Abstract: Post-harvest quality and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism-related enzyme activities were analyzed in postharvest leeks after exposure to a level of 1.7 kJ/m2 UV-C (ultraviolet C) irradiation. This dose of UV-C irradiation significantly inhibited xanthochromia and rotting rate, and slowed the decline of chlorophyll in leeks, with only 19.47% of chlorophyll degraded in multiple UV-C irradiated leeks 8 days after treatment compared with 30.53% in the control. The losses of protein, total phenols and other nutrients were also reduced by the UV-C treatment. The activities of CAT, POD and SOD were higher in UV-C treated leeks than the control. In conclusion, the data obtained suggest that UV-C irradiation is a potential strategy to improve post-harvest quality of stored leeks.

Key words: leek, UV-C, post-harvest quality, storage, ROS metabolism-related enzymes