Near-freezing temperature storage improves shelf-life and suppresses chilling injury in postharvest apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.) by regulating cell wall metabolism

•Near freezing temperature (NFT) storage mitigating the occurrence of chilling injury.•NFT storage suppresses the activity of cell wall degrading enzymes.•NFT storage delays degradation of pectin, cell wall and chloroplast.•NFT storage improved the quality of apricots during storage and shelf life.•Chilling resistance in NFT storage is related to the content of polysaccharides.