Agricultural Reviews
  • Year: 2022
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 2

Application of melatonin in maintaining post harvest quality of fruits and vegetables: A review

  • Author:
  • P.S. Gurjar1,*, Bharati Killadi2, Pawan Kumar Pareek1, T.S. Hada3
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 193 to 198

1ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner-334 001, Rajasthan, India

2ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow-226 101, Uttar Pradesh, India

3Vidyabhavan Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Udaipur-313 011, Rajasthan, India

*Corresponding Author: P.S. Gurjar, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner-334 001, Rajasthan, India, Email: pawan09996@gmail.com

Online Published on 15 July, 2022.

Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a nontoxic biological molecule produced naturally in a pineal gland of animals and different tissues of plants. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant during postharvest storage and augments the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Our review highlighted the role of pre and post harvest application of melatonin in extending post harvest shelf life and alleviating chilling injury in fruits and vegetables in cold storage. Review also included available information regarding biosynthesis of melatonin in plants and mode of action of melatonin in maintaining post harvest quality.

Keywords

Fruits, Melatonin, Post-harvest, Quality, Vegetables