Influence of fruit stalk on reactive oxygen species metabolism and quality maintenance of peach fruit under chilling injury condition

•Fruit stalk retention helped to maintain peach fruit quality during chilling storage.•Fruit stalk retained membrane integrity and reduced MDA level during chilling storage.•Fruit stalk retention reduced the maximum H2O2 peak level during chilling injury (CI).•Fruit stalk retention prevented the decline of antioxidant enzymes activity during CI.