AUTHOR=Tang Wen , Xiang Biao , Cao Yang , Wu Cuiyun , Zhang Chuanjiang , Lin Minjuan , Du Peihua 

TITLE=1-MCP maintains postharvest quality in winter jujube during low-temperature storage by regulating energy and sugar metabolism and enhancing antioxidant capacity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1702030

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2025.1702030

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=This study investigates the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on postharvest storage of winter jujube. The results indicate that after 1-MCP treatment, the pyruvate (PA) content in winter jujube decreased by 20% at 30 days compared to the control. The energy charge (EC), ATP, and ADP levels increased by 7%, 17%, and 27%, respectively. Activities of key enzymes involved in energy metabolism, including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (COX), H+-ATPase, and Ca2+-ATPase were elevated. Furthermore, the activities of acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI) were 27% and 26% lower, respectively, than those in the control. Sucrose synthase (SS) activity increased by 52%, while the activities of hexokinase (HK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) decreased by 19% each. Activities of key antioxidant enzymes-superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR)-were significantly enhanced. Non-enzymatic antioxidants, including vitamin C (VC), flavonoids, total phenols, and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents, were effectively retained, and suppressing the accumulation of the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA). These findings suggest that 1-MCP treatment preserves the postharvest quality of winter jujube by enhancing energy metabolism, delaying sugar metabolism, and improving antioxidant capacity.