Effects of Different Radiation-Based Treatments on the Quality of Edible Mushrooms: A Systematic Review

Radiation-based treatments have emerged as important environmental and postharvest regulatory tools for improving the quality of edible mushrooms. Visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, gamma irradiation, and pulsed-light treatments influence mushroom growth, morphogenesis, nutrient accumulation, antioxidant capacity, and storage performance through distinct physiological and molecular mechanisms. However, current findings remain fragmented, and a comprehensive synthesis of their regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms is lacking. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 framework. A structured literature search was performed in the Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI databases. After screening and eligibility assessment, 111 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The available evidence indicates that radiation-based treatments exert stage-dependent and species-specific effects on edible mushrooms. Visible light primarily regulates morphogenesis through photoreceptor-mediated signaling pathways, whereas UV radiation promotes vitamin D2 biosynthesis and antioxidant accumulation through photochemical and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related mechanisms. Gamma irradiation and pulsed-light treatments are mainly applied during postharvest handling to suppress microbial contamination, delay browning and senescence, and extend shelf life. Based on the available evidence, a unified mechanistic framework linking signal perception, ROS regulation, transcriptional reprogramming, metabolic responses, and quality formation is proposed. Despite these advances, substantial challenges remain, including limited mechanistic understanding, insufficient integration of multi-omics evidence, lack of standardized treatment protocols, and difficulties in industrial-scale implementation. Future research should focus on multi-radiation synergistic strategies, precision environmental regulation, and intelligent cultivation systems. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence regarding radiation-mediated quality regulation in edible mushrooms and offers a theoretical basis for optimizing mushroom production and developing sustainable postharvest preservation technologies.