Effects of Nitric Oxide and Exogenous Ethylene Treatments on Ethylene Biosynthesis in Feicheng Peach

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and exogenous ethylene on ethylene biosynthesis in harvested Feicheng peaches were studied. The antagonistic actions between NO and exogenous ethylene was also investigated. The Feicheng peaches were fumigated with 10 μL L−1 NO, 1000 μL L−1 ethylene, or 10 μL L−1 NO plus 1000 μL L−1 ethylene for 3 h. The results suggested that application of exogenous ethylene promoted the biosynthesis of endogenous ethylene in peach fruit. The treatment with NO remarkably inhibited the biosynthesis of ethylene by significantly reducing the activities of ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). Ethylene biosynthesis in the fruits treated with both NO and exogenous ethylene was lower than that in fruits treated with exogenous ethylene alone but higher than that in fruits treated with NO alone, suggesting that there were antagonistic actions between NO and exogenous ethylene. NO could inhibit the biosynthesis of ethylene and the catalysis of exogenous ethylene during ethylene biosynthesis in peach fruits.