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Journal of Integrative Agriculture
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Ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-L-arginate hydrochloride modulated phospholipid, carbohydrate, and cell wall metabolisms to delay senescence in ‘Zaosu’ pear fruit during storage

Canying Li1, 2, Tian Gao1, 2, Shuang Min1, 2, Yajun Wang1, 2, Yonghong Ge1, 2#

1 College of Food Science and Engineering, Bohai University, Jinzhou 121013, Liaoning

2 National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Storage, Processing and Safety Control Technology for Fresh Agricultural Aquatic Products, Jinzhou 121013, Liaoning

 Highlights 

l Ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-L-arginate hydrochloride (LAE) maintained storage quality of pears.

l LAE inhibited respiratory rate, ethylene release, and phospholipid degradation to delay senescence in pears.

l LAE regulated cell wall metabolism to delay the softening process in pears.

l LAE modulated the enzymatic activity and gene expression in carbohydrate metabolism.

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摘要  

早酥梨为呼吸跃变型果实,在跃变期易发生快速软化,从而导致品质下降及商品性降低等问题。月桂酰精氨酸乙酯盐酸盐(LAE)是一种阳离子表面活性剂,具有高安全性和广谱抗菌特性。本研究旨在探究LAE浸泡处理对早酥梨果实衰老及贮藏品质的影响,并分析其对细胞壁、碳水化合物和磷脂代谢的影响。结果表明,LAE处理可延缓果皮表面黄化和失重率上升,同时维持较高的可溶性固形物、抗坏血酸、总酚和类黄酮含量;LAE处理抑制了果实呼吸速率和乙烯生成量,并下调ACC合成酶和ACC氧化酶的基因表达;并通过调控碳水化合物代谢相关基因表达及酶活性,促进可溶性糖含量积累。此外,LAE处理通过下调细胞壁和磷脂降解相关基因表达及酶活性,减少细胞壁多糖和磷脂的降解。这些研究表明LAE处理通过调控乙烯合成、抑制细胞壁降解、调节碳水化合物和磷脂代谢,有效维持了早酥梨的采后贮藏品质并延缓其衰老。



Abstract  

‘Zaosu’ pear fruit, a climacteric fruit, is susceptible to rapid softening diminished quality and marketability during the climacteric phase. Ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-L-arginate hydrochloride (LAE), a cationic surfactant, exhibits high safety and broad-spectrum antimicrobial capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of LAE dipping on the senescence and storage quality of ‘Zaosu’ pears, as well as its influences on cell wall, carbohydrate, and phospholipid metabolisms. Results showed that LAE treatment delayed exocarp surface yellowing and the increase of mass loss, while maintaining higher levels of soluble solids, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, and flavonoid in pears. LAE also restrained respiration rate and ethylene production, as well as the expressions of 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ACC) synthetase and ACC oxidase genes. Furthermore, LAE enhanced soluble sugar content by modulating gene expressions and enzymatic activities involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Meanwhile, LAE reduced the degradation of cell wall polysaccharide and phospholipid by down-regulating the gene expressions and enzymatic activities of enzymes in cell wall and phospholipid degradation. Collectively, LAE treatment regulated ethylene synthesis, inhibited cell wall degradation, regulated carbohydrate and phospholipid metabolism, thereby effectively maintaining the postharvest storage quality and delaying senescence of ‘Zaosu’ pears. 

Keywords:  pear       ethylene synthesis              softening                    phospholipid degradation              storage quality  
Online: 05 August 2025  
Fund: 

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2023-MS-292).

Cite this article: 

Canying Li, Tian Gao, Shuang Min, Yajun Wang, Yonghong Ge. 2025. Ethyl-Nα-lauroyl-L-arginate hydrochloride modulated phospholipid, carbohydrate, and cell wall metabolisms to delay senescence in ‘Zaosu’ pear fruit during storage. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.08.009

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