Multiomics and microecology reveal chlorine dioxide preservation in cowpea

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) was linked to reduced postharvest quality deterioration in 'Heimei No. 8' cowpea. It sustained pod color, firmness, and soluble solids, lowered rust spots, and lowered storage-associated taxa Pantoea and Acremonium associated with softening and decay, while it showed higher putative beneficial Chryseobacterium, consistent with possible competitive spoilage inhibition. At the metabolic and transcriptomic levels, ClO2 upregulated starch and sugar energy-supply-related genes WAXY, SUS, and PK, downregulated low-oxygen inefficient energy metabolism genes PDC and ADH and cell wall degradation and softening-related gene BGL2, and lowered protein degradation products D-amino acids. Membrane lipid repair-related LysoPE 18:1 and LysoPC 16:0 and defense signal jasmonic acid accumulated, reflecting membrane homeostasis and defense-associated responses, and antimicrobial flavonoids orientin, rhein, and pelargonidin-3,5-O-diglucoside increased, suggesting potential pathogen inhibition. Collectively, ClO2 may be linked to energy, defense, secondary metabolism, and microecology, consistent with multi‑faceted preservation effectsthat maintain pod quality.