Editorial: Fruit Responses to Biotic and Abiotic Stressors During Postharvest

LARA, ISABEL; BUSTAMANTE, CLAUDIA A.; VILLARREAL, NATALIA M.

Frontiers in Plant Science

Frontiers Media S.A.

Año: 2022 vol. 13

The ripening process encompasses many molecular, biochemical and physiological alterations in the course of which fleshy fruits acquire those sensory attributes which render them edible. These modifications do not stop after harvest, and hence these produce are highly perishable commodities. Because postharvest deterioration causesimportant economic losses, a variety of postharvest strategies are applied in an attempt to preserve quality attributes and thus to extend storage and shelf life potential of fruits as well as other high value horticultural produce such as cut flowers. Postharvest management needs to be tailored to each particular species, but very often involves refrigerated storage which can result in chilling injury and thus be detrimental for consumer acceptance. Other approaches for the postharvest management of horticultural commodities may also have negative effects on some quality traits and, at any rate, are not applicable in all cases.This Research Topic was launched to gather novel information on responses to stress factors encountered during postharvest handling of horticultural produce, potentially providing hints for improved preservation of quality and marketability. The articles included in this Research Topic (a) examined the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in those responses, and (b) explored the efficacy of plant hormone treatments for the alleviation of stress symptoms. These studies considered a range of climacteric (apple, banana, peach, tomato) and non-climacteric (carambola, orange, pomegranate) fruit species as well as cut roses as an example of a commercially relevant floricultural crop, and are briefly presented below.