with a slight increase observed in total sugars. Consequently, the application of gelatin polymers and the undercoat treatment (LBL) represents a viable alternative for extending the shelf life of minimally processed papayas for at least eight days. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops)
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10 pages, 3359 KiB  
Article
Coating of Layer-by-Layer Assembly Based on Chitosan and CMC: Emerging Alternative for Quality Maintenance of Citrus Fruit
by Chenyu Niu, Lingling Liu, Amr Farouk, Cunkun Chen and Zhaojun Ban
Horticulturae 2023, 9(6), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060715 - 17 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1311
Abstract
Citrus fruits are susceptible to microbial infection during storage and transportation, leading to weight loss, quality deterioration and even physiological decay. In this study, a layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly edible coating based on chitosan and Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared using electrostatic deposition. [...] Read more.
Citrus fruits are susceptible to microbial infection during storage and transportation, leading to weight loss, quality deterioration and even physiological decay. In this study, a layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly edible coating based on chitosan and Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared using electrostatic deposition. Postharvest citrus fruits (Citrus reticulate cv. ‘Chunxiang’) were coated either with the LbL coating, which exhibited an increased transmission rate of water vapor, or with single chitosan coating. The data of some physiological indexes of citrus coated with LbL coating and single coating were compared after being stored at 13 ± 2 °C and at relative humidity (RH) at 80–85% (shelf-life condition) for 10 days. Results demonstrated that the LbL deposited coating was effective at maintaining morphological and microstructural attributes, increasing the surface brightness, firmness and the content of titratable acid and ascorbic acid, as well as reducing the weight loss after storage by about 0.8%. Results in the present study indicated that the LbL edible coating could have the potential to maintain postharvest citrus quality during storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Study on Quality Control and Metabolism of Bioactive Compounds of Postharvest Horticultural Crops)
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