Postharvest blueberry quality maintenance by silkworm pupal Chitosan: Dual roles on cell wall stabilization and ROS homeostasis

Résumé fourni par la source

Chitosan, the only natural cationic polysaccharide, exhibits remarkable biological functions, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and fruit disease resistance enhancement. Chitosan derived from silkworm pupae has recently attracted considerable attention owing to its unique physicochemical properties; nevertheless, its specific role in post-harvest fruit preservation remains largely unexplored. In this study, blueberries were treated with varying concentrations of silkworm pupae chitosan to assess its impact on storage quality. The results demonstrated that 1 g/100 mL chitosan treatment optimally preserved blueberries of firmness and antioxidant capacity. Mechanistically, chitosan the expression of cell wall degradation-related genes ( VcPME , VcCx , and Vcβ-GAL ) was downregulated after chitosan treatment, and the associated enzyme activities were reduced, thereby suppressing pectin and cellulose breakdown. Concurrently, ROS-scavenging genes ( VcSOD , VcPOD , and VcAPX ) were upregulated after chitosan treatment, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity was enhanced, and O 2 − , H 2 O 2 , and MDA accumulation was reduced. The results revealed that silkworm pupae chitosan delayed blueberry senescence by dual regulation of cell wall integrity and ROS metabolism. The dual-action mechanism supports potential industrial applications in developing combined preservation systems integrating chitosan coatings with controlled atmosphere storage. Furthermore, the insect-derived chitosan presents an eco-friendly alternative addressing both agricultural waste valorization and reduced reliance on synthetic preservatives in the food industry.