# Melatonin delays softening of postharvest pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) by regulating cell wall degradation, membrane stability and antioxidant systems

*PRI Rank #16 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-physiology-and-cultivation-studies/2026/rank-16*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #16 |
| 18m citations | 27 |
| Journal | Postharvest Biology and Technology |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2024.112852 |
| Corresponding authors | Junheng Lv, Minghua Deng |
| Institution | Yunnan Agricultural University, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-physiology-and-cultivation-studies/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1016/j.postharvbio.2024.112852](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2024.112852)

## Topics

Melatonin treatment · Capsicum annuum L. · fruit softening · cell wall degradation · polygalacturonase · β-glucanase · lipoxygenase · phospholipase · membrane stability · reactive oxygen species (ROS) · catalase · peroxidase · glutathione-to-glutathione disulfide ratio · ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic acid ratio · Superoxide anion · Hydrogen peroxide · Malondialdehyde · lipid peroxidation · Transcriptional regulation · fruit firmness

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/plant-physiology-and-cultivation-studies/2026. Accessed 2026-07-15.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```