Li Xueou, Huang Huofeng, Zhang Lida, Zhao Lingxia
Department of Plant Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
Joint Tomato Research Institute, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
Foods. 2025 Mar 15;14(6):1002. doi: 10.3390/foods14061002.
Tomato (), a leading vegetable crop of significant economic importance, is a valuable source of nutrients and minerals in the human diet. Consumer and breeder interest focuses extensively on tomato quality attributes, including appearance, texture, flavor, and nutritional value. While moderate low temperatures are generally beneficial for preserving tomato quality during transportation and storage, the precise effects of storage temperature on these qualities remain to be fully elucidated. This study investigated the changes in quality attributes of tomato (cv. Shangjiao No.2) fruit stored at different temperatures (4 °C, 14 °C, and 24 °C) for varying durations (0, 1, 5, 9, and 15 days postharvest, dph). Results showed that low temperatures (4 °C and 14 °C) were beneficial for maintaining fruit appearance and total soluble solids (TSS) content. Furthermore, 4 °C storage effectively delayed ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) loss. Storage at both 4 °C and 14 °C similarly and significantly reduced fruit softening and water loss rate (WLR). This reduction was associated with the temperature-regulated expression of cell wall-related genes, including , , , and . The activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as polygalacturonase (PG), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), and cellulase, were also significantly inhibited at lower storage temperatures. Additionally, storage at 24 °C caused considerable damage to plastid ultrastructure. Although temperature had a minor effect on carotenoid, the reduction in carotenoid levels was less pronounced at 4 °C. While low-temperature storage suppressed the release of some aroma compounds, it also reduced the levels of undesirable volatiles. This study provides insights for optimizing storage temperature and duration to maintain tomato fruit quality.
番茄作为一种具有重要经济意义的主要蔬菜作物,是人类饮食中营养物质和矿物质的宝贵来源。消费者和育种者的兴趣广泛集中在番茄的品质特性上,包括外观、质地、风味和营养价值。虽然适度的低温通常有利于在运输和储存过程中保持番茄品质,但储存温度对这些品质的确切影响仍有待充分阐明。本研究调查了番茄(品种:上椒二号)果实在不同温度(4℃、14℃和24℃)下储存不同时间(采后0、1、5、9和15天)后品质特性的变化。结果表明,低温(4℃和14℃)有利于保持果实外观和总可溶性固形物(TSS)含量。此外,4℃储存有效地延缓了抗坏血酸(维生素C)的损失。在4℃和14℃下储存同样显著降低了果实软化和失水率(WLR)。这种降低与细胞壁相关基因(包括 、 、 和 )的温度调节表达有关。在较低储存温度下,细胞壁降解酶如多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)、β-半乳糖苷酶(β-Gal)和纤维素酶的活性也受到显著抑制。此外,24℃储存对质体超微结构造成了相当大的破坏。虽然温度对类胡萝卜素的影响较小,但4℃下类胡萝卜素水平的降低不太明显。虽然低温储存抑制了一些香气化合物的释放,但也降低了不良挥发物的水平。本研究为优化储存温度和时间以保持番茄果实品质提供了见解。