Salicylic acid inhibits the postharvest decay of goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) by modulating the antioxidant system and phenylpropanoid metabolites

•SA enhanced disease resistance in goji fruit during storage.•SA inhibited disease expansion and ROS levels in goji fruit.•SA enhanced the activities and gene expressions of key disease response proteins.•SA modulated phenylpropanoid metabolites in goji fruit during storage. Goji berry is a perishable fruit after harvest. To explore the biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which salicylic acid (SA) suppresses rot in goji berry, the fruit was treated with SA and stored for 30 d. Compared with the control, the SA-treated fruit showed smaller lesion areas during storage at 20 °C. During storage at 0 °C, the O2∙¯ production and H2O2 levels were lower in SA-treated fruit, although the H2O2 content was higher at the beginning of storage. SA induced the activities and gene expressions of the key proteins (SOD, CAT, APX and POD) associated with redox homeostasis. Simultaneously, the activities and gene expressions of PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI and CAD in phenylpropanoid metabolism was activated. Moreover, the production of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, protocatechuic acid, naringenin, and rutin were stimulated to maintain the higher levels by the most effective SA treatment (2 mmol L−1). The results indicate that SA inhibits rot of goji fruit during storage by mediating the antioxidant system and phenylpropanoid metabolism.