采前褪黑素处理对2个甜樱桃品种贮藏品质与质地的影响

Effects of pre-harvest melatonin treatment on storage quality and texture of two sweet cherry cultivars

摘要

【目的】缓解樱桃果实在冷藏期间容易出现的失重加剧、质地劣变等问题，探究采前喷施外源褪黑素（MT）对贮藏品质的调控作用。【方法】以鲁樱3号和鲁樱5号2个甜樱桃品种为试材，在果实硬核期（盛花后25 d）、转色期（盛花后45 d）和采收前3 d（盛花后55 d）分别喷施不同浓度褪黑素溶液，设置CK（对照）、0.05、0.10、0.20和0.30 mmol·L^-1共5个处理。果实成熟后于4 ℃条件下冷藏，并在贮藏0、7和14 d后测定失重率、可溶性固形物（TSS）含量、质地参数（硬度、弹性、咀嚼性等）及色差指标（ L*、 a*、 b*）。结合主成分分析（PCA）及相关性分析对贮藏效果进行综合评价。【结果】高浓度（0.30 mmol·L^-1）MT处理显著提升2个品种甜樱桃在贮藏后期（14 d）的失重率，其中鲁樱3号较CK提高7.8倍。低浓度（0.05~0.10 mmol·L^-1）处理在贮藏前期（0~7 d）使TSS含量提高1.57%~12.31%。在质地与色泽方面，鲁樱5号在0.05 mmol·L^-1处理下贮藏14 d时，硬度提高9.12%，同时 a*值提高44.80%；鲁樱3号在0.10 mmol·L^-1处理下贮藏14 d时，硬度提高37.80%， L*值提高13.03%， a*值提高22.47%，表明贮藏后期质地和综合色泽衰退得到一定延缓。PCA结果表明，质地性状及色泽参数是区分处理效果的主要贡献因子。【结论】2个甜樱桃品种对MT处理的响应存在显著差异，其中鲁樱5号对低浓度（0.05 mmol·L^-1）响应更显著，主要表现在TSS含量和硬度维持能力上，而鲁樱3号则对中浓度（0.10 mmol·L^-1）及部分高浓度处理响应更明显，在后期质地稳定性方面表现更优。

Abstract

Abstract: 【Objective】Sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L.) is highly valued for its bright coloration, crisp texture and pleasant sweetness; however, its high metabolic activity and fragile skin make the fruit extremely vulnerable to postharvest deterioration, particularly under cold storage, where weight loss, textural decline and color fading frequently occur. In recent years, melatonin (MT) has been reported to participate in plant stress mitigation and postharvest physiological regulation, yet the effects of preharvest application on cold-stored sweet cherries remain insufficiently defined, especially regarding cultivar-dependent responses. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different MT concentrations applied at various developmental stages on fruit physicochemical quality during refrigerated storage, and to provide theoretical guidance for the precise application of melatonin in sweet cherry production. 【Methods】Two commercial sweet cherry cultivars, Luying 3 and Luying 5, grown under identical orchard conditions, were subjected to foliar sprays of exogenous MT at the hard-core stage (25 days after full bloom, DAFB), the color-break stage (45 DAFB), and three days before harvest (55 DAFB). Multiple MT concentrations were compared. After harvest, the fruits were stored at 4 ℃ under controlled relative humidity. At 0, 7 and 14 days of storage, weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS) content, texture profile analysis (TPA) parameters (including hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness), and color metrics ( L*, a*, b*) were evaluated according to standard postharvest testing protocols. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and a correlation heatmap, were used to elucidate relationships among measured variables and to comprehensively discriminate the storage performance of different treatments. Statistical differences were tested at P≤0.05. 【Results】The application of MT demonstrated clear concentration- and cultivar-dependent effects. During cold storage, weight loss increased significantly with storage time in both sweet cherry cultivars, with consistently higher values observed in Luying 5 than in Luying 3. High melatonin concentrations (0.30 mmol·L ^-1) significantly exacerbated weight loss at the late storage stage in both cultivars, whereas low to moderate concentrations partially alleviated weight loss at specific storage periods. Total soluble solids (TSS) content generally declined during storage; however, melatonin treatments differed in their ability to maintain TSS levels, with lower concentrations showing a relatively positive effect and higher concentrations accelerating TSS content depletion. In both cultivars, low-concentration MT (0.05-0.10 mmol·L ^-1) consistently preserved higher TSS content, implying a delayed reduction in fruit sweetness during cold storage. MT treatment also mitigated the decline of TPA hardness and maintained superior textural integrity, possibly by stabilizing cell wall structure or suppressing pectin solubilization. Colorimetric analyses revealed that MT inhibited undesirable increases in a* values and modulated shifts in L* and b*, implying delayed pigment oxidation and improved external appearance. Notably, fruit redness in MT-treated groups developed more uniformly, and surface brightness remained relatively stable. The correlation heatmap indicated that hardness, TSS content and chromatic parameters were positively associated and were critical determinants of fruit sensory acceptability. PCA analysis further demonstrated that these indicators accounted for the majority of variance among treatments, effectively distinguishing MT-treated fruits from the control at later storage stages. Cultivar-dependent responses were evident: Luying 5 exhibited high sensitivity to MT, particularly in adhesion-related texture attributes and mass retention, whereas Luying 3 displayed comparatively milder responsiveness across most parameters. At 14 days of storage, fruits treated with lower MT concentrations generally maintained higher overall quality scores, whereas excessive concentrations induced variable and sometimes negative results. These findings highlight the importance of dosage optimization in preharvest regulation. 【Conclusion】Preharvest foliar application of melatonin at appropriate concentrations can effectively delay postharvest quality deterioration in sweet cherry fruits during cold storage. MT contributes to the maintenance of fruit weight, the conservation of soluble solid levels, the retention of desirable texture properties and the stabilization of color attributes. However, responses differ considerably among cultivars, underscoring the necessity of tailoring treatment strategies to specific genotypic characteristics. Low MT concentrations (0.05-0.10 mmol·L ^-1) are generally recommended for enhancing sweetness, firmness and surface brightness, while excessive concentrations may induce adverse effects, particularly in cultivars with lower tolerance.

关键词

甜樱桃（ Prunus avium L.） / 褪黑素 / 采前喷施 / 冷藏 / 果实品质

Key words

Sweet cherry ( Prunus avium L.) / Melatonin / Preharvest spraying / Cold storage / Fruit quality

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基金资助

山西农业大学科技创新提升工程(CXGC2025029)

果树种质创制与利用山西省重点实验室开放基金(PILAB20241508)

中央引导地方发展资金项目(YDZJSX2024C016)