Phenylalanine ammonia lyase is more relevant than Chalcone synthase and Chalcone isomerase in the biosynthesis of flavonoids during postharvest senescence of broccoli

Broccoli contains a high content of nutraceutical compounds, such as glucosinolates and flavonoids. In this work, the effect of different treatments that modulate postharvest senescence of broccoli was evaluated and flavonoid metabolism during postharvest storage was analyzed at 20°C. A decrease in hue angle (HUE°) and chlorophylls and an increase in flavonoid content were detected during senescence. It observed that most of the treatments that delayed senescence also decreased flavonoid content, except visible light and UV-C treatments. In all cases, a direct correlation between those treatments that increased flavonoid biosynthesis and BoPAL gene expression was detected. This response was not detected in the expression of the other two flavonoid synthesis relevant genes BoCHS and BoCHI, suggesting that BoPAL has a greater influence on the regulation of the via, during broccoli senescence. Practical applications Broccoli is a vegetable with valuable nutritional properties. Because it is in full development at the time of harvest, it has a short shelf life. In this work, it is showed that visible light and UV-C treatments not only delayed the senescence of broccoli, but also increased flavonoid content. Our results suggest that the most important enzyme in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway during broccoli postharvest is phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and that this may be a key point in regulating the biosynthesis of these nutritionally valuable compounds.