title: Methyl jasmonate reduces decay and enhances antioxidant capacity in Chinese bayberries.
abstract: The effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on postharvest decay and antioxidant capacity in harvested Chinese bayberry fruit were investigated. Chinese bayberries were treated with 0, 1, 10, 100, or 1000 micromol L(-1) MeJA at 20 degrees C for 6 h and then stored at 0 degrees C for 12 days. MeJA at 10 micromol L(-1) was most effective in reducing fruit decay; quality parameters including pH value, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity were not significantly affected by MeJA treatment. Fruit treated with 10 micromol L(-1) MeJA exhibited significantly higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and higher levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins as well as individual phenolic compounds than control. These fruits also maintained significantly higher antioxidant activity as measured by scavenging capacity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, superoxide, and hydroxyl radicals and by the reducing power test compared to the control. These results indicate that MeJA can effectively reduce fruit decay and improve antioxidant capacity of Chinese bayberry fruit.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kaituo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Zhenfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D031641:Myrica / Q000737:chemistry*; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D054883:Oxylipins; D010636:Phenols; C072239:methyl jasmonate; D010650:Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase