The Effect of Exogenous Melatonin Treatment on Postharvest Quality of Apricot Fruit through Antioxidant Metabolism
Subject Areas : GeneticParviz Malekzadeh 1 * , Mehdi Sadeghi 2 , Reza Sheikhakbari mehr 3
1 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Semnan University, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Ascorbic Acid, Apricot, Total Phenol, Shelf Life. ,
Abstract :
This study investigated the effect of melatonin on the postharvest quality of apricot fruit. Melatonin plays a crucial role in enhancing the postharvest quality of fruits. Apricots were treated with four different concentrations of melatonin solution (100, 200, 300, and 400 µmol. L-1) for 30 minutes and then stored for 28 days. Compared to the control group, the optimal concentration of melatonin (300 µmol. L-1) significantly reduced physiological weight loss and delayed the decline in total soluble solids (TSS), thereby preserving the postharvest quality of the fruit. Exogenous melatonin increased antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative damage by inhibiting the increase in cell membrane permeability, decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, maintaining high levels of ascorbic acid (AsA), phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, and enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. These findings suggest that the application of exogenous melatonin is effective in preserving the postharvest quality of apricot fruit and delaying senescence.
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