Melatonin Maintains Fruit Quality and Reduces Anthracnose in Postharvest Papaya via Enhancement of Antioxidants and Inhibition of Pathogen Development.

ABSTRACT: Papaya fruit is widely grown in tropical regions because of its sweet taste, vibrant color, and the huge number of health benefits it provides. Melatonin is an essential hormone that governs many plants' biological processes. In the current study, the impact of melatonin on fruit ripening and deterioration in postharvest papaya fruit was explored. An optimum melatonin dose (400 μmol L^-1, 2 h) was found to be effective in delaying fruit softening and reducing anthracnose incidence. Melatonin enhanced antioxidant activity and decreased fruit oxidative injury by lowering superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde content by enhancing the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and by improving the antioxidant capacity of papaya fruit. Melatonin increased catalase, a

SUBMITTER: Fan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9137572 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature