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To better understand the function of melatonin in tomato fruit ripening and quality improvement, a label-free quantitation method was used to investigate the proteins that differ between the control ( CK) and 50 μ m melatonin treatment (M50) fruits. Proteomics data identified 241 proteins that were significantly influenced by melatonin. These proteins were involved in several ripening-related pathways, including cell wall metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, carbohydrate, and fatty acid metabolism. Moreover, the application of exogenous melatonin increased eight proteins that are related to anthocyanin accumulation during fruit ripening. Additionally, the affected protein levels correlated with the corresponding gene transcript levels. Further, the total anthocyanin content from M50 increased by 52%, 48%, and 50% at 5, 8, and 13 DAT (day after melatonin treatment), respectively. The melatonin-mediated promotion of fruit ripening and quality might be due to the altered proteins involved in processes associated with ripening. In this work, we indicated that a senescence-related protein was downregulated in the M50 fruit, while a cell apoptosis inhibitor ( API5) protein was upregulated. In addition, peroxidases ( POD9, POD12, peroxidase p7-like) and catalase ( CAT3) significantly increased in the M50 fruits. Based on the previous studies and our data, we inferred that melatonin might be positively related to fruit ripening but negatively related to fruit senescence. This research provides insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying melatonin-mediated fruit ripening as well as the anthocyanin formation process in tomato fruit at the protein concentration level, and we reveal possible candidates for regulation of anthocyanin formation during fruit ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Melatonin treatment triggered increased carotenoid accumulation. • Melatonin treatment did not enhance carotenoid levels in Nr tomato. • Ethylene acts in melatonin-induced biosynthesis of carotenoids. In tomato, red color is a key commercial trait and arises from the accumulation of carotenoids. Previous studies have revealed that melatonin promotes lycopene accumulation and ethylene production. However, it is unclear if melatonin similarly increases other carotenoids, and whether any increase of carotenoids in tomato fruit is directly related to ethylene production. In this study, changes in carotenoid profiles during fruit ripening were investigated in control (CK) and in fruits treated with melatonin (M50). The α, β-carotene, and lycopene levels were significantly increased in M50, and there was increased carotenoid biosynthetic gene expression. We also observed up-regulated transcript levels of SlRIN , SlCNR , and SlNOR in M50 compared to CK. To better understand the regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis by melatonin and its potential response to endogenous ethylene, we tested an ethylene-insensitive mutant, Never ripe (Nr). Melatonin-treated Nr failed to accumulate more carotenoids compared to CK, although there was significantly changed ethylene production. Additionally, there was no general upregulation of expression of ripening-related genes in this mutant under melatonin treatment. These results suggest melatonin function might require ethylene to promote carotenoid synthesis in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Treatment with 1 mmol L−1 melatonin maintained postharvest quality of 'Fuji' apples. • Melatonin treatment reduced weight loss and peel injury in stored apples. • Melatonin decreased ethylene production by inhibiting ethylene synthesis genes. • Melatonin treatment reduced MDA concentrations in apples during storage. • Melatonin treatment promoted antioxidant capacity in apples during storage. The effects of treatment with melatonin on ripening of 'Fuji' apples during storage at 1 °C for 56 d were investigated. The apples were harvested at the commercial ripening stage and treated with 1 mmol L−1 melatonin. Compared with the control, melatonin treated apples had significant reduced ethylene production (28 d–56 d) and weight loss (14 d–56 d) during storage (p < 0.05). Also, the melatonin treatment maintained better apple skin structure throughout storage. The reduced ethylene production was regulated by the decreased expressions of MdACO1, MdACS1, MdAP2.4 and MdERF109 , based on RNA-Seq analysis, which was validated using qRT-PCR analysis. Moreover, the activity of 3 enzymes, including peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were significantly increased in melatonin treated fruit (p < 0.05). Taken together, this study highlights the inhibitory effects of melatonin in ethylene biosynthesis and factors influencing postharvest quality in apple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]