Effects of ⁶⁰Coγ-irradiation combined with sodium dehydrogenate on post-harvest preservation and physiological indices of <i>Volvariella volvacea</i>

<i>Volvariella volvacea</i> is a mushroom known for its high palatability and nutritional value. However, it is susceptible to spoilage thus making it challenging to preserve and keep fresh after harvest, resulting in constraints in long-distance transportation and long-term storage. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using irradiation and sodium dehydrogenate (SD) as a preservative in the preservation process of <i>V. volvacea</i>. The effects of three treatments of 0.8 kGy ⁶⁰Coγ irradiation (B), 0.04% SD (C), combined with 0.04% SD and 0.8 kGy ⁶⁰Coγ irradiation (A) on the postharvest freshness of <i>V. volvacea</i> were investigated. The assessment indices for <i>V. volvacea</i>, including appearance, browning rate, weight loss, respiration rate, MDA content, antioxidant enzyme activities, vitamin C (Vc), and soluble protein content, were measured and compared. The three treatments were compared to determine the changes in storage time over 7 days post-harvest. The results demonstrated that the hardness of the fruiting body exhibited a significant increase of 81.19%, 97.96% and 168.81% in comparison to the control, B and C, respectively, following the application of the treatment A. Compared to the control group, the soluble protein content was significantly increased by 20.28%. Respiration intensity and browning rate were significantly lower in the control treatment, decreasing by 35.07% and 45.49% respectively. On the 6th day of storage, the activities of SOD and POD increased by 81.06% and 73.71%, respectively, compared to the control, which significantly delayed the senescence of the fruiting bodies. The Vc content was significantly increased by 50.27%, 133.90%, and 101.39% in treatment B, which received 0.8 kGy ⁶⁰Coγ irradiation alone, compared to the control, treatment A, and treatment C, respectively. The treatment C alone significantly reduced respiratory intensity and MDA variables by 39.55% and 31.01%, respectively, compared to the control. The findings can provide theoretical references and technical support for extending the preservation period of <i>V. volvacea</i> after harvesting by using irradiation and sodium dehydrogenate as a preservative.