Mechanistic insights into the enhancement of storage quality characteristics of fresh goji berry through non-thermal optical treatments (UV-C and IPL).

Non-thermo-optical treatments (NTO), characterized by low heat and non-damaging attributes, show promise as postharvest technologies. We hypothesize that NTO, specifically ultraviolet-C (UV-C) and intense pulsed light (IPL), can positively impact preserving fresh goji berry quality during storage in multiple aspects. The findings indicated that UV-C and IPL irradiations delayed the senescence process in postharvest goji berries. Several physiological and biochemical traits were influenced, including moisture loss, respiration rate, ethylene production reduction, and maintaining firmness. Furthermore, the ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle and antioxidant enzyme activity were induced. Transcriptome analysis identified 12,230 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). During storage, UV-C and IPL irradiations downregulated genes related to respiration (HK, PDH, CS) and ethylene release (ACO) while upregulating genes associated with antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX) and overall inducing the ascorbate-glutathione cycle. This indicates that UV-C and IPL irradiations can comprehensively delay the postharvest senescence and improve the storage quality of fresh goji berries.