The combination treatment of low voltage electrostatic field and Ultraviolet-C could accelerate the process of wound healing of potato tubers

Low voltage electrostatic field (LVEF) and ultraviolet-C (UV–C) are non-thermal, safe, and environmentally friendly preservation technologies. This study explored the efficacy of LVEF, UV-C (0.1 kJ m−2), and their combination (LVEF + UV-C) in regulating the wound-healing response of injured potato tubers over a 21-day healing period at 20 °C. Results demonstrated that LVEF + UV-C treatment showed superior efficacy in accelerating wound healing of tubers compared to single-treatment and control groups, mitigating weight loss and disease index, promoting suberin and lignin accumulation, and enhancing firmness, browning index, and H2O2 content. Biochemical changes observed during tuber healing exhibited a positive correlation with increased enzyme activities (PAL, 4CL, CAD, POD, and PPO) and metabolite levels (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, lignin) associated with phenylpropane metabolism. Our study findings suggest that the application of LVEF + UV-C stimulates phenylpropanoid metabolism, accelerates suberin and lignin accumulation at wounds, thus facilitates wound healing in potato tubers.