X-ray irradiation as a potential postharvest treatment for maintaining the quality of lily (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) bulbs and predicting shelf life using an artificial neural network

This study aimed to investigate the impact of X-ray irradiation pretreatment at varying doses (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 kGy) on the preservation quality of lily bulbs and to elucidate its potential regulatory mechanisms. The findings revealed that X-ray irradiation significantly inhibited the growth and propagation of microorganisms, with a pronounced bactericidal efficacy at a dose of 1.0 kGy. The bactericidal rate against total bacteria was 79.04 % on day 0 and 57.59 % on day 60, effectively slowing the degeneration process of lily bulbs. By enhancing antioxidant-related enzyme activities, lily bulbs successfully reduced lipid peroxidation within cellular membranes, thereby increasing overall antioxidant capacity. Additionally, X-ray treatment effectively delayed the discoloration process in lily bulbs. The Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN) model accurately predicts the shelf life of lily bulbs, which was extended to 110 days with a 1.0 kGy dose. These pivotal discoveries not only enhance the maintenance of storage quality and prolong the shelf life of lily bulbs but also offer a distinctive perspective on reducing postharvest losses and increasing the utilitarian value of this botanical species. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd