Effects of mechanized harvesting on sesame seed storage: Quality, volatile compounds, and metabolites

Herein, the effects of mechanized harvesting on sesame seed quality during storage were evaluated. Results indicated that mechanical damage (damage rate 23.98%) reduced the germination percentage of sesame seeds. During storage, mechanical damage increased the acid value of sesame seeds and the activities of lipase, lipoxygenase, and peroxidase. Mechanically harvested seeds showed elevated levels of lipid-derived volatiles, including 2-pentyl-furan and hexanal, during storage. In metabolomics, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid metabolism were upregulated (p < 0.01) during the storage of mechanically harvested sesame seeds. Linoleic acid metabolism was associated with an increase in the levels of volatile lipid oxidation products during the storage. α-linolenic acid may participate in protecting sesame seeds against mechanical damage by generating 17-hydroxylinolenic acid (fold change 34.54) and jasmonic acid (fold change 30.13). These results provide data support and scientific guidance for the rational preservation of mechanically harvested sesame seeds.