Hydrogen sulfide prolongs postharvest storage of fresh-cut pears (Pyrus pyrifolia) by alleviation of oxidative damage and inhibition of fungal growth.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has proved to be a multifunctional signaling molecule in plants and animals. Here, we investigated the role of H2S in the decay of fresh-cut pears (Pyrus pyrifolia). H2S gas released by sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) prolonged the shelf life of fresh-cut pear slices in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, H2S maintained higher levels of reducing sugar and soluble protein in pear slices. H2S significantly reduced the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radicals (•O2(-)) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Further investigation showed that H2S fumigation up-regulated the activities of antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), and guaiacol peroxidase (POD), while it down-regulated those of lipoxygenase (LOX), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Furthermore, H2S fumigation effectively inhibited the growth of two fungal pathogens of pear, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium expansum, suggesting that H2S can be developed as an effective fungicide for postharvest storage. The present study implies that H2S is involved in prolonging postharvest storage of pears by acting as an antioxidant and fungicide.
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Kang-Di
KD
Hu
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Qian
Q
Wang
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Lan-Ying
LY
Hu
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Shuai-Ping
SP
Gao
College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
Jun
J
Wu
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Yan-Hong
YH
Li
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Ji-Lian
JL
Zheng
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Yi
Y
Han
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Yong-Sheng
YS
Liu
School of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Hua
H
Zhang
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D031989:Pyrus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide