Exogenous adenosine triphosphate application retards cap browning in Agaricus bisporus during low temperature storage

Abstract Exogenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) treatment at 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 µM retarded cap browning in mushrooms by 0, 34, 26, 51 and 32 %, respectively, during storage at 4 °C for 18 days. Triggering signaling H 2 O 2 accumulation arising from elevating NADPH oxidase enzyme activity during 6 days of storage at 4 °C may be pivotal for promoting shikimate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in mushrooms treated with ATP during 18 days of storage at 4 °C. Promoting melatonin accumulation (390 µg kg −1 FW vs . 160 µg kg −1 FW) in mushrooms treated with ATP during cold storage may attribute to signaling H 2 O 2 accumulation. Higher DPPH scavenging capacity (72 % vs . 65 %) in mushrooms treated with ATP may attribute to higher phenols accumulation arising from higher phenylalanine ammonialyase/polyphenol oxidase enzymes activity concomitant with higher alternative oxidase gene expression during 18 days of storage at 4 °C.