Melatonin Pre-harvest Treatments Leads to Maintenance of Sweet Cherry Quality During Storage by Increasing Antioxidant Systems

Abstract

Melatonin has been reported to have an important role in fruit ripening, although the effect of pre-harvest melatonin treatment on sweet cherry quality properties during storage is still unknown. In the present experiments, the effects of melatonin (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 Mm) by foliar spray treatments of ‘Prime Giant’ and ‘Sweet Heart’ sweet cherry trees on fruit quality traits and antioxidants systems during storage was evaluated. Results showed that these treatments reduced weight losses during storage, as well as losses in firmness and titratable acidity. In addition, changes in fruit colour and total soluble solid content were also delayed in fruit from melatonin treated trees with respect to controls. Moreover, in general, total phenolic and anthocyanin concentrations were higher in fruit from treated trees than in those from control ones, either at harvest or during the whole storage period. Finally, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase was also enhanced as a consequence of melatonin treatment. Overall results show that pre-harvest melatonin treatment delayed the post-harvest ripening process of sweet cherry fruit, leading to maintenance of their quality properties in optimum levels for consumption 2 weeks more with respect to fruit from control trees. Antioxidant systems, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic ones, were also enhanced by melatonin treatments, which would account for the delay on fruit post-harvest ripening process and fruit quality maintenance during storage.

Impact of Pre-Storage Melatonin Application on the Standard, Sensory, and Bioactive Quality of Early Sweet Cherry

“…Sweet cherry quality is evaluated through its physicochemical parameters and evolution throughout its commercial life or shelf life. Losses in weight, firmness and titratable acidity during storage and subsequent shipment, along with changes in skin colour and total soluble solids content, define their quality and consumer acceptance as well as their repurchase [ 32 ]. Once harvested, they begin to undergo physiological changes that cause rapid deterioration of the fruit, and consequently, cherries that reach consumers may not have the optimal organoleptic characteristics [ 6 , 8 ].…”

“…The activity of the enzymes peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was measured as described by Carrión-Antoli et al [ 32 ]. Briefly, 5 g homogenate was mixed with 10 mL of 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH = 7.0, containing 1% ( p/v ) polyvinylpyrrolidone and 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.…”

Apple polyphenols delay postharvest senescence and quality deterioration of ‘Jinshayou’ pummelo fruit during storage

“…For instance, SOD is the only enzyme in plant cells with the disproportionation ability to dismutate superoxide anions into H 2 O 2 and H 2 O ( Serna-Escolano et al., 2021 ; Mitalo et al., 2022 ). Then, CAT and POD are two important antioxidant enzymes that act synergistically to decompose the produced H 2 O 2 into H 2 O and O 2 , thus reducing the harmful effect of over-produced H 2 O 2 in plant cells ( Carrión-Antolí et al., 2022 ; Hanaei et al., 2022 ; Nxumalo et al., 2022 ). At the same time, APX and GR, as the key enzymes in AsA-GSH system, have a crucial part in maintaining redox homeostasis and protecting plant cells form excess ROS-incited oxidative damage.…”

“…CAT (EC 1.11.1.6) activity was determined according to the method of Carrión-Antolí et al. (2022) in the presence of H 2 O 2 .…”

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

“…Previous studies have shown that hormones, such as ET, SA, gibberellins [GAs, including gibberellin 1 (GA1), gibberellin 3 (GA3), gibberellin 4 (GA4), and gibberellin 7 (GA7)], MeJA, and abscisic acid (ABA), modulate the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables (70,(74)(75)(76)(77). Over the past several years, numerous reports have proposed that melatonin acts as an important role on qualities of fruits and vegetables during the postharvest period (53, 54, 56-60, 67, 76).…”