Alleviation of pulp breakdown in harvested longan fruit by acidic electrolyzed water in relation to membrane lipid metabolism

•AEW inhibited longan pulp breakdown through regulating membrane lipid metabolism.•AEW inhibited activities of PLD, lipase and LOX, and the expressions of related genes.•AEW reduced the degradations of membrane phospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids.•AEW retained structural and functional integrity of the cell membrane in longan pulp.