A novel chitosan formulation treatment induces disease resistance of harvested litchi fruit to Peronophythora litchii in association with ROS metabolism

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a novel chitosan formulation (Kadozan) treatment on disease development, response of disease resistance, metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Peronophthora litchii-inoculated “Wuye” litchis. Compared with P. litchii-inoculated litchis, Kadozan-treated P. litchii-inoculated litchis exhibited lower fruit disease index, higher lignin content, higher activities of disease resistance-related enzymes (CHI, GLU and PAL), lower O2− generating rate and malondialdehyde content, higher activities of ROS scavenging enzymes (SOD, CAT and APX), higher contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione, and higher levels of reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity. These results suggest that Kadozan can be used to inhibit the growth of P. litchii in harvested litchis owning to the enhancement of disease resistance and ROS scavenging capacity, and decreases in O2− accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation. Kadozan treatment can be used as a facile and novel method for suppressing postharvest pathogenic disease of litchis.