Crosstalk between melatonin and reactive oxygen species in fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation: An update

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables contain numerous nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds, and dietary fibers. They reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and the risk of certain chronic diseases, and improve the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. Moreover, melatonin was found in various fruits and vegetables species. Melatonin acts as a multifunctional compound to participate in various physiological processes. In recent years, many advances have been found that melatonin is also appraised as a key modulator on the fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation. Fruits and vegetables post-harvest usually elicit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and accumulation. Excess ROS stimulate cell damage, protein structure destruction, and tissue aging, and thereby reducing their quality. Numerous studies find that exogenous application of melatonin modulates ROS homeostasis by regulating the antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants systems. Further evidences reveal that melatonin often interacts with hormones and other signaling molecules, such as ROS, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and etc. Among these ‘new’ molecules, crosstalks of melatonin and ROS, especially the H2O2 produced by RBOHs, are provided in fruits and vegetables post-harvest preservation in this review. It will provide reference for complicated integration of both melatonin and ROS as signal molecules in future study.

Dissecting postharvest chilling injuries in pome and stone fruit through integrated omics

“…This idea is further supported as melatonin lowered the contents of secondary metabolites by suppressing genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis and MYB transcription factors which are associated with reddening index, anthocyanin content and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside ( Xu et al., 2022 ). Melatonin-mediated ethylene inhibition is widely documented in fruit postharvest, but the reduction in anthocyanin content might be contradictory ( Li et al., 2023 ). In plum, melatonin treatments have increased ( Arabia et al., 2022 ) and reduced ( Cortés-Montaña et al., 2023 ) anthocyanin content in the mesocarp.…”

Analysis of the Antioxidant Mechanism of Ozone Treatment to Extend the Shelf Life and Storage Quality of ‘Korla’ Fragrant Pears Based on Label-Free Proteomics

“…The removal of active oxygen from harvested fruits and vegetables is a cr to maintaining quality and extending shelf life. A large number of studies have the effective removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can extend the shelf vested fruits and vegetables [14]. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide a Respiration rate is closely related to the metabolism and senescence of fruit, and the acceleration of respiration rate is considered to be a sign of senescence [23].…”

“…The removal of active oxygen from harvested fruits and vegetables is a crucial issue to maintaining quality and extending shelf life. A large number of studies have found that the effective removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can extend the shelf life of harvested fruits and vegetables [14]. Superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide are the two most important active oxygen species in harvested fruits and vegetables [13,16].…”

“…Ernandes et al have found that ozone fumigation significantly slowed down the ripening of pears (Pyrus communis L.) at room temperature, but the mechanisms of how the treatment affected the ripening process were unclear [12]. A large number of studies have shown that an accumulation of active oxygen is a sign of maturity and quality decline in harvested fruits and vegetables [13,14]. The antioxidant enzymatic activity system, phenylalanine metabolism, and ascorbic acid pathway of melon [15], strawberry [16], winter jujube [17], and 'Qiushui' pear [18] were activated by ozone to increase antioxidant capacity and extend shelf life.…”