Redox signaling: A key element for the development of new post-harvest conditioning technologies

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The intake of horticultural crops is of utmost importance due to the amount of nutrients they contain, as well as the generally accepted inverse relationship between their consumption and the decrease in degenerative diseases. Thus, the supply chain of these products must be secured in all its stages, the last one being post-harvest storage. Proper handling of fruits and vegetables results in economic benefits for the entire production chain, as well as customer satisfaction. However, this can be taken a step further, and through post-harvest treatments the primary and secondary metabolism of produce can be modified. These alterations can increase the shelf life of produce and lead to the development of functional fresh produce. The latter include fresh produce with an increased amount of phytochemical compounds, fresh produce with pharmacological (i.e., immunological) character, as well as fresh produce with improved taste and odor characteristics. Previously, we have shown that different abiotic stresses appear to be beneficial in maintaining the quality and storability of produce at low doses. However, we haven't discerned the early events that cause these positive changes. This raises the question of whether it is possible to develop new storage technologies for plant products by unveiling early events related to the calcium and electrical waves, as well as redox signaling in produce. In this context, this research will attempt to relate, redox regulated and phytohormone signaling to modifications of primary and secondary metabolism in horticultural products by oxidative and reductive stresses. The long-term objective of this research program is to develop tailored post-harvest treatments to achieve functional commodities, either with enhanced flavor and odor characteristics, improved phytochemical composition and longer storage life. The importance of this research is that added value can be given to the horticultural products produced in Canada, but also to those that the country imports. Therefore, this could lead to the start of a new sector in the fresh unprocessed industry. In the short and medium term, the framework of the research program related to fresh produce will include: (1) the influence of ethylene in the redox state and overall metabolism; (2) the effect of long-term storage on redox status and nutritional quality; 3) the modification of primary and secondary metabolism due to reducing and oxidative stresses; and 4) the role of phytohormones in the production of ROS derived from the priming action of novel volatile fungicides of bacterial origin. The studies will be carried out using tomatoes, haskaps, wild blueberries and strawberries. Thus, the development of a conceptual map is proposed to explain in a mechanistic way the roll of redox signaling in post-harvest to improve the quality of fresh produce.