Postharvest Application of Sodium Selenite Maintains Fruit Quality and Improves the Gray Mold Resistance of Strawberry

Strawberry is a worldwide demanded edible fruit with high economic and nutritional value; however, very short storage life largely limits its supply marketing. In this study, strawberries were treated using sodium selenite different concentrations (6, 12, 18, 24 mg/L), the postharvest quality resistance to Botrytis cinerea substantially assessed. Among all concentrations, 12 mg/L Se was most effective treatment, which maintained skin brightness, reduced natural decay incidence, severity, weight loss, increased content in fruit, thus of strawberry. Furthermore, had lower flavonoid, phenolic, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, H2O2, O2− contents compared control and, correspondingly, antioxidant capacity; moreover, treatment decreased incidence severity caused by infection B. cinerea. Collectively, our findings may provide reference for developing safe environmentally friendly alternative methods sustain manage gray mold as well other horticultural crops.