Nitric oxide (NO) was applied to broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) florets and analyzed its effect on chlorophyll degradation during postharvest senescence. Florets were treated with 1000 µL/L of NO for 5 h and placed in darkness at 20°C. During storage, the NO treatment delayed yellowing and retarded the onset of chlorophyll degradation. The activity of lipoxygenase was not related to the development of yellowing during storage. However, the accumulation of malondialdehyde, which could be used as an index of lipid peroxidation, was higher in the control than observed in the NO treatment. In untreated broccoli florets during storage, lipid peroxidation influenced the yellowing of broccoli florets while NO-treated florets maintained chlorophyll levels and decreased lipid peroxidation.

Improved methods are needed to extend the shelf life of strawberry fruits. The objective of this study was to determine the postharvest physiological mechanism of high-CO₂ treatment in strawberries. Harvested strawberries were stored at 10 °C after 3 h of exposure to a treatment with 30% CO₂ or air. Pectin and gene expression levels related to cell wall degradation were measured to assess the high-CO₂ effects on the cell wall and lipid metabolism. Strawberries subjected to high-CO₂ treatment presented higher pectin content and firmness and lower decay than those of control fruits. Genes encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes (pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, and pectate lyase) were downregulated after high-CO₂ treatment. High-CO₂ induced the expression of oligogalacturonides, thereby conferring defense against Botrytis cinerea in strawberry fruits, and lowering the decay incidence at seven days after its inoculation. Our findings suggest that high-CO₂ treatment can maintain strawberry quality by reducing decay and cell wall degradation.

Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the postharvest quality and shelf life of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nagano) harvested at 90 and 50% coloring stages in May and July respectively, stored at 11 °C, 95% relative humidity were assessed. Fruits were subjected to four treatments: FAP + 30 μm polyethylene liner (FOLO); FAP-only (FOLX); 30 μm polyethylene liner-only (FXLO); and control (FXLX). The quality attributes, viz. weight loss, firmness, color, soluble solids content (SSC), soluble sugars, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-dephenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) were evaluated. The investigated parameters differed significantly (p < 0.05) among treatments except for soluble sugars. FOLO maintained sensory quality (weight loss, firmness, and color), physicochemical (SSC and soluble sugars), and health-promoting properties compared to other treatments during storage. The 50% coloring fruits had a huge variation between treatments than 90% coloring. The results revealed more TPC and antioxidant capacity in the 50% than in the 90% coloring fruits. The study highlights the need to consider the ideal fruit coloring stage at harvest under the effect of FAP and MAP treatments in preserving bell pepper’s postharvest quality and shelf life.

We investigated the ripening and skin greasiness of "Hongro" apples during storage at 20 °C. Postharvest treatment using 100 μLL^-1 ethylene accelerated ripening and increased greasiness, whereas treatment using 1 μLL^-1 1-methylcyclopropene delayed ripening and reduced greasiness. Scanning electron microscopy showed changes in cuticular wax structure linked to greasiness. Metabolic analysis identified specific metabolites related to greasiness, which varied upon postharvest treatment. Greasiness was positively associated with ethylene production and butyl-9,12-octadecadienoate content. Random forest modeling predicted greasiness levels with high accuracy, with root mean square error values of 0.322 and 0.362 for training and validation datasets, respectively. These findings illuminate the complex interplay between postharvest treatment, apple ripening, wax composition, and skin greasiness. The application of predictive models exemplifies the potential for technology-driven approaches in agriculture and aids in the development of postharvest strategies to control greasiness and maintain fruit quality.