Blue light as a postharvest tool: Intensity-dependent enhancement of ripening, quality, and shelf-life potential in...

As a vital economic crop, enhancing fruit quality and extending postharvest shelf-life remain central research priorities in strawberry production. This study investigated the effects of blue light (BL) intensity on ripening and quality of four strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) genotypes harvested at the white stage. All genotypes under BL treatment reached full maturity within 3-4 d. Physiological analyses revealed that BL treatment promoted fruit coloration, regulated hormonal synergies to accelerate ripening, improved intrinsic quality indices, and most effectively enhanced total antioxidant capacity. However, outcomes varied significantly with genotype and light intensity, with excessive intensity suppressing quality improvement. Among all treatments, 200 μmol m^-2 s^-1 blue light demonstrated optimal efficacy for quality enhancement in most genotypes ('Benihoppe', 'Fenyu No.1'). These results establish a theoretical foundation for optimizing BL intensity in strawberry production and validate its practical feasibility, while proposing early harvesting under BL as a novel strategy for shelf-life extension.