Postharvest anthracnose causes substantial economic losses and poses a serious threat to the sustainable development of the persimmon industry. This study investigated the effects of low-voltage electrostatic field (LVEF) treatment on anthracnose progression and fruit quality maintenance in postharvest persimmon. The results showed that LVEF treatment significantly reduced disease incidence, effectively suppressed pathogen expansion, and maintained fruit firmness and soluble solids content. LVEF enhanced host resistance and inhibited pathogen development by regulating key components of the jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling pathway, including lipoxygenase, allene oxide cyclase, and the transcription factor MYC2. In parallel, LVEF treatment was associated with the upregulation of multiple defense- and antioxidant-related genes, such as basic endochitinase, TMV resistance protein N-like, peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, LVEF modulated the expression of genes associated with ethylene biosynthesis and signaling (1-aminocyclopropane-1carboxylate synthase, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, and ethylene response factor), cell wall metabolism (pectinesterase, polygalacturonase, and cellulose synthase-like protein), and flavor formation (beta-fructofuranosidase, alpha-amylase, sucrose-phosphate synthase, and branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase). These regulatory effects collectively delayed fruit ripening, softening, and flavor deterioration. Metabolomic profiling further revealed that LVEF alleviated the decline of key metabolites, including neoglucoside, linalool, cynaroside, and isosilvaglin A, during storage, thereby enhancing antioxidant capacity and disease resistance while reducing aromatic loss and quality degradation. Overall, these findings elucidate the mechanisms underlying LVEFinduced anthracnose resistance and quality preservation, providing a theoretical basis for the eco-friendly control of postharvest diseases in persimmon fruit.

Apricot polysaccharide (AP), ferulic acid (F), and zinc ion (Z) were utilized to prepare the binary complex (APF and APZ) and the ternary complex (APFZ and APZF). The structural characterization, antioxidant activity and inhibition of alpha-glucosidase of these complexes were investigated. The results showed that the zinc content in APZ was 43.43 mg/g, while the ferulic acid content in APF was 121.21 mg/g. In APZF, both zinc and ferulic acid contents were higher than those in APFZ, reaching 170.04 mg/g and 36.71 mg/g, respectively. The UV-Vis and FTIR spectra indicated non-covalent binding between AP, zinc ion and ferulic acid through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The ternary complexes APZF and APFZ have higher crystallinity and become larger in particle size and smaller in zeta potential. The occurrence of three hydrogen bonding interactions between ferulic acid and AP and metal chelation interactions between zinc ion and hydroxyl groups on AP were further confirmed by molecular docking. APZF exhibited the strongest in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, which were significantly better than AP and other binary complexes. In addition, APZF and alpha-glucosidase bind to form a structurally stable complex, in which ferulic acid can hydrogen-bond with ARG-400 and TYR-389 on alpha-glucosidase, and apricot polysaccharide hydrogen-bonds with ASP-344, GLU-311, ASN-276, ASP-275, GLU-223, and ARG-239 on alpha-glucosidase.

Green pretreatments that improve oil recovery while maintaining oil quality are of interest for camellia seed processing. This study compared three separate photodynamic inactivation (PDI) pretreatments, using emodin, resveratrol, or coumarin as the photosensitizer under LED blue light, and evaluated their effects on camellia seeds and the oil obtained after pressing. PDI significantly reduced surface microbial loads, with bacterial and fungal counts decreasing by 0.99-1.31 and 1.04-1.87 log CFU/g, respectively (p < 0.05). It also altered seed microstructure and moisture distribution, increased oil yield by 21.4-43%, maintained the fatty acid profile, and enhanced α-tocopherol by 6.4-12.7%. Emodin and coumarin showed stronger antimicrobial and quality-preserving effects than resveratrol. These results indicate that natural photosensitizer-mediated PDI is a promising pretreatment for improving oil recovery and preserving camellia seed oil quality.

This study developed a sustainable delivery system by investigating curcumin (Cur) adsorption onto chestnut porous starch (CPS) through kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic analyses, subsequently evaluating the CPS/Cur complex as a functional ingredient in 3D-printed chestnut flour (CF) gels. Results indicated that CPS achieved an adsorption capacity of 6.82 mg/g at 25 °C within 300 min. The adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, revealing a spontaneous, exothermic monolayer adsorption primarily driven by physical entrapment and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Multispectral characterizations confirmed the successful formation of the CPS/Cur complex via this green strategy, evidenced by the masking of curcumin's characteristic peaks. Crucially, a 12.0% CF formulation optimized both extrudability and shape fidelity while strictly satisfying IDDSI Level 5 criteria for safe swallowing. Overall, this scalable approach demonstrates exceptional potential for the continuous, automated 3D printing of personalized, value-added functional foods tailored for dysphagia management.

To develop more stable Pickering emulsions, this study compared the effects of various protein types on the physicochemical properties of hybrid nanoparticles composed of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-treated chestnut short amylose (DCSA) and protein. Results showed that after DBD treatment, the solubility of CSA increased by 57.14 %. DCSA/protein composite nanoparticles showed significantly higher solubility than DCSA. Notably, at a DCSA-to-whey protein isolate (WPI) ratio of 10:7.5, its solubility increased by 642.86 % compared to CSA. Fluorescence data analysis indicated that the starch-induced quenching was not controlled by dynamic collision, but rather resulted from the formation of complexes. Therefore, the interaction between DCSA and proteins is a typical static quenching with a single-site binding mode. Contact angles values of DCSA/protein hybrid nanoparticles were close to 90 degrees, suggesting their favorable emulsifying properties. In addition, the emulsifying activity exhibited a significant positive correlation with the starch/protein ratio. Pickering emulsions stabilized by hybrid nanoparticles exhibited good stability, especially when the DCSA/WPI ratio was 10:5, with the Pickering emulsion maintaining good stability for up to 7 days. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of starch-protein hybrid nanoparticles and the preparation of stable Pickering emulsions.

B. cinerea causes severe postharvest gray mold in tomato. SNAC4/9 are NAC transcription factors that regulate ripening and stress responses, but their role in phenylpropanoid-mediated disease resistance remains unclear. This study used Micro-Tom tomato fruits to investigate this mechanism. We demonstrate that SNAC4/9 act as key negative regulators of gray mold resistance in tomato, with SNAC9 exhibiting stronger inhibitory effects than SNAC4. They directly bind promoters of PAL, C4H, CHS, and HQT, downregulating key enzymatic activities in the phenylpropanoid pathway, reducing phenolic/flavonoid accumulation, and redirecting metabolic flux. Exogenous chlorogenic acid (CGA) demonstrates a tripartite synergistic mechanism: directly inhibiting pathogen growth, downregulating SNAC4/9 expression, and reactivating phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes and enzymatic (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and chalcone synthase (CHS)) activities via feedback loops to promote defense metabolite accumulation, ultimately delaying fruit disease onset. This study deciphers the cascade regulatory network of the SNAC4/9-phenylpropanoid pathway, revealing novel dimensions of SNAC4/9-mediated defense in fruit. It establishes both a theoretical foundation for disease-resistant breeding and sustainable postharvest management, and an actionable solution for implementing green preservation technologies that replace chemical fungicides.

This study systematically investigates the prebiotic and antidiabetic potential of a novel oligosaccharide derived from Ginkgo, designated Ginkgo isomalto-oligosaccharide (G-IMO), in comparison with that of conventional corn-derived isomalto-oligosaccharides (C-IMOs). Its stability was assessed under simulated gastrointestinal digestion and under different pH (3.0-11.0) and temperature (4-70 °C) conditions. The effects of G-IMO on probiotic growth, glucose metabolism, and cell viability were further evaluated by measuring bacterial OD600, medium pH, short-chain fatty acid production, Caco-2 cell viability, glucose uptake and transport, glucose transporter expression, and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that G-IMO significantly promoted the growth and proliferation of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis compared to C-IMOs. In Caco-2 cells, G-IMO effectively attenuated glucose consumption and transport. Moreover, G-IMO exhibited high resistance to degradation during simulated digestion. It maintained functional activity across a broad pH range and temperature conditions. In conclusion, G-IMO demonstrates stronger prebiotic efficacy and antidiabetic potential than C-IMOs. These findings position G-IMO as a promising functional ingredient for developing dietary interventions aimed at supporting gut health and regulating blood glucose levels.

Camellia seed oil (i.e., Camellia oleifera Abel. seed oil, hereafter referred to as camellia seed oil), known as the “olive oil of the East,” is rich in oleic acid, tocopherols, squalene, polyphenols, and phytosterols. Its unique composition confers exceptional nutritional and functional properties. However, the quality of camellia seed oil is greatly influenced by factors spanning the entire production chain—from cultivation to storage—necessitating a holistic understanding of these determinants for innovation in high-value utilization. This review comprehensively synthesizes recent advances in understanding the determinants of camellia seed oil quality across three key stages: (1) pre-harvest factors (species, geographical factors, and seed maturity; with seed oils across multiple Camellia species (Camellia spp. seed oils) included for cross-species comparison to illustrate species-dependent variation); (2) processing factors (seed pre-treatment and extraction methods); and (3) storage factors (temperature, gas composition, and light exposure). In addition, the review explores current and emerging applications of camellia seed oil across the food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries, emphasizing technological innovations and sustainable processing strategies. It offers valuable insights to optimize production practices and serves as a scientific framework for creating high-value camellia seed oil products.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising precursors for constructing high-performance catalysts due to their ordered porous architectures, high surface areas, and tunable compositions. In this work, mesoporous CeO2 supports derived from Ce-BTC, Ce-UiO-66, and Ce-BDC were prepared and used to construct 10 wt % Ni/CeO2 catalysts for CO2 methanation. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, H2-TPR, CO2-TPD, and in situ DRIFTS to investigate their structural properties, redox behavior, and reaction mechanism. Compared with the commercial CeO2-supported catalyst (10Ni/CeO2-C), the Ce-MOF-derived mesoporous CeO2-supported catalysts exhibited significantly enhanced performance. At 330 °C, the CO2 conversions over 10Ni/CeO2-BTC, 10Ni/CeO2-BDC, and 10Ni/CeO2-UiO-66 reached 86.0%, 85.3%, and 82.8%, respectively, substantially higher than that of 10Ni/CeO2-C (57.0%). The corresponding CH4 selectivity reached 99.8%, 99.8%, and 99.7%, respectively, also superior to that of 10Ni/CeO2-C (98.7%). The superior activity was attributed to the inherited mesoporous framework, enlarged specific surface area, and strengthened metal-support interaction, which collectively promoted Ni dispersion, CO2 adsorption/activation, and H2 dissociation. The in situ DRIFTS results indicated that CO2 methanation over these catalysts predominantly proceeded via a formate-mediated pathway. These findings provided new insights into the rational design of high-performance Ni-based catalysts for CO2 methanation.

Olive oil quality is closely associated with the freshness of olive fruits, which are highly susceptible to postharvest deterioration. This study investigated the effects of two cold plasma treatments, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and plasma-activated water (PAW) generated by jet plasma spray, on the postharvest quality of olive fruits and the quality of the extracted oil. Both treatments improved water distribution, reduced free water loss, and decreased relative ion leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, resulting in a significant increase in oil yield. Specifically, DBD and PAW treatments maintained free water proportions of 79.91% and 80.20% compared to initial levels, respectively, and increased oil yield by 9.66% and 8.98% compared to the control. PAW exhibited better performance than DBD, likely due to mild and uniform contact with fruit surfaces. Overall, cold plasma treatments effectively preserved olive fruit quality during storage, demonstrating potential for postharvest quality enhancement.

With escalating demands for food quality and safety, traditional packaging technologies grapple with challenges in meeting the dual requirements of efficient preservation and real-time monitoring. Due to advantages such as controllable excitation, non-contact stimulation and multifunctional integration, photo-responsive food packaging has emerged as a promising strategy. However, while current literature extensively covers photo-responsive mechanisms and preservation applications, a systematic integration of these technologies with artificial intelligence (AI) remains insufficiently explored. This review comprehensively summarizes the primary photo-responsive mechanisms, including isomerization, photoluminescence, photochromism, photo-triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and photothermal conversion. Furthermore, the performance of various film fabrication techniques is comparatively evaluated. Beyond reviewing applications in antibacterial activity, ethylene degradation and real-time quality indication, this article specifically underscores the potential of AI in overcoming the limitations of traditional trial-and-error approaches, assisting in the molecular design of photosensitizers, and optimizing intelligent packaging systems. The combination of photo-responsive packaging and AI provides the food industry with a comprehensive optimization framework, from molecular design to performance prediction, and offers important insights for the development of intelligent, precise, and sustainable food packaging.

WRKY transcription factors are key regulators of plant transcriptional networks and have emerged as important modulators of fruit pigmentation. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which WRKY transcription factors regulate the biosynthesis, degradation, and interconversion of major fruit pigments, including carotenoids, chlorophylls, anthocyanins, and betalains, primarily through W-box-dependent transcriptional regulation of target genes.WRKY proteins function as integrators of multiple signaling pathways, linking environmental cues such as light, temperature, water status, and nutrient availability with endogenous signals, including hormone signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby modulating pigment metabolism during fruit development and ripening.In addition, WRKY transcription factors interact with key regulatory proteins, particularly MYB and bHLH transcription factors, forming transcriptional networks that fine-tune pigment biosynthesis. These regulatory processes are further shaped by MAPK signaling cascades, protein-protein interactions, and feedback regulatory loops.Collectively, WRKY transcription factors act as important components of integrated signaling and transcriptional networks governing fruit pigment metabolism, providing mechanistic insights into the coordination of physiological processes and metabolic regulation.

Postharvest goji berries undergo rapid physiological and metabolic changes, leading to severe decay and quality deterioration that limit commercial distribution and utilization. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene action inhibitor, is widely used to delay fruit senescence. However, the effects of different application timings on goji berry preservation and the associated transcriptomic responses remain unclear. This study compared immediate postharvest (P-H) and delayed post-transport (P-T) 1-MCP applications on fruit quality, antioxidant capacity, and transcriptomic responses during storage.The results showed that P-H treatment was more effective in maintaining fruit quality than P-T treatment. Compared with the control, P-H treatment reduced decay and weight loss, maintained fruit color, suppressed respiration intensity, and helped maintain higher levels of carotenoids, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoids, together with higher antioxidant enzyme activities. After 2 days of storage, the respiration intensity of the control fruit was approximately 1.68- and 1.50-fold higher than that of the P-H and P-T groups, respectively. After 8 days of storage, the decay index of control fruit was 1.84-fold higher than that of P-H–treated fruit, while H2O2 content was lower in the P-H group (43.2 μmol/g) than in the P-T group (47.6 μmol/g). Transcriptomic analysis suggested that 1-MCP treatment was associated with changes in pathways related to antioxidant defense, stress response, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which were generally consistent with the physiological and biochemical responses.In conclusion, immediate postharvest 1-MCP application was more effective than post-transport treatment in preserving goji berry quality, supporting optimization of 1-MCP application timing during postharvest storage.

To investigate the effect of the degree of methylation (DM) on dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma modification, commercial apple pectin was used as the research material, and the effects of DBD plasma treatment (150 kV) at different durations (0.5 min and 3.0 min) on the structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) and high-methoxyl pectin (HMP) were evaluated. After 3.0 min of DBD plasma treatment, the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of pectin decreased to the lowest values (66.11 kDa for LMP and 104.43 kDa for HMP). The microstructure changed from semi-flexible, cross-entangled chains to shorter chains and fragmented structures. The highest proportion of molecules exhibited chain heights of 0-0.05 nm (45.00% for LMP and 88.34% for HMP), while the average contour length and orientational order of the molecular chains decreased. DBD plasma treatment degraded the side chains of LMP, reduced branching, and increased chain linearity and persistence length, which improved its rheological properties, as reflected by higher apparent viscosity, an extended linear viscoelastic region, and enhanced viscoelastic responses. In contrast, the main chains of HMP were preferentially degraded, and the persistence length and DM decreased, which adversely affected its rheological behavior, while the side chains were less affected. Compared with untreated pectin, DBD plasma treatment effectively enhanced the solubility, antioxidant potential, and in vitro bile salt binding capacity of both LMP and HMP. DBD plasma was an effective modification technique based on different structural targeting, achieving the improvement of the functional properties of pectins with different DM.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a crucial water-soluble antioxidant in plant cells, playing a central role not only in plant growth, development, and stress responses but also serving as an essential nutrient for human health. Since the human body cannot synthesize AsA independently, its intake primarily relies on fresh fruits and vegetables. This paper reviews, from a plant physiological perspective, how AsA accumulation is finely regulated by multiple processes including biosynthesis, transport, degradation, and regeneration cycles. It discusses how environmental signals trigger a series of changes in endogenous signaling molecules within plants, thereby activating multi-level regulatory networks that influence AsA synthesis and metabolism. It highlights that enhancing crop AsA content through genetic engineering and agronomic measures has become a research hotspot. In particular, biofortification, the process of augmenting the nutritional quality of food crops through genetic engineering, conventional breeding, or agronomic practices, represents a sustainable and promising strategy to increase AsA levels in staple crops and combat micronutrient malnutrition. Finally, it explores future research directions aimed at overcoming the "ceiling effect" caused by feedback inhibition and redox homeostasis, ultimately achieving the goal of promoting human health by enhancing plant health.

Background At present, wildly used food packaging is harmful to environment, and preservatives in active packaging are difficult to be loaded stably and release continuously, which restricts the development of green multifunctional active packaging. However, developing novel liposome-based active packaging is regarded as an effective method to enhance the bioactivity of preservatives, the performance of packaging materials, and the effectiveness of food preservation. Scope and approach This article discusses the multiple advantages of liposomes as carriers of active agents and their positive impact on packaging materials. It introduces the preparation methods of liposome-based active packaging and the latest research progress in food preservation applications. Furthermore, it also reveals the future development trends of liposome-based active packaging and the potential challenges that may be encountered in its further development. Conclusions Liposomes can be used to encapsulate hydrophilic/hydrophobic compounds, or to simultaneously encapsulate compounds with different hydrophilicities. As a non-toxic, biodegradable carrier, liposomes can stably encapsulate their contents and possess the capability for sustained or controlled release of these contents. These make liposomes an excellent carrier choice for active packaging. In addition, the incorporation of liposomes enhances the physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of packaging materials, making liposome-based packaging suitable for preserving diverse foods, as well as exhibiting outstanding performance. In the future, the further development of composite liposome-based active packaging with diverse packaging forms and multiple functions is pending.

This study employed a water-in-oil microemulsion-assisted recrystallization strategy to prepare V-type starch nanoparticles/submicron particles from H₂O₂/UV-pretreated short-chain starch. The effects of PGPR concentration on particle formation, structural development, and physicochemical properties were systematically investigated. PGPR regulated the interfacial environment of the microemulsion system, thereby affecting the hydrodynamic diameter, crystallinity, thermal behavior, and hydration-related properties of the resulting SNPs. DLS analysis showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of the SNPs decreased progressively with increasing PGPR concentration. Among the tested conditions, 2.5% PGPR was more favorable for obtaining SNPs with relatively high crystallinity, greater detectable accessibility of oxidized groups, and relatively high thermal stability, with To, Tp, and Tc values of 116.82, 118.62, and 119.76 °C, respectively. Compared with SNPs prepared at 0.5% PGPR, those prepared at 2.5% PGPR showed increases of 22.88% and 24.61% in solubility and swelling index, respectively. These results suggest that a PGPR-stabilized W/O microemulsion provides a useful interfacial environment for regulating the structural organization and physicochemical performance of starch particles, providing a practical basis for their controlled preparation and future functional exploration.

Polygonatum polysaccharides (PPs), derived from Polygonatum sibiricum, P. kingianum, and P. cyrtonema, have gained attention due to their important biological activities. However, differences in their structural characteristics lead to variations in physicochemical properties and functions. This review summarizes the main structural characteristics of PPs from the three species, including molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and glycosidic linkages, and discusses their relationships with biological activities. Modification strategies, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches, are also discussed to illustrate how structure and function can be regulated. Overall, the biological activities of PPs are determined by the combined effects of multiple structural parameters, especially in immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory functions. However, challenges remain, including the lack of standardized analytical methods and limited understanding of precise structure-activity relationships. This review helps clarify the structure-activity relationships of PPs and points out key gaps for future research and application in functional foods.