IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023:

Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract Book

Date:
Time:Venue:
Host:

November 8, 2023
1:30 pm – 3:10 pm (Japan Time, GMT+9)
Online Webinar (Zoom)
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University (UGSAS-GU).
International Consortium of Universities in South and Southeast Asia for theDoctoral Education in Agricultural Science and Biotechnology (IC-GU12).

Table of Content

Responses related to postharvest changes in fruit and vegetables after
short-term anoxia treatment
Dr. Chairat Techavuthiporn
Associate Professor, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, THAILAND .......1

Silver nanoparticles applications for preserving quality of mangosteen
fruit
Dr. Pongphen Jitareerat
Associate Professor, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, THAILAND .....3

Physicochemical characteristics and LC-HRMS metabolite profiling ofTongar avocado fruit with different maturity stages
Dr. Khandra Fahmy
Associate Professor, Andalas University, INDONESIA ...............................................4Elucidating the molecular mechanism of nobiletin accumulation in citrus
fruit
Dr. Ma Gang
Assistant Professor, Shizuoka University, JAPAN ......................................................5

Lecture 1

IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGs

Responses Related to Postharvest Changes in Fruit and Vegetables After
Short-Term Anoxia Treatment
Chairat Techavuthirporn1*
1

Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Monglut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. Thailand*

Corresponding author: chairat.te@kmitl.ac.thAbstract
The primary objective of postharvest storage is to retard metabolic and biochemicalprocesses. Researchers have shown a longstanding interest in exploring the possibilities of anoxia
treatment as a non-chemical method for preserving postharvest quality throughout storage. The
anoxic condition refers to a state characterized by a restricted availability of oxygen, often below
0.05 kPa. In several instances, this objective is achieved through the implementation of short-term
anoxia treatment on fruits and vegetables. The primary topic of this article pertains to the reactions
exhibited by fruits and vegetables during the period of postharvest storage subsequent toundergoing a short-term anoxia treatment. The majority of studies have been conducted on othermodels such as pineapple, litchi, asparagus, and broccoli. The effects of anoxia treatment on thephysicochemical qualities of those commodities are discussed. The research findings indicate thatthe application of anoxia is effective in preserving the quality of pineapples after harvest andmitigating physiological disorders, such as interior browning. This is achieved by inhibiting theactivity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The anoxia treatment resulted in a deceleration of mass loss
and the preservation of flesh color. However, it stimulated an increase in the respiration rate of thefruit. Furthermore, the PPO of fresh-cut pineapples subjected to anoxia treatment was observed to
be lower compared to fresh-cut fruits that were not treated. Besides, the application of anoxic
treatment to litchi fruit led to notable reductions in electrical conductivity and browning index,
while also causing a delay in the escalation of PPO activity as compared to the control fruit. Further
investigation has been conducted to examine the impact of pre-storage short-term anoxia treatment
in conjunction with modified atmosphere packaging on the toughening of green asparagus spears.
The subsequent increase in shear force was shown to be inhibited due to the reduction of fiber andlignin production. The observed effects of anoxic conditions can be substantiated by the increasein ethanol concentrations seen in treated product. The study revealed a positive correlation between
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IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGs

the duration of exposure and ethanol generation in broccoli florets. Additionally, it was shown thatthe decline in total ascorbic acid and chlorophyll content in broccoli florets occurred at a slower
rate. Nevertheless, a greater concentration of ethanol was detected in the broccoli subjected toextensive anoxia treatment, resulting in the development of a darker color. It may be inferred thattaking advantage of fruit and vegetables containing an optimal level of naturally occurring ethanol,
induced through short anoxia treatment, represents a viable approach to impede the progression ofphysiological changes in stored products.

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Lecture 2

IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGsSilver Nanoparticles Applications for Preserving Quality of Mangosteen
Fruit
Nipaporn Thammachote1, Pongphen Jitareerat1*, Kanlaya Sripong1, Apiradee Uthairatanakij1,Natta Laohakunjit1, Gang Ma2, Lancui Zhang2 and Masaya Kato2
1

Postharvest Technology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s Universityof Technology Thonburi, Thailand
2
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Japan*

Corresponding author: Pongphen.jit@kmutt.ac.th

Abstract
Fruit rot disease caused by Lasiodioplodia theobromae is one factor that led to pericarp
hardening of mangosteen. Our study found that silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) at 270 ppm
completely suppressed L. theobromae either mycelium growth or spore germination. AgNPs
treatment at 300 ppm significantly reduced the disease index (DI) in the artificially inoculatedmangosteen fruit during stored at 25 °C. The effects of AgNPs on fruit rot disease and fruit quality
were determined in the naturally infected mangosteen as compared to fungicide-treated fruits andnon-treated fruits during storage at 13 °C. AgNPs treatment reduced fruit rot disease about 8-foldof the control fruits. Activity of plant defense-related enzymes: phenylalanine ammonia-lyase(PAL), peroxidase (POD), chitinase (CHI) and β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), and ɑ-mangostin content
was induced by AgNPs treatment. Further, AgNPs treatment delayed the ripening by slow down
the increase of ethylene production and respiration rate resulted to reduce weight loss and pericarp
hardening. Chlorophyll content in calyx, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), pericarp
color, and anthocyanin in the pericarp were maintained. This research indicated that AgNPs
application can control fruit rot disease and preserve the quality of mangosteen fruit.

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Lecture 3

IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGs

Physicochemical Characteristics and LC-HRMS Metabolite Profiling ofTongar Avocado Fruit with Different Maturity Stages
Khandra Fahmy1*, Dewi Anggraini Septaningsih2,3, Alfi Hudatul Karomah3, Dimas Rahardian
Aji Muhamad4, Elisa Julianti5, Nancy Dewi Yuliana3,6, Kohei Nakano7 and Mohamad Rafi2,3*
1

Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Andalas University, Indonesia
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Indonesia
3
Institute of Research and Community Services, IPB University, Indonesia
4
Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University, Indonesia
5
Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Indonesia
6
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, IPB University, Indonesia
7
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Gifu University, Japan
2*Corresponding author: K.F.: khandrafahmy@ae.unand.ac.id; M.R.: mra@apps.ipb.ac.id

Abstract
Tongar avocado (Persea americana) is one of the superior varieties of avocado from West
Pasaman, West Sumatera, Indonesia. This plant has become a leading commodity in West Sumatra
and has been widely consumed and marketed domestically and overseas. Tongar avocado fruit hasa large size (500–900 g), good taste, and thin fruit skin, which are very different characteristics
compared to other avocados. The maturity level of the avocado fruit needs to be considered before
harvesting. This is because the degree of maturity affects its physicochemical properties and its
metabolite profile. This study aims to compare the physicochemical properties and metabolite
profiles of the Tongar avocado at harvest times of 165, 180, and 195 days after the flowers weredeveloped. Geometric mean diameter (Dg), firmness, respiration rate, total soluble solids (TSS),and skin color were determined to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics for each harvest
time of the avocado. We found physicochemical properties level of the Tongar avocado varied at
the different maturity stages. In addition, metabolite profiling was also carried out using LCHRMS, identifying 31 metabolites belonging to the fatty alcohol, furan derivative, phenolic, fatty
acid, and miscellaneous groups. Most of the metabolites were abundant in the 165-day avocado
harvest. This difference in harvest time can affect the avocado fruit's quality. So there is differencesin the physicochemical properties and metabolite profile of Tongar avocado fruit at different
maturity stages. Further studies are needed to identify the relationship between fruit quality andthe metabolite profile of Tongar avocados.
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Lecture 4

IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGs

Elucidating the Molecular Mechanism of Nobiletin Accumulation inCitrus Fruit
Gang Ma1*
1Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Japan*

Corresponding author: ma.gang@shizuoka.ac.jp
Abstract
Nobiletin, a polymethoxylated flavone (PMF), is specifically accumulated in citrus fruitand has been reported to exhibit important health-supporting properties. Nobiletin has six methoxy
groups at the 3′,4′,5,6,7,8-positions, and its methylation is catalyzed by S-adenosyl-L-methionine(SAM) dependent O-methyltransferases (OMTs). To date, although flavonoid accumulation has
been extensively reported in different citrus cultivars, the molecular mechanism regulating thebiosynthesis of PMFs, especially nobiletin, in citrus fruit is largely unknown. In this study, weinvestigated flavonoid accumulation in three citrus varieties, Ponkan mandarin (Citrus reticulata
Blanco), Nou 6 (“King mandarin” × “Mukaku-kishu”), and Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiuMarc.), which accumulate different levels of nobiletin. Moreover, two novel O-methyltransferase
genes (CitOMT1 and CitOMT2) were isolated, and their functions were investigated in vitro.
In the present study, five PMFs, nobiletin, tangeretin, sinensetin, 5-demethylnobiletin, andheptamethoxyflavone, were detected in the flavedos of the three citrus varieties. Among the threecitrus varieties, Ponkan mandarin accumulated the highest PMF in the flavedo, followed by Nou
6. The total PMF content in Satsuma mandarin was much lower than that in the other two varieties.
In the flavedo, nobiletin was the major PMF, and its level was significantly different among thethree varieties. In Ponkan mandarin and Nou 6, a high amount of nobiletin was detected in theflavedos. In Satsuma mandarin, in contrast, the content of nobiletin in the flavedo was extremelylow. The gene expression results showed that CitOMT1 and CitOMT2 were highly expressed in
the two nobiletin abundant varieties of Ponkan mandarin and Nou 6. However, the expression
levels of these two OMTs were low in the flavedo of Satsuma mandarin, in which only a small
amount of nobiletin was accumulated.
The functional analysis showed that the recombinant protein of CitOMT1 had methylation
activity to transfer a methyl group to 3′-hydroxy group of flavones, and the recombinant protein
5IC-GU12 Joint Lecture Series 2023: Recent Advances in Postharvest Biology and Technology for Achieving the SDGsof CitOMT2 had methylation activity to transfer a methyl group to 8-hydroxy group of flavones.
Because methylation at the 3′-position and 8-position of flavones are vital for the nobiletinbiosynthesis, CitOMT1 and CitOMT2 may be the key genes responsible for nobiletin biosynthesis
in citrus fruit. The results presented in this study will provide new strategies to enhance nobiletin
accumulation and improve the nutritional qualities of citrus fruit.

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