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.

Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on sugar metabolism and delaying postharvest senescence of kiwifruit during ambient storage

To explore the effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) on senescence, kiwifruit were treated with 5 μmol L−1 EBR and then stored at 20 °C for 20 days. Results showed that EBR delayed changes in quality characteristics including respiration rate, pulp color and ascorbic acid content and inhibited accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in kiwifruit. EBR-treated kiwifruit had higher levels of mitochondrial membrane fluidity and cytochrome c/a and lower levels of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase, which were responsible for better mitochondrial membrane integrity and function. EBR also promoted the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase leading to an enhancement of antioxidant activity in kiwifruit to counteract oxidative stress. We suggest that EBR treatment is an applicable strategy for kiwifruit to delay senescence and maintain storage quality.

24-Epibrassinolide delays senescence in harvested kiwifruit through effects on mitochondrial membrane and antioxidant activity

Delayed senescence of kiwifruit by p-coumaric acid pretreatment during storage at 20 °C: Toward regulating the ascorbate–glutathione cycle and phenolic anabolism

The invention relates to an application of modified chitosan in fresh keeping of fresh-cut kiwi fruit and a fresh keeping method. The method comprises the following steps: uniformly mixing a chitosan solution and a glocuse solution, treating for 5 to 30 min at high pressure at 121 DEG C, and then cooling to obtain a modified chitosan solution CGC. By utilizing the CGC coating, the number of mesophiles, psychrophiles, saccharomycetes and mold is obviously suppressed, the breathing rate of the fresh-cut kiwi fruits is obviously inhibited, the basic metabolism of the fresh-cut kiwi fruits is reduced, and the fresh-cut kiwi fruit is kept at high flesh hardness and high content of soluble solids and titratable acid; and meanwhile, by adopting the CGC treatment, the loss of nutrients of the kiwi fruits can also be significantly reduced, the content of chlorophyll, ascorbic acids and total phenols of the fresh-cut kiwi fruit flesh tissues is effectively kept, and the fresh-cut kiwi fruits are enabled to be kept at relatively high antioxidant activity.

Application of modified chitosan in fresh keeping of fresh-cut kiwi fruits and fresh keeping method

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