DNP and ATP induced alteration in disease development of Phomopsis longanae Chi-inoculated longan fruit by acting on energy status and reactive oxygen species production-scavenging system

•DNP promoted the disease development of harvested longans caused by P. longanae.•ATP delayed the disease development of harvested longans caused by P. longanae.•DNP reduced energy level and ROS scavenging capacity, and raised O2− accumulation.•ATP raised energy level and ROS scavenging capacity, and reduced O2− accumulation.

As compared with P. longanae-inoculated longans, DNP treatment for P. longanae-inoculated longans exhibited higher fruit disease index and pericarp browning index, lower ATP amount and energy charge level, lower activities of SOD, CAT and APX, lower amounts of AsA and GSH, lower levels of DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power, higher O2− generating rate and MDA amount. However, supply of ATP for P. longanae-inoculated longans showed the contrary effects. These results gave convincing evidence that DNP treatment for accelerating pericarp browning and disease development of harvested longans caused by P. longanae was due to decreases of energy production and ROS scavenging capacity, and increases of O2− accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation. Whereas, supply of ATP for retarding pericarp browning and disease development of harvested longans caused by P. longanae was due to increases of energy production and ROS scavenging capacity, and reductions of O2− accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation.