Characterization of Postharvest Changes in Fruit Quality of Three Blue Honeysuckle Cultivars ( Lonicera caerulea L.) Harvested at Different Time

This study investigated the post-harvest quality changes of three major blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivars in China (“Langjingling,” “Wulan” and “Berel”) harvested at five successive dates (47, 52, 57, 62 and 67 days after flowering, DAF). Among the three cultivars, “Lanjingling” demonstrated superior fruit firmness (FF, 3.94 N, 47DAF); “Wulan” exhibited a high vitamin C (VC, 292.00 mg/100 g, 57DAF); “Berel” was characterized by a high anthocyanin content (AC, 334.98 mg/100 g, 52DAF) and total phenolic content (TPC, 50.00 mg/g, 47DAF). Compared with late harvest (67DAF), early harvest (47DAF) extended the shelf life of the three cultivars from 7.67 to 32.67 days for “Wulan,” from 8.33 to 26.00 days for “Berel,” and from 13.67 to 27.33 days for “Lanjingling” at 25°C; and from 13.67 to 49.33 days for “Wulan,” from 31.00 to 44.33 days for “Berel,” and from 33.00 to 49.33 days for “Lanjingling” at 4°C. Early harvest generally enhanced FF and TPC, but accelerated the respiration rate (RR) in all three cultivars. In contrast, “Lanjingling” exhibited an increasing trend in VC and a decreasing trend in AC with delayed harvest. Storage conditions affected quality indices differently: at 25°C, significant decreases were observed in FF, RR, total acids (TA), and TPC, while total soluble solids (TSS) increased, and fluctuations occurred in VC and AC. In contrast, at 4°C, FF decreased, and fluctuations occurred in TSS, TA, VC, TPC, and AC. This study offers preliminary insights into the postharvest physiology of blue honeysuckle berries harvested at different growth stages.