Postharvest application of antibrowning chemicals modulates oxidative stress and delays pericarp browning of controlled atmosphere stored litchi fruit.

Litchi fruit were treated with methionine [(0.25%) MN] and cysteine [(025%) CN] alone or in combination, and kept under 1% O₂ + 5% CO₂ controlled atmosphere (CA) at 5 ± 1ºC for 28 days. Among different treatments, CN was most effective to inhibit browning, than MN and CN + MN under CA conditions. Application of 0.25% CN significantly delayed browning index, reduced disease incidence, weight loss, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ), superoxide anion (O₂^-• ) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities with higher contents of total anthocyanins under CA-storage. In addition, 0.25% CN treatment showed higher contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolics (TPC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging capacity and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT) enzymes having maintained quality attributes. Therefore, 0.25% CN pre-treatment could be considered a promising way for managing browning, and conserving litchi fruit quality under CA-storage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Litchi fruit are highly perishable due to rapid pericarp browning having limited postharvest market potential. The browning takes place due to enzymatic reactions and phenolic oxidation. However, it can be delayed by exogenous antibrowning treatments and suitable storage environment. The delayed incidence of pericarp browning may help to maintain its quality with extended storage potential suitable for domestic and international markets. So, the outcomes of the current work may help to maintain overall quality and to extend its storage potential that would be helpful in extending its market life with maintained visual quality at domestic and international destinations.