The roles of hydrogen sulfide in maintaining postharvest fruit quality: Crosstalk with phytohormones.

Most post-harvest fruit lose the nutritional supply and gradually senescence, resulting in a decline in quality. Therefore, the problem of fruit preservation after harvest has become a hot topic. In recent years, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been considered as a signal molecule to improve the quality of fruit after harvest. This article mainly reviews the research progress of H2S in improving postharvest fruit quality, including delayed the postharvest ripening and senescence of fruit, alleviated the postharvest chilling injury and inhibited the postharvest diseases. The specific mechanisms included (1) regulating endogenous H2S biosynthesis, (2) regulating the antioxidant system, (3) regulating sugar and energy metabolism, (4) inhibiting ethylene biosynthesis, (5) regulating cell wall metabolism, (6) inducing defense system, (7) mediating protein persulfidation. This paper reviewed the effect and mechanism of H2S on improving postharvest fruit quality. Additionally, the studies on the combined treatment of H2S with plant hormones have shown a potential effect on extending the shelf life of fruit. This provides a new method and insight for fruit quality industry.