Abstract

This study simulated three postharvest supply chain environments: cold chain (4 °C), low-temperature shelf (15 °C), and room temperature shelf (25 °C), to investigate their impact on the quality deterioration of Flammulina filiformis . Results indicated that storage at 4 °C effectively maintained sensory quality and significantly delayed the accumulation of rigid cell wall components (lignin, cellulose, chitin). After 4 days of storage, the contents of lignin, cellulose, and chitin in samples stored at 4 °C were 2.57%, 19.24%, and 8.72% lower than those stored at 15 °C, respectively, and 10.41%, 28.43%, and 21.10% lower than those stored at 25 °C. This was consistent with the strong inhibition of related enzyme activities, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), peroxidase (POD), chitinase and cellulase. Transcriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that storage temperatures profoundly affected the expression of cell wall metabolism-related genes (e.g., FfCHT3 , FfCHS1 , FfCHS3 , FfEG-A , FfEG-B , FfECH-B , Ffβ-1,3-Glu-A ), potentially by modulating the supply of energy and precursors like UDP-glucose. In conclusion, 4 °C storage delays postharvest quality loss in F. filiformis primarily by downregulating the expression of key genes in cell wall metabolic pathways, whereas 25 °C storage promotes it. These findings provide crucial insights for developing targeted strategies to manage critical logistical nodes and extend the shelf life of F. filiformis .