Edible roses have been identified as a potential source of antioxidant compounds promoting human health. In order to assess this potential, nine cultivars of edible roses harvested in Jincheon, Chungbuk, were examined in this study. Extracts of flower petals of edible roses were prepared, and the constituent antioxidant compounds and their antioxidant activity were analyzed. Total anthocyanin concentrations and total flavonoid concentrations were significantly higher in the Mister Lincoln cultivar than those in others. Total phenolic compounds and total antioxidant activity in the cultivars Mister Lincoln and Orange Meillandina were significantly higher than those in other cultivars (p < 0.05). Total anthocyanin content was highly correlated with flavonoid content (R = 0.927), and the relationship between total phenolics and DPPH radical scavenging activity was also strongly correlated (R = 0.915). Overall, antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity of edible roses were found to be greater than those of fruits and leafy vegetables. Thus, edible roses are a natural source of antioxidant compounds, and they are expected to have great potential for application in the production of functional foods and in the cosmetic industry.

Oriental melons have a relatively short shelf life as they are harvested during the summer season and susceptible to cold-induced injuries. Typical chilling injury when stored at 4 °C is expressed as browning of the fruit suture. To prolong the shelf life and reduce browning of the fruit, the effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), X-tend modified atmosphere (MA)/modified humidity (MH) bulk packaging (XF), and polyethylene (PE) packaging, on oriental melons were investigated during storage at 4 °C and 10 °C for 14 days and under retail display conditions at 20 °C. The O₂ concentrations in PE packages stored at 4 °C and 10 °C ranged from 17.4 to 18.5%, whereas those in XF packages were reduced to 16.3–16.6%. The CO₂ content of XF package (4.2–4.6%) was higher than that of PE package (1.4–1.9%) stored at 4 °C or 10 °C. Relative humidity (RH) saturated in the PE packages but not in the XF packages after seven days of storage. Furthermore, PE packages performed better at maintaining melon weight and firmness than XF packages during storage at 10 °C for 14 days and under retail display conditions at 20 °C. PE and XF packages effectively reduced the browning index of the peel and white linear sutures of oriental melons compared with the unpackaged control during cold storage at 4 °C, and this observation was maintained at the retail display condition at 20 °C. The enhanced CO₂ levels, reduced O₂ levels, and optimal RH values that were provided by the MAP, prevented the browning symptoms, and improved the marketability and shelf life of oriental melons.

Vase life is one of the most important factors that determines the marketability of cut flowers and is greatly affected by the water balance. The vase life of cut hydrangea flowers varies greatly depending on the postharvest solution management. Therefore, this study investigated the vase life of freshly harvested hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Verena’) according to the three types of preservative solutions (tap water (TW), 1% Chrysal Professional Ⅲ (CPⅢ), 2% sucrose + 250 mg/L 8-hydroxquinoline + 100 mg/L citric acid (SHQC)) and the combination solutions (pretreatment; TW, 0.1% Chrysal RVB (RVB), Floralife Quick Dip (FQ), transport; TW, CPⅢ, Floralife Clear (FC), preservative; CPⅢ, FC) for each distribution stage (pretreatment–transport–consumer). In the preservative comparison experiment, compared with the control, SHQC and CPⅢ significantly increased the vase life in 2019 (0.7 days, 3.4 days) and 2020 (1.4 days, 3.1 days), respectively. In the comparative experiment, by solution combination, the group (RVB, FQ) using the pretreatment significantly extended the vase life by 5.9 days and 4.6 days compared with the TW. These results confirm the importance of preservative solutions and pretreatment, suggesting that appropriate pretreatment and preservatives should be used to improve the marketability of cut hydrangea flowers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) treatment on the postharvest quality of strawberries harvested at different 50% and 80% maturity under export shipping conditions. The strawberries were subjected to CA and refrigerated container (Reefer) environments at 10 °C, and their quality attributes were then analyzed. Metabolomic profiling revealed significant variations in primary and secondary metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A pathway analysis revealed that CA conditions altered metabolic pathways related to sugar, amino acid, and energy metabolism during storage. CA treatment effectively delayed the accumulation of anthocyanins and enhanced the levels of specific amino acids and VOCs essential for the flavor and aroma of strawberries. Bioluminescence imaging revealed that CA treatment effectively reduced lipid peroxidation. A correlation analysis showed that certain VOCs and secondary metabolites significantly correlated with lipid peroxidation, indicating their role in enhancing antioxidant activity and reducing oxidative stress. These results suggest that CA conditions are associated with significantly reduced weight loss, the maintenance of firmness, and lower respiration rates in strawberries, particularly in those harvested at 80% maturity, extending the shelf life and improving the sensory quality of strawberries. Therefore, CA treatment is an effective method for long-term export.

Korean melon (K-melon, Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa) is a key horticultural crop in the Republic of Korea, but its short shelf life restricts long-distance export. This study evaluated the modified atmosphere (MA) films of varying oxygen transmission rates (OTR) at controlled atmosphere (CA) storage under real maritime export conditions to Vietnam. In the non-permeable OTR 0 (Control) treatment, internal O₂ rapidly declined below the anaerobic compensation point (1.67% at 10d and 0.47% at 10+3d) while CO₂ accumulated to 32–36%. This ultra-low oxygen environment induced anaerobic metabolism, evidenced by strong accumulation of fermentative metabolites such as lactic acid, acetoin, and 2,3-butanediol, along with glucose/fructose retention and increases in alanine and γ-Aminobutanoic acid (GABA). These changes disrupted glycolysis and the Tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), consistent with CA shock, and were accompanied by rind blackening, elevated weight loss, and hue angle shifts toward yellow-orange. By contrast, OTR 10,000 and OTR 30,000 films significantly suppressed weight loss and color changes. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) identified volatile organic compounds, namely acetoin, 2,3-butanediol, and hexanal, as key discriminant metabolites, with OTR 30,000 clearly separated from other treatments at 10+3d, indicating minimal fermentation and oxidative stress. Microbial assays revealed a dose-dependent reduction in bacterial counts with increasing OTR, while fungal growth was most strongly suppressed under OTR 10,000. Overall, OTR 30,000 maintained the lowest and most stable levels of stress-related metabolites, minimized microbial proliferation, and preserved metabolic stability throughout shipping. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of anaerobic metabolic transition and primary metabolite accumulation in K-melons under actual export trials. The findings demonstrate that optimizing MA film permeability, particularly OTR 30,000 films, offers a practical and cost-efficient strategy to extend shelf life, maintain quality stability, and enhance the global export potential of K-melons.

Pink-colored tomatoes have higher sugar content than the red-colored tomatoes; however, they are more prone to fruit cracking during cultivation and transportation owing to their lower firmness. Short-term high CO2 and ClO2 gas treatments were used to prevent chilling injury and reduce decay incidence during the cold storage of tomato ‘Dotaerang’ fruits (Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. Dotaerang). Harvested tomatoes were treated with 30% CO2, 60% CO2, and 30% CO2 combined with 10 ppm ClO2 (mixed with ambient air) for 3 h, and then stored at 4°C and 20°C. Fruit quality was assessed after storage at 4°C for 14 days and/or transferred to 20°C for 3 days (14+3 days), and 20°C for 13 days. Cold storage and CO2 treatment inhibited the softening process and delayed fruit surface color development and lycopene accumulation in tomatoes (‘Dotaerang’). A high positive correlation was found between the a* value and lycopene content of tomatoes during storage. The chilling injury index was confirmed to be reduced by cold storage and 30% CO2 treatment. In particular, the 30% CO2 combined with 10 ppm ClO2 treatment was highly effective in preventing the decay of tomatoes during long-term cold storage after harvest. These results suggest that pre-storage high CO2 and/or ClO2 treatment and low-temperature storage can effectively extend the shelf life and improve the quality of pink-colored tomato ‘Dotaerang’ fruits.