Mechanisms of Chilling Injury and Technologies to Mitigate It in Mango Fruit: A Review

Chilling injury (CI) is a major postharvest challenge in mango (Mangifera indica), leading to physiological and biochemical disruptions that reduce fruit quality. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of CI progression, its underlying mechanisms, and effective mitigation strategies. It highlights key protective responses, including membrane stability, energy maintenance, antioxidant defense, and activation of chilling stress-responsive pathways like the gamma-aminobutyric acid shunt. The role of molecular regulators, such as C-repeat binding factors and the arginine and proline pathways, in CI tolerance is examined. Additionally, chemical (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, melatonin, nitric oxide, progesterone, calcium lactate, sorbitol, polyol) and non-chemical (hot water, low-temperature conditioning, UV radiation, modified atmosphere packaging) treatments are studied for efficacy. The review emphasizes that optimizing these interventions can significantly mitigate CI symptoms, enhance fruit storability, and improve postharvest storage of mangoes.