Melatonin maintains the storage quality of fresh-cut Chinese water chestnuts by regulating phenolic and reactive oxygen species metabolism

Fresh-cut Chinese water chestnuts(CWCs)are prone to quality deterioration during storage,which does not meet consumer demand.In this study,the effect of exogenous melatonin(5 mmol·L^(-1))on the quality and potential mechanisms in fresh-cut CWC was investigated.The results showed that melatonin treatment alleviated the cut-surface discoloration of CWCs.Not only did this treatment significantly slow down the in-crease in browning degree and yellowness(b*)as well as the decrease in lightness(L*),but it also significantly delayed the loss of weight and total soluble solids.Further investigations indicated that melatonin-treated fresh-cut CWCs exhibited significantly lower total phenolics and soluble quinones and suppressed the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase,polyphenol oxidase,and peroxidase.Meanwhile,when fresh-cut CWCs were treated with melatonin,the total flavonoid concentration was significantly decreased compared to the control.Ad ditionally,melatonin significantly inhibited the accumulation of H_(2)O_(2)and malondialdehyde as well as enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase by promoting the production of O_(2)^(-·).In summary,melatonin treatment may delay the surface discoloration of fresh-cut CWCs by inhibiting phenolic compound metabolism and improving antioxidant capacity,thereby effectively maintaining the quality and prolonging the shelf life of fresh-cut CWCs.