Hydrogen peroxide extends the shelf life of some fruits

The apple (Malus domestica, Rosaceae family) is a typical climacteric fruit that is widely cultivated around the world. The fruit's?ripening is regulated by multiple factors, including temperature, light, and hormones, of which ethylene is the most important. During fruit ripening, there is an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells as the balance between production and elimination is disrupted. The dual role of H2O2 Indicator of oxidative stressH2O2 is one of the most abundant ROS involved in fruit development, maturation, and senescence; it can easily traverse cell membranes through hydrophilic channels and travel long distances in plant cells; therefore, it has been widely used as an indicator of oxidative stress. Excess H2O2 can damage cell membranes and reduce the activity of protective enzymes, leading to fruit senescence and premature maturation. At low concentrations, it stimulates antioxidant enzymes and reduces ethylene productionHowever, it has been demonstrated that proper treatment with H2O2 strengthens the antioxidant protective capacities of plants. Scientists have treated apples with different concentrations of H2O2 and observed that low concentrations stimulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes, improve ROS elimination capacity, and reduce ethylene production. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) activates the transcription factor MdERF4, which negatively regulates ethylene biosynthesis by suppressing the transcription of MdACS1, a gene that is crucial for ethylene biosynthesis, thereby extending the fruit's storage period. Exogenous H2O2 extends the shelf life of some fruitsFurthermore, they verified that exogenous H2O2 extends the shelf life of some fruits by reducing respiration intensity and protecting them from various stress factors, including cold damage and high temperatures. Recent studies have also focused on the role of H2O2 in the regulation of plant hormones, such as salicylic acid, melatonin, auxins, and abscisic acid. H2O2 signaling can interact with multiple metabolic pathways to delay fruit maturation and senescence. SourcesZang, N.; ?Li, X.; ?Qi, L.; ?Zhang, Z.; ?Yang, Y.; ?Yin, Z.; ?Wang, A. (2023). H2O2-activated transcription factor MdERF4 negatively regulates ethylene biosynthetic during fruit ripening by suppressing MdACS1 transcription. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 204: 112461. Li , T.; ?Jiang , Z.; ?Zhang , L.; ?Tan , D.; ? Wei , Y.; ?Yuan , H.; ?Li , T.; ?Wang, A. (2016). Apple (Malus domestica) MdERF2 negatively affects ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening by suppressing MdACS1 transcription. Plant J, 88(5):735-748. Picturehttps://agroecologiaaluhe.com/producto/manzana-roja-a/?Access?14/10/2023.