Role of hydroxyl radical in modification of cell wall polysaccharides and aril breakdown during senescence of harvested longan fruit

► OH caused solubilisation or depolymerization of longan cell wall material in vitro. ► OH led to the conversion of Na2CO3 soluble pectin to CDTA soluble pectin in vitro. ► Application of OH speeded up aril breakdown in longan fruit. ► Aril breakdown by OH was related to solubilisation and depolymerization of pectin.