Effect of methyl jasmonate on storage quality of fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola.

To investigate how methyl jasmonate (MeJA) affects the storage quality of fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola, this study immersed fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola in MeJA solutions of 100, 150, and 200 μmol/L concentrations and measured changes in hardness, weight loss rate, total soluble solids (TSS), total colony count, color, browning degree, total phenol content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content during storage.Results indicated that after 14 days of storage, fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola treated with 200 μmol/L MeJA showed a decrease in MDA, PPO, and POD activities by 21.32%, 23.62%, and 24.08%, respectively, while the total phenol content increased by 33.68%, resulting in higher antioxidant capacity and a significant delay in the degree of browning during storage. MeJA treatment also slowed down color changes and weight loss during storage, reduced the total colony count by 23.88%, and increased the hardness and TSS content by 17.89% and 40.22%, respectively, effectively maintaining the storage quality of fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola. This study contributes theoretical support for developing preservation techniques and extending the shelf life of fresh-cut Cistanche deserticola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]