Electron Beam Irradiation Improves the Storage Quality of Passion Fruit by Modulating Membrane Lipid Composition and...

This study investigated the impacts of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the storage quality of passion fruit by regulating membrane lipid composition and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging capacity. Among the tested doses, 0.2 kGy EBI was the most effective in maintaining fruit quality, as indicated by lower relative electrical conductivity and weight loss, together with higher hue angle and commercially acceptable fruit rate during storage. Mechanistically, EBI reduced superoxide anion production and malondialdehyde accumulation, indicating alleviated oxidative damage and membrane lipid peroxidation. EBI also suppressed the activities of membrane lipid-degrading enzymes, thereby slowing the degradation of phospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids while reducing the accumulation of phosphatidic acid, diacylglycerol, and saturated fatty acids. In addition, EBI enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and maintained higher levels of ascorbic acid, glutathione, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging ability. These results indicate that EBI improves the storage quality of passion fruit mainly by preserving membrane lipid integrity and strengthening ROS-scavenging capacity.