Grzegorz P. Łysiak

Ethylene is a key phytohormone regulating fruit ripening, the senescence of ornamental plants, and the post-harvest quality of horticultural products. Although numerous studies have described compounds that inhibit ethylene biosynthesis or perception, the available evidence remains fragmented across chemical groups, plant species, and pre- and post-harvest applications. This review addresses that gap by critically integrating current knowledge on the principal inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis and perception used in horticulture, with emphasis on their sites of action, practical effectiveness, and limitations. Biosynthesis inhibitors, including aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), aminooxyacetic acid (AOA), daminozide, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and oxalic acid (OA), reduce ethylene production at different stages of the ethylene pathway, whereas perception inhibitors such as 1-methylcyclopropene, 1-DCP, silver compounds, alkenes, and diazocyclopentadiene interfere with receptor binding and downstream ripening responses. The available literature indicates that 1-methylcyclopropene remains the most widely used commercial inhibitor, while oxalic acid is emerging as a promising natural modulator of ethylene-related processes. However, the efficacy of these compounds is strongly dependent on species, maturity stage, dose, temperature, and storage conditions, and some are additionally constrained by regulatory concerns, incomplete mechanistic understanding, or inconsistent performance. Overall, ethylene inhibitors are important tools for extending shelf life, maintaining firmness, delaying senescence, and reducing post-harvest losses. Further comparative and crop-specific studies are needed to optimize application strategies, improve environmental safety, and support the development of effective natural alternatives.

The utilization of post-production and post-processing by-products aligns with current trends in sustainable fruit industry practices. Recovering valuable nutrients from such materials holds significant potential for the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Among these, cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) seeds represent a promising source of functional ingredients, particularly due to their oil’s rich nutritional and phytochemical profile. The seeds, accounting for approximately 9–10% of the fruit mass, yield an oil characterized by high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids—mainly linoleic acid (≈67.5%) and oleic acid (≈20%)—alongside palmitic (≈5.8%) and stearic acids (≈2.1%). Linolenic acid content, however, shows notable variability (1.4–14.7%), influencing the oil’s omega-6/omega-3 ratio, which generally remains below 5:1. Cornelian cherry seed oil stands out among other stone fruit oils (e.g., rosehip, apricot, peach, cherry, plum) for its favorable fatty acid composition and absence of cyanogenic glycosides, making it safe for human consumption. Beyond its nutritional value, this oil exhibits biological activity and health-promoting potential, suggesting wide applicability in functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Despite progress in characterizing seed composition—including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and tannins—knowledge gaps persist regarding the transfer of these compounds into the oil, particularly under cold-pressing conditions. Future studies should focus on optimizing extraction processes, assessing thermal treatment effects, and clarifying the variability of linolenic acid. Such research will support the sustainable exploitation of cornelian cherry by-products and the industrial-scale development of this high-value oil.

Lonicera caerulea L. (blue honeysuckle) is an edible species cultivated for the health properties of its fruit; however, fresh fruit has a short shelf life after harvest. Therefore, the present study aimed to extend the post-harvest shelf life of fresh honeysuckle fruits under controlled storage conditions. The quality of three Canadian blue honeysuckle cultivars was assessed after 7 and 14 days of storage in a controlled atmosphere (20% CO2 and 5% O2) (CA), modified atmosphere (MAP) in Xtend bags and air atmosphere (AA). The duration of storage conditions significantly affected the quality traits of blue honeysuckle berries. Extended storage time (14 days) generally had a negative effect on the quality of the tested fruit, especially when stored in air atmosphere. The berries stored in a controlled atmosphere showed the best quality, as evidenced by the highest firmness, the lowest weight loss, and the smallest percentage of rotten berries. The effect of storage conditions on the value of parameters such as soluble solids (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) or the SSC/TA ratio were often not observed. The respiration rate of fruits was usually independent of both the cultivar and storage conditions. Compared to other cultivars, Boreal Beauty fruits were characterized by a lower content of SSC, higher TA and a lower SSC/TA ratio, and lower polyphenol content. Fruits of the Boreal Blizzard showed the highest susceptibility to rot.

The use of post-production and post-process by-products is an activity that is in line with the latest trends in the fruit industry. Obtaining new nutrients from them can be of great importance not only for the food industry, but also for pharmaceuticals. Cornelian cherry seeds can be one of the novel sources rich in functional ingredients with a wide range of applications in the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Furthermore, there is currently a dynamic increase in interest in oilseeds, not only for the production of vegetable oils and oilseed meal, but also due to the growing demand for renewable energy. Cornelian cherry seeds can be a source of innovative oil with high nutritional and health-promoting properties and a high energy value. The published results of research prove the richness of attractive fatty acids, as well as many health-promoting compounds. This review discusses the nutritional and phytochemical profile, as well as the biological activity exhibited by cornelian cherry seed oil. In addition to its undoubted functionality, extensive research is still needed to promote its use at the industrial level to take advantage of all the benefits of its chemical composition.

The Sustainable Development Goals popularised by the United Nations include achieving food security, improving nutrition, eliminating hunger and poverty, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring healthy lifestyles

The condition for the formation of fruit on fruit plants is the presence of flower buds, flowering and proper pollination/fertilisation of flowers. Fruit trees and shrubs are perennial plants, and the processes of flower bud formation and flowering are distant in time. The formation of flower buds occurs in the year preceding flowering and fruiting. The number and quality of flowers are the basic factors that determine the potential yield of fruit trees. Therefore, the review focuses on a thorough review of the latest research on the various stages in the development of trees, in which the processes that determine their flowering take place. The greatest emphasis was placed on the influence of factors that determine the yield of trees after the juvenile stage. Climate change leading to global warming will undoubtedly affect the formation of flower buds, which determine the size of crops. To avoid the unforeseen effects of abiotic factors on the availability of raw materials, such as fruits, it is good to diversify the structure of cultivated plants. Most fruit plants come from the Rosaceae family, so they have many pathogens and pests in common. To increase crop, economic, and habitat biodiversity, it is necessary to look for other, more genetically distant, sometimes even less known fruit-bearing species.

The cornelian cherry is a plant that annually provides fruits, drupe-type, ranging in color from yellow through pink, red, carmine, and almost black. Cornelian cherry bears abundant fruit in temperate climate conditions, which means that its dark-colored fruits can be treated as an excellent source of anthocyanins. After consuming, anthocyanins have a protective function in the human body. Raw fruit extracts and their pure isolates, rich in anthocyanins, have a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. This review focuses on the health-promoting properties of anthocyanins from fruits of cornelian cherry, documented in research conducted in vitro, in vivo, and in humans. The results obtained so far confirm the beneficial effects of anthocyanins on the blood parameters, whose values are important in predicting and assessing the risk and progression of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. A beneficial effect on molecular and histopathological changes in target organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and liver has also been demonstrated. Anthocyanins from cornelian cherry have a strong antioxidant effect, which explains their protective effects on organs and anticancer effects. Moreover, they have antiglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. The work highlights the perspectives and directions of necessary research.

The experiment was carried out to investigate the possibility of extension of the postharvest longevity of cut shoots of Polygonatum multiflorum depending on the type of conditioning. The shoots were collected for three experiments in May, June, and July. The following substances were used for...

Anthocyanins are pigments ubiquitous in plants that are responsible for the red to almost black color, mainly of flowers and fruits. Dark-colored fruits contain the highest amounts of anthocyanins. A potential source of anthocyanins can be cornelian cherry fruit (Cornus mas L.) from a long-lived tree growing in temperate climate zones. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest research on cornelian cherry anthocyanins and the possibility of their use in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, without taking into account their use in medicine. The content of anthocyanins in cornelian cherry fruits is high and comparable to fruits considered to be the richest sources of these compounds, so they may be a good source of these natural colorants used in industry. The content of anthocyanins varies due to genetic traits, growing conditions, the ripeness of fruits, and finally, how the fruits are stored and processed. Anthocyanins can be found in various cornelian products, such as juices, jams, powders, and others, so they may be available outside the period of supply of fresh fruit on the market. The lack of experience on the influence of the method of cultivation of cornelian cherries on the anthocyanin content of fruits determines new directions for research.