Post Harvest Horticultural Technologies

Post-harvest horticultural technologies encompass an integrated suite of mechanical, physical, chemical and biological strategies designed to preserve the quality, safety and nutritional value of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals from harvest through distribution. Mechanical innovations—ranging from vibration-based harvesters and pneumatic shakers to precision cutting implements and bud chippers—seek to increase efficiency, reduce crop damage and address labour constraints. Physical treatments such as low-temperature storage, evaporative-cooling chambers and solar dryers slow respiration and water loss, while modified and controlled-atmosphere systems manipulate oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene to retard ripening and decay. Chemical and biological methods—including ethylene inhibitors (1-MCP), natural antimicrobials (essential oils, nanosilver), plant hormones (melatonin, brassinosteroids) and calcium sprays—target cellular pathways to delay senescence, chilling injury and physiological disorders such as fruit cracking and enzymatic browning. Advances in sensor networks, omics analytics and biocontrol agents underpin the move towards data-driven, sustainable approaches that reduce waste, extend shelf life and enhance consumer acceptance, with applications spanning table produce, cut flowers and tree crops across temperate and tropical regions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Low-concentration lemongrass essential oil added to the vase solution of Gladiolus grandiflorus markedly extended cut-flower longevity by preserving xylem vessel integrity, reducing microbial blockage and sustaining sugar and pigment levels. Antioxidant enzyme activities rose, lipid peroxidation declined and senescence-associated gene expression was downregulated, demonstrating an eco-friendly approach to floral preservation.

In postharvest peach fruit, exogenous melatonin treatment triggered a transient hydrogen peroxide burst that activated antioxidant gene networks, increased ascorbate content and stabilised membrane function. This dual action—initial signalling followed by ROS scavenging—resulted in a pronounced reduction in chilling injury during cold storage, offering a molecularly informed strategy for tropical and subtropical stone fruits.

Silver nanoparticles incorporated into cut-flower holding solutions inhibited bacterial proliferation and limited carbohydrate depletion in Cosmos bipinnatus. By maintaining turgidity, reducing malondialdehyde accumulation and stimulating both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, nanosilver matched the performance of conventional biocides and provided a promising novel tool for postharvest bloom quality management.

Post Harvest Horticultural Technologies publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in post harvest horticultural technologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP): A gaseous inhibitor of ethylene perception that binds irreversibly to plant ethylene receptors, delaying ripening and senescence.

Controlled atmosphere storage: A storage technique in which O₂ and CO₂ levels are precisely regulated to slow respiration and ripening in harvested produce.

Modified atmosphere packaging: A packaging approach that passively or actively adjusts the gas composition surrounding fresh commodities within a sealed film to extend shelf life.

Evaporative cooling chamber: A low-cost, electricity-free structure using wet sand and brick walls to reduce air temperature by direct evaporation, preserving fruit and vegetable freshness.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions produced during stress that can damage cellular components but also act in signalling.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO): An enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of phenolic compounds to quinones, leading to enzymatic browning in cut or bruised plant tissues.

Ethylene: A simple hydrocarbon gas that functions as a plant hormone, regulating ripening, abscission and senescence processes in many horticultural crops.

References

1. Lemon grass essential oil improves Gladiolus grandiflorus postharvest life by modulating water relations, microbial growth, biochemical activity, and gene expression. Scientific Reports (2023).
2. Melatonin increases chilling tolerance in postharvest peach fruit by alleviating oxidative damage. Scientific Reports (2018).
3. Nanosilver as a novel biocide for control of senescence in garden cosmos. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Effect of calcium on relieving berry cracking in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) ‘Xiangfei’. PeerJ (2020).
5. LncRNA regulates tomato fruit cracking by coordinating gene expression via a hormone-redox-cell wall network. BMC Plant Biology (2020).
6. Recent Trends in Controlling the Enzymatic Browning of Fruit and Vegetable Products. Molecules (2020).
7. Advances in Postharvest and Analytical Technology of Horticulture Crops: A Review.