Guest Editor: Prof. Su-Sheng Gan
School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Biology Section, Cornell University, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
Postharvest biology of horticultural crops is a scientific discipline of the biological processes that occur in horticultural crops after harvest. It is the foundation for practical strategies and technology for prolonging the postharvest longevity of produce. The postharvest longevity includes storage, logistics and transportation, and shelf life. It is estimated that up to 70% of produce are lost after harvest. Understanding of postharvest biological processes will allow us to devise ways to control these processes for improving the produce quality (and quantity) and reducing the economic loss.
Molecular biology and related techniques have been increasingly used in almost all aspects of horticulture research including postharvest biological studies, which has significantly advanced our understanding of molecular genetic regulatory mechanisms of the physiological and biochemical changes in horticultural crops after harvest. Significant advances have been made in this regard, and we are pleased to present a special collection named “Molecular Postharvest Biology” to reflect the advances.
The Molecular Postharvest Biology special collection consists of three review articles and five research articles that cover almost all aspects of the field, ranging from senescence of leaves and flowers, fruit ripening, to postharvest pathology. The special collection represents fore frontiers in the field, and will be excellent references for researchers and a textbook for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
Articles will undergo all of the journal's standard peer review and editorial processes outlined in its submission guidelines.
We are very grateful to all authors for their excellent contributions to this special collection!