Postharvest UV-C irradiation increased the flavonoids and anthocyanins accumulation, phenylpropanoid pathway gene expression, and antioxidant activity in sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.)

Ultraviolet (UV) influences postharvest changes in secondary metabolites of fruit. In this study, sweet cherries were treated with UV-C irradiation (1.05, 2.10, and 4.20 kJ/m(2)) for different treatment periods, they were stored at room temperature (25.0 +/- 2.0 degrees C) for 6 days. The results showed that the total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins increased in response to UV-C during storage. UPLC-ESI-MS analysis indicated that the individual flavonoids and anthocyanins contents increased, including cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, cyanidin O-syringic acid, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, tricin 5-O-hexoside, luteolin C-hexoside, Di-O-methylquercetin, and naringenin-7-O-glucoside. Furthermore, UV-C (2.10 kJ/m(2)) treatment upregulated the enzymes activity and genes expression of phenylpropanoid pathway. Highly significant correlations were found among flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and genes expression of ANS, DFR, UFGT (r > 0.6, p < 0.01) and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHI, ANS, DFR expressions (r > 0.6, p < 0.01). These results contribute to illustrating the molecular mechanism of flavonoids and anthocyanins biosynthesis under the UV-C irradiation in sweet cherries and promote the development of postharvest in agriculture.

Automated summary

This study found that UV-C irradiation can increase the levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in sweet cherries during storage. Furthermore, UV-C treatment upregulated the enzyme activity and gene expression related to the phenylpropanoid pathway, contributing to the understanding of flavonoids and anthocyanins biosynthesis under UV-C irradiation.