Hydrogen sulfide:a luminous future in the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables

Hydrogen sulfide(H_(2)S)has emerged as a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables.This review summarizes the various functions of H_(2)S such as delaying ripening and senescence,enhancing the resistance to cold and disease,and emphasizes the underlying mechanisms.Appropriate concentrations of H_(2)S primarily operate through stimulating the antioxidant system,while showing positive effects on physiological metabolism relevant to storage quality and shelf life including energy,sugar,proline,phenolic,membrane lipid and cell wall metabolism.Moreover,H_(2)S may reduce storage loss by modulating the expression patterns of senescence-related genes,like those linked to ethylene.The coordination of H_(2)S and nitric oxide(NO)combats ethylene-derived negative effects during ripening and senescence.High concentrations of H_(2)S not only act as a regulator to induce disease resistance,but also as a fungicide to inhibit the growth and pathogenicity of fungi.The intricate crosstalk between H_(2)S and other molecules exists via synergistic and antagonistic roles based on protein persulfidation,which is the major signaling process of H_(2)S and appears to compete with other post-translational modifications(PTMs)for the same cysteine residues.This review summarizes H_(2)S synthesis pathways and also discusses the correlation between the signals of H_(2)S,Ca^(2+)and ABA,while highlighting the intrinsic mechanisms of H_(2)S performing its functions in postharvest preservation.