Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life

This study shows that red light conditions enhance several quality attributes of Chinese cabbage during short-term shelf life. By promoting photosynthesis—as indicated by increased chlorophyll content and ELIP1 expression—red light helps preserve chlorophyll and maintain tissue structure, reflected...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tuoyi Wang, Chunyan Li, Sijia Liu, Yao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Food Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927125001364
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849334590206902272
author Tuoyi Wang
Chunyan Li
Sijia Liu
Yao Liu
author_facet Tuoyi Wang
Chunyan Li
Sijia Liu
Yao Liu
author_sort Tuoyi Wang
collection DOAJ
description This study shows that red light conditions enhance several quality attributes of Chinese cabbage during short-term shelf life. By promoting photosynthesis—as indicated by increased chlorophyll content and ELIP1 expression—red light helps preserve chlorophyll and maintain tissue structure, reflected in greater firmness, resilience, and chewiness. These textural improvements are likely associated with lower oxidative stress, evidenced by reduced H2O2 levels, and with attenuated enzymatic degradation. In parallel, red light facilitates the accumulation of diverse volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), improving the flavor profile, and contributes to better nutritional quality through greater nitrogen retention and higher foliar humidity. A reduction in leaf temperature under red light further helps limit heat stress and respiration rates, thereby delaying senescence. However, the observed increase in chlorophyll degradation over time suggests that red light may be more suitable for short-term preservation, whereas green light may better support long-term chlorophyll maintenance. Therefore, red light serves as a multifunctional approach for short-term quality preservation by supporting flavor, texture, chlorophyll stability, and nutrient content. Sequential adjustment of light spectra—such as switching to green light—may further extend postharvest longevity. This study emphasizes the regulatory role of red light in modulating physiological, biochemical, and sensory characteristics to maintain postharvest quality.
format Article
id doaj-art-183eb4bef3c5411987a0ccd690793e7e
institution Kabale University
issn 2665-9271
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Current Research in Food Science
spelling doaj-art-183eb4bef3c5411987a0ccd690793e7e2025-08-20T03:45:31ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Food Science2665-92712025-01-011010110510.1016/j.crfs.2025.101105Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf lifeTuoyi Wang0Chunyan Li1Sijia Liu2Yao Liu3Corresponding author.; College of Food and Bioengineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, ChinaCollege of Food and Bioengineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, ChinaCollege of Food and Bioengineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, ChinaCollege of Food and Bioengineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, 161006, ChinaThis study shows that red light conditions enhance several quality attributes of Chinese cabbage during short-term shelf life. By promoting photosynthesis—as indicated by increased chlorophyll content and ELIP1 expression—red light helps preserve chlorophyll and maintain tissue structure, reflected in greater firmness, resilience, and chewiness. These textural improvements are likely associated with lower oxidative stress, evidenced by reduced H2O2 levels, and with attenuated enzymatic degradation. In parallel, red light facilitates the accumulation of diverse volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), improving the flavor profile, and contributes to better nutritional quality through greater nitrogen retention and higher foliar humidity. A reduction in leaf temperature under red light further helps limit heat stress and respiration rates, thereby delaying senescence. However, the observed increase in chlorophyll degradation over time suggests that red light may be more suitable for short-term preservation, whereas green light may better support long-term chlorophyll maintenance. Therefore, red light serves as a multifunctional approach for short-term quality preservation by supporting flavor, texture, chlorophyll stability, and nutrient content. Sequential adjustment of light spectra—such as switching to green light—may further extend postharvest longevity. This study emphasizes the regulatory role of red light in modulating physiological, biochemical, and sensory characteristics to maintain postharvest quality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927125001364Chinese cabbageVolatile flavor compoundsELIP1Chlorophyll
spellingShingle Tuoyi Wang
Chunyan Li
Sijia Liu
Yao Liu
Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
Current Research in Food Science
Chinese cabbage
Volatile flavor compounds
ELIP1
Chlorophyll
title Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
title_full Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
title_fullStr Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
title_full_unstemmed Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
title_short Red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of Chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
title_sort red light enhances the storage quality and flavor of chinese cabbage during a short shelf life
topic Chinese cabbage
Volatile flavor compounds
ELIP1
Chlorophyll
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665927125001364
work_keys_str_mv AT tuoyiwang redlightenhancesthestoragequalityandflavorofchinesecabbageduringashortshelflife
AT chunyanli redlightenhancesthestoragequalityandflavorofchinesecabbageduringashortshelflife
AT sijialiu redlightenhancesthestoragequalityandflavorofchinesecabbageduringashortshelflife
AT yaoliu redlightenhancesthestoragequalityandflavorofchinesecabbageduringashortshelflife