Roles of nitric oxide in improving post-harvest horticultural product quality: Crosstalk with hydrogen sulfide.

Postharvest quality maintenance is a key research focus in horticultural science. Nitric oxide (NO), a vital gaseous signaling molecule, significantly improves postharvest quality by inhibiting ethylene (ETH) synthesis, reducing respiration rate, enhancing antioxidant enzyme systems, maintaining cell wall integrity, and regulating secondary metabolism. Currently, the synergistic mechanisms between NO and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have emerged as a research hotspot. The two molecules work in concert to delay postharvest senescence and enhance fruit resistance to low temperature and pathogens involving enzyme activity regulation and physiological synergy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the independent regulatory effects of NO and its crosstalk mechanisms with H2S, providing theoretical foundations for developing efficient and safe postharvest preservation technologies and highlighting their potential applications in green preservation.