Effects of Ozone Hypobaric Fumigation on the Storage Quality and Reactive Oxygen Metabolism of Prunes

This study used Xinjiang 'France' prunes as the test material and applied ozone (O₃) at concentrations of 100 mg/m³, 200 mg/m³, and 300 mg/m³ in combination with 3 kPa hypobaric fumigation to investigate their effects on postharvest storage quality and reactive oxygen species metabolism of the fruits. The results showed that the O₃ hypobaric fumigation treatment could delay the decline in firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acid content of prunes during 90 days of storage; reduce fresh weight loss, maintain fruit color, inhibit rot and the increase in respiration intensity, and postpone the respiratory peak. Among them, the treatment of 200 mg/m³ O₃+3 kPa had the best effect. At the end of storage, the firmness, titratable acid content, and total soluble solids content of the 200 mg/m³ O₃+3 kPa treatment group were 19.30%, 36.84%, and 9.38% higher than those of the control group, respectively. The 200 mg/m³ O₃+3 kPa treatment inhibited the accumulation of superoxide anion (O₂·⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the increase in cell membrane permeability in prune fruits; and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR);and maintained the levels of ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH). In conclusion, the 200 mg/m³ O₃+3 kPa treatment group maintained the quality of prunes during storage by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species.