Scientific Study

Background: Pistachio fruits suffer from postharvest decay, caused by Aspergillus flavus, resulted in aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation in kernels, which is hazardous for human health due to its carcinogenic activity. In this study, the mechanism recruited by exogenous β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) treatment for attenuating Aspergillus decay, minimizing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation and maintaining nutritional quality in fresh in hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus, during storage at 25 °C for 18 days was investigated. Result: Results of in vivo assay showed that the spore germination and germ tube elongation of A. flavus repressed by BABA treatment at 7.5 mM. Also, Aspergillus decay accompanied by AFB1 accumulation minimized in fresh in hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA at 7.5 mM and infected by A. flavus. Also, fresh in hull pistachio kernels, infected by A. flavus, treated with BABA at 7.5 mM exhibited higher phenols and flavonoids accumulation and DPPH scavenging capacity accompanied by higher PAL enzyme activity. Conclusion: Therefore, promoting phenylpropanoid pathway activity representing by higher PAL enzyme activity in fresh in hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA not only may be operative for attenuating kernels Aspergillus decay by cell wall fortifying but also may be favorable for maintaining kernels nutritional quality by ROS scavenging capacity. Also, since oxidative stress representing by ROS accumulation is responsible for A. flavus growth and AFB1 accumulation, higher phenols and flavonoids accumulation in fresh in hull pistachio kernels treated with BABA may be beneficial for attenuating Aspergillus decay and minimizing AFB1 accumulation.