Quantitative Analyses of Programmed Cell Death (PCD) Relevant Indicators in Postharvest Vegetable

ABSTRACT The measurement of factors related to postharvest programmed cell death (PCD) in vegetables is crucial for understanding the physiological and metabolic pathways involved in vegetable ripening, aging, and stress responses. PCD is an actively regulated process orchestrated by the interaction of apoptosis, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and ROS, which collectively determines cellular fate through energy metabolism, oxidative signaling, and organellar dysfunction. This paper reviews effective techniques for assessing PCD‐associated factors in vegetables and introduces emerging approaches such as single‐cell sequencing, metabolomics, and proteomics, which are being used to investigate PCD mechanisms. The objective of this study is to provide an integrative theoretical and methodological reference for future research in postharvest vegetable biology and quality management.