Transcriptome analysis reveals the mechanism of caffeic acid-grafted-chitosan/polylactic acid film packaging to delay quality deterioration in postharvest Agaricus bisporus

• CA-g-CS/PLA regulates essential genes to maintain the quality of A. bisporus. • CA-g-CS/PLA retards cell membrane damage and elongation in A. bisporus. • CA-g-CS/PLA promotes the activation of MAPK signalling pathway in A. bisporus . In this study, the self-developed caffeic acid-grafted-chitosan/polylactic acid (CA-g-CS/PLA) film was applied to the preservation of Agaricus bisporus , and the potential mechanism of retarding its quality loss through regulation of essential genes was further explored. The results of transcriptome analysis showed that CA-g-CS/PLA packaging could regulate essential genes involved in membrane lipid metabolism and energy metabolism to delay the decrease in unsaturated fatty acids, energy loss and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by decreasing the respiration rate of A. bisporus . In addition, the expression of SHO1 and wis1 related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in the CA-g-CS/PLA group of A. bisporus was increased, which indicated that the osmotic balance could be better maintained. Therefore, CA-g-CS/PLA packaging could improve the quality of postharvest A. bisporus by regulating the essential genes related to the pathway of membrane lipid metabolism, energy and ROS metabolism, and MAPK signalling transduction.