Novel physical treatments (Pulsed light and cold plasma) improve the quality of postharvest apricots after long-distance simulated transportation

Biological control of postharvest transportation by non-thermal treatment is considered a promising physical preservation technology. This study investigated how apricot quality (before simulation of transport vibrations) increased using intense pulsed light (IPL) and dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) techniques. The results showed that DBD and IPL treatments reduced damage to apricot fruit after vibration and inhibited microbial growth on the surface of apricot fruit. By increasing the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, total flavonoids, ABTS, and DPPH radical scavenging activity) and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, PPO, POD, and CAT), the antioxidant capacity of apricot fruit was increased, cell structure damage was reduced, and water migration and erosion were inhibited as well. In summary, DBD and IPL treatments inhibited adverse physiological changes in apricot fruit subjected to vibration and mechanical damage, maintained their sensory and nutritional quality, and extended their shelf life. • Vibration damage causes postharvest quality loss of apricot. • DBD or IPL ameliorated the reduction in apricot quality caused by vibration. • DBD or IPL treatments effectively increased antioxidant capacity. • DBD or IPL treatments inhibited water migration and loss. • IPL produced better-quality characteristics than DBD treatment.