title: Hydrogen sulfide extends the postharvest life  and enhances antioxidant activity of kiwifruit  during storage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) treatment can prolong the postharvest life of cut flowers and strawberries. Little work has been done to explore the effects of H₂S on respiratory climacteric fruits such as kiwifruits during storage. Therefore the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of H₂S treatment at concentrations of 15–1000 µmol L⁻¹ on the postharvest life of kiwifruit during 25 °C storage and the role of H₂S in regulating the antioxidant defensive system of kiwifruit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatments with 45 and 90 µmol L⁻¹ H₂S significantly inhibited the increase in soluble sugar content and the decrease in vitamin C (Vit C), chlorophyll content and firmness, inhibited ethylene production and both superoxide production rate (O(·2)⁻) and hydrogen peroxide content. Kiwifruits with 45 and 90 µmol L⁻¹ H₂S exhibited significantly higher activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase. Treatment with 180 µmol L⁻¹ H₂S promoted the ripening of kiwifruits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatments with 45 and 90 µmol L⁻¹ H₂S could delay the maturation and senescence of kiwifruits and maintain higher titratable acid (TA) and Vit C during eating-ripe storage by inhibiting ethylene production, improving protective enzyme activities and decreasing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species to protect the cell membrane during storage.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yonggen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Huaying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Shaofu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D029042:Actinidia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002681:China; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013481:Superoxides / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005030:Ethylenes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D010940:Plant Proteins; D013481:Superoxides; D002734:Chlorophyll; C036216:ethylene; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide