Nitric oxide treatment delays quality deterioration and enzymatic browning of <i>Agaricus bisporus</i> via reactive oxygen metabolism regulation

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive gaseous small molecule that regulates plant growth. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used as an NO donor to study the effects of treatment on browning and antioxidant activity button mushrooms ( Agaricus bisporus ). The findings revealed exogenous alleviated browning, decreased hardness, increased weight loss stored at 4°C for 15 days, reduced accumulation oxygen species membrane lipid peroxidation. Moreover, dramatically anabolism endogenous NO, maintained content substances including flavonoids total phenols, kept catalase superoxide dismutase activities high level. Further studies inhibited enzymes are involved in which polyphenol oxidase (PPO) tyrosinase (TYR), phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activity, with SNP 0.05 mM being most effective. Furthermore, also PPO TYR gene expressions while increasing PAL expression. Therefore, our suggest has potential development delaying postharvest maintaining quality mushrooms.