Abstract:To compare the sterilization effectiveness and impact on storage quality of fresh-cut lotus root between plasma-activated water(PAW) and commonly used preservatives(L-ascorbic acid, sodium hypochlorite), this study investigates the effects of PAW on browning, phenolic substances, and reactive oxygen species metabolism in fresh-cut lotus root. The ‘Elian 5’ lotus root cultivar was chosen as the research subject, with distilled water treated as a blank control. The fresh-cut lotus root samples were soaked in PAW, L-ascorbic acid solution, or sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes, followed by storage at 4 ℃ for 12 days. Various relevant indicators were measured during the storage period. The results showed that all 3 treatments could effectively maintain the storage quality of lotus root. Among them, PAW exhibited the best antibacterial effect and moisture retention, while L-ascorbic acid could better delay the decline of hardness and VC content in lotus root. Furthermore, PAW could effectively reduce the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in fresh-cut lotus root by maintaining higher levels of reactive oxygen species metabolism enzyme activity, preserving the integrity of cell membrane structure. Simultaneously, it inhibited the activity of peroxidase, inducing the accumulation of phenolic substances, ultimately slowing down the browning process. In conclusion, PAW can effectively maintain the storage quality of fresh-cut lotus root, inhibit microbial growth and browning, and has broad application prospects in the field of sterilization and preservation of fresh-cut lotus root.