Stomata emerge as a key factor for improving postharvest quality of leafy vegetables

Stomata are microscopic pores located on the surface of leaves that regulate gas exchange and water loss. While their role during plant growth has been widely studied, a new review highlights that stomatal behaviour also plays a decisive role in maintaining the quality of leafy vegetables after harvest.

The authors explain how stomatal opening and closing directly influence dehydration, wilting and freshness loss in highly perishable products such as leafy greens. These processes affect both visual appearance and texture, two of the quality attributes that most strongly influence consumer purchasing decisions.

Growing conditions also determine shelf life

The review highlights that several preharvest factors influence stomatal behaviour and, consequently, the final quality of fresh produce. These include relative humidity, plant genetics, agronomic practices and environmental growing conditions.

These factors determine the ability of stomata to regulate water loss after harvest, directly affecting storage performance and product shelf life throughout distribution.

Storage conditions can preserve or accelerate deterioration

In addition to preharvest conditions, the review examines how postharvest handling and storage practices affect stomatal activity. Factors such as temperature, relative humidity and cold chain management can either help maintain tissue hydration or accelerate physiological deterioration and shorten commercial shelf life.

The researchers point out that a better understanding of these physiological responses will support the development of more effective preservation strategies tailored to different crops.

Reducing food waste through improved postharvest management

According to the authors, integrating knowledge of stomatal physiology into postharvest management practices can help maintain fresh produce quality for longer periods, reduce food losses and increase consumer satisfaction.

The review concludes that understanding the relationship between preharvest environmental conditions and stomatal behaviour during storage opens new opportunities to optimise fresh fruit and vegetable preservation through plant physiology-based management strategies.

Source

Salehinia, S., Aliniaeifard, S., Addo, P. W., MacPherson, S., Hammad, K., & Lefsrud, M. (2026). Stomata: Plant pores connecting preharvest conditions to postharvest quality. Current Opinion in Food Science. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154326005168