Developing an LED preservation technology to minimize strawberry quality deterioration during distribution

•405 nm LEDs caused a 3.4 log CFU/g inhibition of R. stolonifer on strawberries.•The corresponding inhibition of B. cinerea was 1.9 log CFU/g.•The mass, color and texture of strawberries were unaffected by illumination.•The total phenol content and anthocyanin content of strawberries were increased.•405 nm LED technology helps decrease postharvest spoilage in fruit supply chain. This study investigated the effect of LED illumination on the inactivation of Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea on strawberries and physicochemical properties of the strawberries. Twelve days of illumination resulted in an antifungal effect of 3.4 and 1.9 log CFU/g on R. stolonifer and B. cinerea respectively. The illumination caused no significant effect (P ≥ 0.05) on the mass, color and texture of strawberries. Furthermore, total phenolic content, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and anthocyanin content of the illuminated strawberries significantly increased (P