About this Research Topic
Fruits and vegetables bioactive compounds content is very important for consumers, but it is also important for the produce preservation during the distribution chain as, for instance, produce with higher antioxidant compounds also have a longer shelf life. Among bioactive compounds, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and glucosinolates represent the most important groups. The storage conditions and postharvest technologies can help to reduce the degradation or losses of bioactive compounds and even promote their accumulation. The physiological, biochemical and molecular changes can be correlated to the nutraceutical variations in pre- and postharvest stages. The plant hormones such as ethylene and abscisic acid possess a pivotal role in the regulation of fruit and leaf senescence of produce and directly influence their nutraceutical value. The regulation of the phenylpropanoids biosynthetic pathway can lead to the preservation or improvement of produce nutraceutical value.
Therefore, understanding how the accumulation of bioactive compounds can be enhanced or preserved is becoming crucial in crop and product quality. The availability of advanced molecular tools allows fast and accurate transcriptome profiling that can help in the identification of the main gene clusters that are activated or repressed under different conditions. Such data coupled with metabolomics information can provide useful information for production and postharvest management of produce with high nutritional value.
In this Research Topic we welcome research articles, reviews, short notes, and opinion articles focused on:
• New insights on biosynthesis and catabolism of bioactive molecules in fruit and vegetables and the relationship with growing conditions and abiotic stresses.
• The regulation of biosynthesis of bioactive compounds in fruit and/or vegetables during development and ripening: role of plant hormones and elicitors.
• New postharvest technologies or treatments able to promote or preserve bioactive compounds of produce.
• Potential role of molecular studies and genetic improvement for enhanced accumulation of bioactive compounds on fresh produce.
Keywords: Horticultural Crops, Antioxidants, Crop Management, Elicitors, Plant Hormones, Processing, Postharvest
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.