Abstract
Fresh produce is nutritious but perishable. This study investigated the efficacy of single-pulse silicic acid immersion for extending shelf life and examined the underlying physiological and microbial mechanisms. A concentration gradient of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 mM silicic acid was evaluated, with 10 mM determined as optimal considering both efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Following single-pulse immersion in 10 mM silicic acid for 1 minute, lettuce stored at 25 °C for 5 days exhibited only 5% weight loss, substantially lower than the 16% observed in controls. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed silicon deposition on leaf surfaces. Silicon application increased chlorophyll content by 38% and vitamin C by 13%, while reducing nitrite levels by 91% below safety standards. Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD) increased by 74%–383%. Microbial analysis revealed 83% reduction in bacterial load, altered β-diversity, and decreased spoilage-associated microorganisms including Pseudomonas , Stenotrophomonas , and Pantoea . Washing removed 31% of deposited silicon, ensuring consumer safety with silicon intake far below established thresholds. The method demonstrated broad applicability: cherry tomatoes and Kyoho grapes showed negligible decay after 5 days, with hardness increasing by 38% and 30%, respectively. Single-pulse silicic acid immersion provides a non-toxic approach for extending produce shelf life while maintaining nutritional quality.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
Lettuce immersed once in 10 mM silicic acid for 1 minute and stored at 25 °C for 5 days lost only 5% weight versus 16% in controls.
- Taxon
- lettuce
Lactuca sativat0 - Treatment
- single-pulse immersion in 10 mM silicic acid for 1 minutee0
- Outcome
- weight losse0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Value
- 5%e0
- Qualifier
- 16% observed in controlse0
- Comparator
- controlse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Following single-pulse immersion in 10 mM silicic acid for 1 minute, lettuce stored at 25 °C for 5 days exhibited only 5% weight loss, substantially lower than the 16% observed in controls”
Claim · model-written summary
Of the silicic acid concentrations tested (0 to 20 mM), 10 mM was determined optimal considering efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- efficacy and cost-effectivenesse0
- Value
- 10 mMe0
- Qualifier
- optimale0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“with 10 mM determined as optimal considering both efficacy and cost-effectiveness”
Claim · model-written summary
SEM-EDS analysis confirmed silicon deposition on leaf surfaces.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Organ / stage
- leaf surfacese0
- Outcome
- silicon depositione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“SEM-EDS analysis confirmed silicon deposition on leaf surfaces”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon application increased lettuce chlorophyll content by 38%.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- Silicon applicatione0
- Outcome
- chlorophyll contente1
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 38%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Silicon application increased”
e1“chlorophyll content by 38%”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon application increased lettuce vitamin C by 13%.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- Silicon applicatione0
- Outcome
- vitamin Ce1
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 13%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Silicon application increased”
e1“vitamin C by 13%”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon application reduced nitrite levels in lettuce by 91%, below safety standards.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- Silicon applicatione0
- Outcome
- nitrite levelse1
- Direction
- reducinge1
- Value
- 91%e1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Silicon application increased”
e1“reducing nitrite levels by 91% below safety standards”
Claim · model-written summary
Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD) increased by 74%-383%.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD)e0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 74%–383%e0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POD) increased by 74%–383%”
Claim · model-written summary
Microbial analysis revealed an 83% reduction in bacterial load.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- bacterial loade0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 83%e0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“83% reduction in bacterial load”
Claim · model-written summary
Microbial analysis revealed altered β-diversity.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- β-diversitye0
- Qualifier
- alterede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“altered β-diversity”
Claim · model-written summary
Spoilage-associated microorganisms including Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Pantoea decreased.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Interactor
- Pseudomonas
Pseudomonase0other - Second interactor
- Stenotrophomonas
Stenotrophomonase0other - Outcome
- spoilage-associated microorganismse0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Qualifier
- Pantoeae0
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“decreased spoilage-associated microorganisms including Pseudomonas , Stenotrophomonas , and Pantoea”
Claim · model-written summary
Washing removed 31% of the deposited silicon.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Treatment
- Washinge0
- Outcome
- deposited silicone0
- Direction
- removede0
- Value
- 31%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“Washing removed 31% of deposited silicon”
Claim · model-written summary
Silicon intake from washed lettuce was far below established thresholds.
- Taxon
- lettuceLactuca sativat0
- Outcome
- silicon intakee0
- Qualifier
- far below established thresholdse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“lettuce”
e0“silicon intake far below established thresholds”
Claim · model-written summary
Cherry tomatoes treated with single-pulse silicic acid showed negligible decay after 5 days.
- Taxon
- cherry tomatoes
Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiformee0 - Outcome
- decaye1
- Qualifier
- negligiblee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cherry tomatoes”
e1“showed negligible decay after 5 days”
Claim · model-written summary
Kyoho grapes treated with single-pulse silicic acid showed negligible decay after 5 days.
Verbatim
e0“Kyoho grapes”
e1“showed negligible decay after 5 days”
Claim · model-written summary
Hardness of cherry tomatoes increased by 38% after treatment.
- Taxon
- cherry tomatoesSolanum lycopersicum var. cerasiformee0
- Outcome
- hardnesse1
- Direction
- increasinge1
- Value
- 38%e1
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cherry tomatoes”
e1“hardness increasing by 38% and 30%”
Claim · model-written summary
Hardness of Kyoho grapes increased by 30% after treatment.
Not reportedTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“Kyoho grapes”
e1“hardness increasing by 38% and 30%”
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