Work

Acetic acid treatment delays the quality deterioration of hawthorn fruit via regulation of ascorbate biosynthesis and regeneration

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Hawthorn fruits are both medicinal and edible, with high nutritional and health-care value. However, harvested hawthorn fruits are prone to loss water and decay, which significantly shortens their fresh-keeping period. Treatments with different acetic acid (AAC) concentrations on the quality of ‘Qiujinxing’ hawthorn fruits was investigated. The findings revealed that compared with the untreated fruit, AAC treatment (especially at a concentration of 0.1 %) significantly delayed fruit senescence and maintained quality by inhibiting the ethylene release rate, weight loss rate and fruit decay. Moreover, compared to the control, hawthorn fruits treated with 0.1 % AAC exhibited significantly higher levels of flavonoids, anthocyanins, and total phenols, accompanied with elevated key antioxidant enzymes activities during the late storage phase. This enhanced antioxidant capacity was concomitant with a marked reduction of reactive oxygen species and MDA accumulation. Furthermore, AAC treatment significantly activated the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle related enzymes, including ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase, which resulted in elevated production of both AsA and GSH. Overall, AAC treatment might delay postharvest quality deterioration in hawthorn fruit through the modulation of AsA biosynthesis and regeneration, which holds promise as an environmentally friendly and effective storage strategy for guaranteeing the postharvest quality of hawthorn fruit.

Source: Scientia Horticulturae

DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114561

Authors: Jian Wang, Nufei Li, Kui Jin, Shuming Liu, Yali Hou, Yuexue Liu

Institution: Shenyang Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,000