Nano selenium modulates ripening of Capsicum fruit under postharvest storage: Cellular redox and related physiological characteristics

Integration of volatile and nonvolatile metabolite profiles, and PPO activity reveals the methyl jasmonate protective advantage and metabolite characteristics of Houttuynia cordata during storage

Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) is a commonly consumed fresh food. However, it is prone to rapid decay after harvesting. The current storage methods possess their own drawbacks. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate a novel type of protectant Methyl jasmonate (MeJA), to explore its effect on the postharvest quality and metabolic changes of H. cordata. The results indicated that MeJA treatment reduced weight loss, decay, malondialdehyde content and oxidase activity while maintaining antioxidant properties. Utilizing untargeted metabolomics, eleven differential phenolic compounds and six volatile components were identified. Correlation analysis revealed that polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was the main enzyme responsible for the decay. Four phenolic compounds, including phloretin, were the substrates that caused the rot. Additionally, 1-Hepten-3-one could be used as a flavor component for evaluating the freshness of H. cordata. In conclusion, MeJA treatment presents a potential approach for maintaining the quality of H. cordata.