Multifaceted Applications of Carbon Dots in the Postharvest Treatment of Horticultural Products

Horticultural products face multiple challenges in postharvest processing, such as preservation, anticorrosion, and quality maintenance, which traditional methods often fail to address effectively. Carbon dots (CDs), a type of nanomaterial with excellent optical properties and biocompatibility, show significant potential in postharvest processing of horticultural products in recent years. This review summarizes the various applications of CDs in postharvest processing, including their roles as preservatives, antimicrobial agents, and antioxidants. Specifically, this review particularly focuses on the unique mechanisms of action within chloroplasts and the plant body, examining how CDs affect postharvest plant physiological processes. It also explores the unique antioxidant functions of CDs from a plant metabolism perspective. The fluorescent properties of CDs offer unique advantages in real-time monitoring of quality changes in horticultural products, and they show broad prospects in the development of novel intelligent packaging materials that incorporate smart indicators and nondestructive detection, thereby improving their market competitiveness. As materials in direct contact with edible products, this review also emphasizes the safety and stability of CDs in practical applications. Furthermore, it identifies key directions for future research, aiming to promote the scientific application and technological innovation of CDs in postharvest handling of horticultural products, thereby providing new solutions for efficient management and sustainable development.