Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis
The postharvest softening and corresponding quality deterioration of blueberry fruits are crucial factors that hinder long-distance sales and long-term storage. Cold plasma (CP) is an effective technology to solve this, but the specific mechanism of delaying fruit softening remains to be revealed. H...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/7/1132 |
| _version_ | 1797212578227683328 |
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| author | Can Zhang Jun-Hu Cheng |
| author_facet | Can Zhang Jun-Hu Cheng |
| author_sort | Can Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The postharvest softening and corresponding quality deterioration of blueberry fruits are crucial factors that hinder long-distance sales and long-term storage. Cold plasma (CP) is an effective technology to solve this, but the specific mechanism of delaying fruit softening remains to be revealed. Here, this study found that CP significantly improved blueberry hardness. Physiological analysis showed that CP regulated the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain hardness by increasing antioxidant content and antioxidant enzyme activity, resulting in a 12.1% decrease in the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CP inhibited the expression of cell wall degradation-related genes such as the pectin hydrolase gene and cellulase gene, but up-regulated the genes of the ROS-scavenging system. In addition, the resistance genes in the MAPK signaling pathway were also activated by CP in response to fruit ripening and softening and exhibited positive response characteristics. These results indicate that CP can effectively regulate the physiological characteristics of blueberries at a genetic level and delay the softening process, which is of great significance to the storage of blueberries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:44:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-81dbe2498cec40ed9b7fc860286f47bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:44:36Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-81dbe2498cec40ed9b7fc860286f47bc2024-04-12T13:18:45ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582024-04-01137113210.3390/foods13071132Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic AnalysisCan Zhang0Jun-Hu Cheng1School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaSchool of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, ChinaThe postharvest softening and corresponding quality deterioration of blueberry fruits are crucial factors that hinder long-distance sales and long-term storage. Cold plasma (CP) is an effective technology to solve this, but the specific mechanism of delaying fruit softening remains to be revealed. Here, this study found that CP significantly improved blueberry hardness. Physiological analysis showed that CP regulated the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain hardness by increasing antioxidant content and antioxidant enzyme activity, resulting in a 12.1% decrease in the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> content. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CP inhibited the expression of cell wall degradation-related genes such as the pectin hydrolase gene and cellulase gene, but up-regulated the genes of the ROS-scavenging system. In addition, the resistance genes in the MAPK signaling pathway were also activated by CP in response to fruit ripening and softening and exhibited positive response characteristics. These results indicate that CP can effectively regulate the physiological characteristics of blueberries at a genetic level and delay the softening process, which is of great significance to the storage of blueberries.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/7/1132blueberry softeningcold plasmaROS metabolismtranscriptome |
| spellingShingle | Can Zhang Jun-Hu Cheng Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis Foods blueberry softening cold plasma ROS metabolism transcriptome |
| title | Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis |
| title_full | Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis |
| title_short | Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis |
| title_sort | assessing the effect of cold plasma on the softening of postharvest blueberries through reactive oxygen species metabolism using transcriptomic analysis |
| topic | blueberry softening cold plasma ROS metabolism transcriptome |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/13/7/1132 |
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