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Open research questions in Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management

46 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 484 Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Postharvest deterioration of melons. Lower sugar content and poorer flesh color due to early harvesting. Limited understanding of the effects of ethephon application on sugar content and quality.

    Optimizing the Timing of Ethephon Application to Enhance Sugar Content and Quality of Early-Harvested Cantaloupe Melons · 2026 · DOI

  • The high perishability of blueberries. The need for sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging. The appearance of the film, specifically the color changes from onion extracts, needs further enhancement.

    Effect of Edible Films Based on Red Onion Peels on the Quality and Shelf Life of Blueberry Fruit · 2026 · DOI

  • Rapid post-harvest ripening and high perishability of Hachiya kaki fruits create challenges for storage and distribution. Limited oxygen availability during storage can shift metabolism toward anaerobic pathways, leading to ethanol production and accumulation.

    Photonic detection of ethanol dynamics in climacteric fruits using CO2 laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy · 2026 · DOI

  • Post-harvest deterioration of sweet potato storage roots. Limited understanding of the transcriptional regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in sweet potato. Difficulty in maintaining the quality of sweet potato storage roots during storage.

    Temporal dynamics of phenolics and lignin-related metabolism in sweet potato storage roots during post-curing storage · 2026 · DOI

  • Temperature mismanagement accelerates ripening, senescence, and quality deterioration. Chilling injury and freezing injury can occur at low temperatures. Limited cold-chain infrastructure in developing regions exacerbates quality deterioration during storage and transportation.

    Optimal storage temperature for fresh fruits: physiological responses, quality retention, and shelf-life extension · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for sustainable postharvest preservation strategies for fresh-cut horticultural products. Edible coatings can fill this gap by improving postharvest quality and extending shelf life.

    Evaluation of edible coating on quality, biochemical components and microbial community under cooling and freezing conditions on fresh-cut artichoke · 2026 · DOI

  • While the results point to a possible synergistic interaction between 1-MCP and GABA, further mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

    Impact of γ-aminobutyric acid and 1-methylcyclopropene on qualitative attributes of apples (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Fuji) during cold storage · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the effects of packaging on the storage quality of MPFBs. The study recognizes the need for a systematic evaluation of packaging methods for dried foods.

    Effects of different packaging methods on the storage quality of mulberry–purple potato compound freeze-dried fruit blocks · 2026 · DOI

  • The development of new biostimulants and other compounds to enhance plant growth and fruit quality, - The examination of the potential of innovative packaging systems to extend shelf life and improve fruit quality, - The investigation of the effects of pre- and postharvest strategies on blueberry fruit quality and shelf life

    A comprehensive overview of strategies to improve blueberry fruit quality · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for sustainable and effective strategies to improve blueberry fruit quality, - The lack of comprehensive overviews of pre- and postharvest strategies for improving blueberry fruit quality

    A comprehensive overview of strategies to improve blueberry fruit quality · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to identify effective and cost-efficient methods for extending tomato storage life. The use of rice hull-based by-products as a postharvest storage material is a relatively new area of research.

    Extending the Storage Life of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Using Different Rice Hull-Based By-Products · 2026 · DOI

  • The use of carbonized rice hull is recommended as a storage medium for tomato fruits because it effectively delays ripening, reduces weight loss, increases the proportion of marketable fruits, extends storage life, and minimizes decay. It is particularly recommended for Diamante Max F1, which responded most favorably to this treatment in terms of storage quality and resistance to deterioration. Farmers, traders, and agripreneurs may adopt carbonized rice hull as a low-cost, locally available, and eco-friendly postharvest storage option, especially in areas where rice hull is abundant. Rice hull ash, milled rice hull, and rice bran may be explored further as alternative materials, but their cost-effectiveness should be carefully considered because they produced weaker economic outcomes under the conditions of this study. Further studies should test other tomato varieties, storage environments, treatment ratios, sanitation protocols, and longer monitoring periods to refine practical recommendations for commercial and farm-level use.

    Extending the Storage Life of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Using Different Rice Hull-Based By-Products · 2026 · DOI

  • Evaluation of the long-term effects of consuming the beverage. Development of other functional foods that address micronutrient deficiencies. Assessment of the potential applications of dried persimmon and banana powders in other food products.

    Development of an iodine-containing fermented milk beverage using dried persimmon and banana powders: a technical feasibility study · 2026 · DOI

  • Iodine deficiency is a significant public health issue in many regions. There is a need for accessible functional foods that address micronutrient deficiencies.

    Development of an iodine-containing fermented milk beverage using dried persimmon and banana powders: a technical feasibility study · 2026 · DOI

  • The current understanding of the role of peroxidases in enzymatic browning is limited. There is a need for a comprehensive review of the diverse functions of peroxidases in regulating enzymatic browning.

    What are the primary roles of peroxidases in enzymatic browning of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, browning promoters or ROS scavengers? · 2026 · DOI

  • In this opinion, we emphasize the vital role of peroxidases in the browning process and reviewed their diverse functions, integrated capacity to regulate enzymatic highlighting their browning by orchestrating ROS metabolism, phenolic oxidation, and lignification. Available evidence suggests that peroxidases may exert dual and context-dependent effects on enzymatic browning. The interplay between oxidative stress and secondary metabolism probably dictates the intensity and progression of browning in fresh-cut produce. Therefore, simply labeling peroxidases as “browning promoters” or “ROS scavengers” is both incomplete and misleading. Additionally, given that the specific roles of peroxidase family members vary across superfamilies and different plant species, further research is needed to identify the dominant isoforms within specific crops.

    What are the primary roles of peroxidases in enzymatic browning of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, browning promoters or ROS scavengers? · 2026 · DOI

  • The cowpea is highly perishable due to its strong seasonality and regional dependence. There is a need to develop effective preservation techniques for cowpeas.

    Effect of Blanching Methods on Chlorophyll Content and Quality Changes During Frozen Storage of Cowpea · 2026 · DOI

  • The effects of boiling and storage on grape juice properties are not well understood. There is a need to investigate the changes in bioactive compounds during storage.

    Storage stability of polyphenols and organic acids in cooked and raw grape juice · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to develop alternative products to those derived from animal sources. The effects of peach pomace incorporation on the quality and biochemical characteristics of plant-based fermented yogurt-like products are not well understood.

    Evaluation of quality and biochemical characteristics of plant-based fermented yogurt-like products fortified with varying levels of peach pomace · 2026 · DOI

  • Although several studies have investigated the incorporation of fruit pomaces into dairy-based yogurts, limited research has systematically examined the application of peach pomace in plant-based fermented yogurt-like systems. Most available studies focus on apple, grape, or pomegranate pomace in dairy matrices, whereas fermented products data on almond-based remain scarce.

    Evaluation of quality and biochemical characteristics of plant-based fermented yogurt-like products fortified with varying levels of peach pomace · 2026 · DOI

  • The effects of salicylic acid on green beans during cold storage are not well understood. There is a need to identify the optimal concentration of salicylic acid for improving postharvest quality.

    Physiological responses of green beans to postharvest salicylic acid treatments under cold storage conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • There is limited information on the efficacy of Aloe vera gel and bark extracts on post-harvest quality of mango fruits. The use of plant-based extracts as a method for improving post-harvest quality of fruits is not well studied.

    Efficacy of plant-based extracts on post-harvest quality of stored mango fruits (Mangifera indica l.) in Makurdi, Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can investigate the use of CO2 LPAS for monitoring other types of fruits and vegetables. The technique can be combined with other methods for a more comprehensive understanding of fruit ripening and spoilage.

    Photonic detection of ethanol dynamics in climacteric fruits using CO2 laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for a highly sensitive and selective sensor for gentisic acid detection. Prior methods have limitations in terms of sensitivity and selectivity.

    A novel MIP sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of gentisic acid in fruit matrices · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies could investigate the effects of relative humidity fluctuations, ventilation, and packaging systems on the stability of soybean expeller. The development of guidelines for the storage and transport of soybean expeller could be informed by the results of this study.

    Oxidative and microbiological stability of soybean expeller under simulated commercial storage conditions · 2026 · DOI

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46 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 484 Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life Management papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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