Comprehensive physicochemical indicators analysis and quality evaluation model construction for the post-harvest ripening rapeseeds.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is the second largest globally cultivated oil crop, but the effects of post-harvested ripening on rapeseed quality is unclear and unpredictable. This study reveals the relationship between post-harvest ripening periods (PHR) and physicochemical quality of different rapeseed cultivars using comprehensive physicochemical indicators analysis. The results indicate that PHR led to a gradual decrease in chlorophyll, carotenoid and moisture content but continually increased oil and total phenol content (TPC). Besides, 295 lipid molecules from 13 lipid subclasses were identified, revealing that the relative content of triacylglycerol (TG) was progressively increased while diacylglycerol (DG) demonstrated a consistent decline throughout the PHR. Correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to construct and verify the comprehensive quality evaluation model for rapeseeds in PHR. This paper develops a comprehensive quality evaluation model for post-harvest ripening rapeseeds and advances the development of agricultural products.