Inducing resistance of postharvest fruits and vegetables through acibenzolar-S-methyl application: A review of implications and mechanisms

Abstract

Significant losses of vegetables and fruits occur at multiple stages, including harvest, sorting, storage, and transportation, primarily due to mechanical damage, pathogen invasion, and the natural process of senescence. To mitigate postharvest decay and maintain superior quality of produce, conventional techniques such as low temperature storage and synthetic fungicide treatment are widely employed. Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), an effective plant resistance inducers, has demonstrated its efficacy in protecting against a diverse range of fungal and bacterial pathogens. The present review primarily concludes that exogenous application of ASM effectively maintains postharvest quality, delays senescence, and controls decay of postharvest fruits and vegetables through the following mechanisms: (1) modulation of signal transduction pathways including Ca²⁺ signal, H₂O₂, and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades; (2) regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolism; (3) accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins; (4) activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway; (5) regulation of energy metabolism; and (6) mediation of fatty acid metabolism. Taken together, ASM is a potent activator that enhances resistance against a wide range of postharvest pathogens and effectively preserves the storage quality of horticultural products.

Keywords: Acibenzolar-S-methyl; Decay; Induced resistance; Senescence; Storage quality.