Applications of nitric oxide and melatonin in improving postharvest fruit quality and the separate and crosstalk biochemical mechanisms

• Published in: Trends in food science & technology Vol. 99; pp. 531 - 541
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wanli, Cao, Jiankang, Fan, Xinguang, Jiang, Weibo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Biochemical mechanisms; Biochemistry; Biosynthesis; Chemical treatment; Crosstalk; Food quality; Fruits; Melatonin; Nitric oxide; Polyamines; Postharvest fruit; Preservation; Proline; Senescence; γ-Aminobutyric acid; Melatonin; Biochemical mechanisms; Postharvest fruit; Nitric oxide
• ISSN: 0924-2244; 1879-3053
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2020.03.024

Due to the perishability of most fruits during post-harvest storage, it is necessary to look for environmental friendly chemical treatments to improve the quality of postharvest fruits. Most recent studies have found that exogenous MT and NO applications can effectively improve the quality of postharvest fruit.
This article reviews recent applications of NO and MT in postharvest fruits including the effect on delaying senescence, alleviating chilling injury and controlling disease, summaries the potential biochemical mechanisms of the applications of NO and MT in improving postharvest fruit quality.
In addition, the potential crosstalk biochemical mechanism of MT and NO is also discussed.
This review mainly concluded that exogenous NO treatment improved quality in postharvest fruit which was attributed to follows (1) Inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis. (2) Enhancement of antioxidant system. (3) Induced defense system. (4) Activated CBFs pathway. (5) Regulated sugar and energy metabolisms, and the exogenous MT treatment was attributed to the followings (1) Induced endogenous NO biosynthesis. (2) Enhanced antioxidant system and endogenous MT biosynthesis. (3) Induced defense system. (4) Enhanced GABA shunt pathway, polyamine and proline biosynthesis. Particular finding is the crosstalk mechanism that existing in the applications of exogenous MT and NO in postharvest fruit preservation.
•Nitric oxide can use commercially for improving quality in postharvest fruit.•Melatonin is the next promising natural elicitor for applying in postharvest fruit.•The application of melatonin in postharvest fruit still has instability and risk.•Nitric oxide and melatonin crosstalk associated with postharvest management of fruit.