Melatonin acts as a crucial signaling and antioxidant molecule with multiple physiological functions in organisms. To explore effects of exogenous melatonin on postharvest browning and its possible mechanisms in litchi fruit, 'Ziniangxi' litchi fruits were treated with an aqueous solution of melatonin at 0.4 mM and then stored at 25 °C for 8 days. The results revealed that melatonin strongly suppressed pericarp browning and delayed discoloration during storage. Melatonin treatment reduced relative membrane-leakage rate and inhibited the generation of superoxide radicals (O2-·), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Melatonin treatment markedly promoted the accumulation of endogenous melatonin; delayed loss of total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins; and enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2). By contrast, the activities of browning-related enzymes including polyphenoloxidase (PPO, EC 1.10.3.1) and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were reduced. In addition, melatonin treatment up-regulated the expression of four genes encoding enzymes for repair of oxidized proteins, including LcMsrA1, LcMsrA2, LcMsrB1, and LcMsB2. These findings indicate that the delay of pericarp browning and senescence by melatonin in harvested litchi fruit could be attributed to the maintenance of redox homeostasis by the improvement of the antioxidant capacity and modulation of the repair of oxidatively damaged proteins.

Delay of Postharvest Browning in Litchi Fruit by Melatonin via the Enhancing of Antioxidative Processes and Oxidation Repair.

Melatonin is a multifunctional signaling molecule, ubiquitously distributed in different parts of plants and responsible for stimulating several physiological responses to adverse environmental conditions. In the current review, we showed that the biosynthesis of melatonin occurred in plants by themselves, and accumulation of melatonin fluctuated sharply by modulating its biosynthesis and metabolic pathways under stress conditions. Melatonin, with its precursors and derivatives, acted as a powerful growth regulator, bio-stimulator, and antioxidant, which delayed leaf senescence, lessened photosynthesis inhibition, and improved redox homeostasis and the antioxidant system through a direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) under abiotic and biotic stress conditions. In addition, exogenous melatonin boosted the growth, photosynthetic, and antioxidant activities in plants, confirming their tolerances against drought, unfavorable temperatures, salinity, heavy metals, acid rain, and pathogens. However, future research, together with recent advancements, would support emerging new approaches to adopt strategies in overcoming the effect of hazardous environments on crops and may have potential implications in expanding crop cultivation against harsh conditions. Thus, farming communities and consumers will benefit from elucidating food safety concerns.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/5/1040/pdf

Melatonin Mediates Enhancement of Stress Tolerance in Plants

Melatonin treatment maintains nutraceutical properties of pomegranate fruits during cold storage.

Melatonin alleviates pericarp browning in litchi fruit by regulating membrane lipid and energy metabolisms

Background 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. Scope and approach 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. Key findings and conclusions 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.

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

Melatonin treatment reduces chilling injury in peach fruit through its regulation of membrane fatty acid contents and phenolic metabolism.

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Melatonin treatment reduces chilling injury in peach fruit through its regulation of membrane fatty acid contents and phenolic metabolism.