Horticultural products display fast senescence after harvest at ambient temperatures, resulting in decreased quality and shorter shelf life. As a gaseous signal molecule, nitric oxide (NO) has an important physiological effect on plants. Specifically, in the area of NO and its regulation of postharvest senescence, tremendous progress has been made. This review summarizes NO synthesis; the effect of NO in alleviating postharvest senescence; the mechanism of NO-alleviated senescence; and its interactions with other signaling molecules, such as ethylene (ETH), abscisic acid (ABA), melatonin (MT), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen gas (H2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and calcium ions (Ca2+). The aim of this review is to provide theoretical references for the application of NO in postharvest senescence in horticultural products.
Keywords: molecular interaction; nitric oxide; postharvest; senescence.