Metabolic features underlying the response of sweet cherry fruit to postharvest UV-C irradiation

Michail Michailidis; Evangelos Karagiannis; Chrysanthi Polychroniadou; Georgia Tanou; Katerina Karamanoli; Athanassios Molassiotis

doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.030

Metabolic features underlying the response of sweet cherry fruit to postharvest UV-C irradiation

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2019 Nov:144:49-57. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.030. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Authors

Michail Michailidis¹, Evangelos Karagiannis¹, Chrysanthi Polychroniadou¹, Georgia Tanou², Katerina Karamanoli³, Athanassios Molassiotis⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Institute of Soil and Water Resources, ELGO-DEMETER, Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece.
³ Laboratory of Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: amolasio@agro.auth.gr.

PMID: 31557639
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.030

Abstract

The impact of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on sweet cherry fruit was studied. Following harvest, fruits (cv. Sweetheart) were exposed to different doses of UV-C (0, 1.2, 3.0 or 6.0 kJ m^-2) and then cold stored (0 °C) for 10 days. Treatments with UV-C delayed most ripening features and reduced pitting symptoms, particularly following prolonged UV-C application. Also, application of the highest UV-C dose inhibited pectin degradation and delayed skin resistance to penetration. An activation of antioxidants capacity and bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolics was observed. Illumination with UV-C diminished respiration and altered metabolite profile in whole fruit and skin samples. Several amino acids (eg., threonine and aspartate), sugars, (eg., glucose and fructose) and alcohols (e.g., inositol and mannitol) were modulated by long-term UV-C treatment in whole cherry fruit. Various metabolites, including malate, galacturonate, oxoproline and glutamine were also modulated by UV-C skin tissue. These data enhance our understanding of UV-C function in fruit biology.

Keywords: Metabolomics; Pectin; Pitting; Post-harvest; Skin tissue; Sweet cherry fruit; UV-C.

MeSH terms

Fruit / metabolism*
Fruit / radiation effects*
Metabolomics / methods
Pectins / metabolism
Prunus avium / metabolism*
Prunus avium / radiation effects*
Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

Pectins