Anthocyanin in blood oranges: a review on postharvest approaches for its enhancement and preservation

Abstract

Anthocyanin concentration is considered an important fruit quality index of blood oranges and has gained popularity among consumers due to its antioxidant capacity, therapeutic properties, and prevention of some human diseases. Anthocyanin biosynthesis occurs in the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum by multi-enzymes complexes through the flavonoid pathway. Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and β-glucosidase (anthocyanase) are the enzymes responsible for anthocyanin degradation. Blood oranges are cold-dependent for anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, and thus, the low temperature of storage can enhance anthocyanin concentration and improve internal fruit quality. In addition, anthocyanin accumulation can be accelerated by postharvest technologies, either physical treatments or chemical elicitors. However, low temperatures can induce chilling injury (CI) incidence in blood oranges. Postharvest chemical elicitors treatments can enhance anthocyanin accumulation and prevent CI. This review provides the most updated information about postharvest tools modulating the anthocyanin content, and the role of enhancing and preserving pigmentation to produce blood orange with the highest quality standards.

Keywords:

• Anthocyanin
• blood orange
• elicitors
• postharvest treatment
• quality

Acknowledgements

This manuscript belongs to the project “Innovative and eco-friendly pre- and postharvest strategies with natural compounds to improve quality of fruits” funded by Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital (Generalitat Valenciana) through Prometeo Program (PROMETEO/2021/089). Daniel Valero and María Serrano are Co-Principal Investigators of Project. María Emma García Pastor (Post-Doc Researcher), Fernando Garrido-Auñón (Pre-Doctoral Researcher) and Jennifer Puente-Moreno (Technician) receive the grants from Generalitat Valenciana.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript belongs to the project “Innovative and eco-friendly pre- and postharvest strategies with natural compounds to improve quality of fruits” funded by Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital (Generalitat Valenciana) through Prometeo Program (PROMETEO/2021/089). Daniel Valero and María Serrano are Co-Principal Investigators of Project. María Emma García Pastor (Post-Doc Researcher), Fernando Garrido-Auñón (Pre-Doctoral Researcher) and Jennifer Puente-Moreno (Technician) receive the grants from Generalitat Valenciana.