Effects of NO Fumigation on Cell Wall Metabolism in Lycium barbarum Fresh Fruit under Cold Storage

To explore the effect of NO fumigation on cell wall metabolism in Lycium barbarum fresh fruit under cold storage, “Ningqi No. 7” fresh Lycium barbarum fruit was used as the test material, and fumigated with 300 μL/L (0 μL/L NO as control) NO gas for 3 h, and stored at 3±0.5 ℃ for 36 d. The rotting rate, hardness and enzyme activities related to cell wall metabolism were determined regularly.The results showed that 300 μL/L NO treatment inhibited the increase of polygalacturonase (PG), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), cellulase (Cx) and β-glucosidase (β-glu) activities; maintained high content of protopectin in the fresh fruit; reduced the rising rate of soluble pectin content; and alleviated the decline of fruit hardness and the increase of decay rate. It showed that NO treatment mitigated the rate of softening and inhibited the rot decay by decreasing the cell wall metabolism of postharvest Lycium barbarum fresh fruit.