Blue light treatment delays postharvest ripening of kiwifruit by suppressing ethylene biosynthesis, starch degradation, and cell wall metabolism

The study aimed to investigate the effects of blue light (BL) on the postharvest ripening and softening of kiwifruit. The postharvest ripening of kiwifruit were significantly inhibited by BL; 100 μmol m-2 s-1 light intensity exhibited the best effect. The delay of postharvest ripening of kiwifruit by BL was associated with the inhibition of total soluble solids accumulation, reduction in respiratory rate and ethylene production as well as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase activities. Moreover, it also inhibited starch degradation and related enzyme activities (α-amylase and β-amylase), prevented the degradation of protopectin, cellulose and hemicellulose while promoting the accumulation of water soluble pectin. Additionally, it suppressed the activities of polygalacturonase, pectinlyase, pectin methylesterase, and cellulase. Transcriptome and gene expression analyses showed that BL-treated kiwifruit had lower expression levels of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis, starch degradation, and cell wall metabolism, compared with the dark controls. BL also altered transcription factor responses to light, such as v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) families. In summary, this study analyzed the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which BL delays the postharvest ripening of kiwifruit and provides a new preservation method for the postharvest quality maintenance of kiwifruit.