Document Type : Review Papers
Authors
1 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
2 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Postharvest processing goes far beyond being a merely technical stage within the agricultural supply chain. It represents a critical bridge between production and consumption that can substantially improve farmers’ livelihoods, enhance consumer satisfaction, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development. Among the emerging scientific topics relevant to postharvest science, microRNA compounds are recognized as a class of important non-coding RNA molecules that play a central role in the regulation of gene expression. These small regulatory molecules influence a wide range of biological processes by controlling the translation or stability of target messenger RNAs. This study shows that during storage, transportation, and processing, microRNAs can affect ripening, senescence, stress tolerance, and quality attributes such as texture, color, flavor, and shelf life. By synthesizing existing research, this review paper highlights how a deeper understanding of microRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms can contribute to the development of innovative postharvest technologies. Moreover, it introduces and investigates microRNAs that can be reliable markers of the quality of fruits and vegetables over storage. Such knowledge may ultimately support more efficient processing methods, reduced postharvest losses, improved product quality, and enhanced sustainability across agricultural value chains.
Keywords
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