表皮蜡质在植物果实生长和贮藏中发挥着重要作用。蜡质是覆盖在果实表皮细胞最外层不溶于水的物质，主要包括超长链脂肪酸（VLCFAs）及其衍生物（酯、初级醇、次级醇、醛、酮等）和三萜。这种复杂的脂类化合物在大多数植物表皮细胞中合成并转运至细胞表面。蜡质不仅有利于果实免受微生物侵染，还能减少果实的机械损伤，从而保持果实的商品价值。迄今为止，关于果实蜡质的研究多集中于采前果实蜡质的变化、功能和调控，而忽略了果实采后贮藏过程中蜡质变化及生物学功能。本文对果实表皮蜡质组成、结构及其代谢调控进行综述。重点阐述影响蜡质组成的采后因素，如贮藏温度、相对湿度（RH）、气体环境、外源激素等，以及蜡质对果实采后品质的影响，包括水分散失、果实软化、生理失调、抗病性等。这些总结可能有助于更好地了解采后果实表皮蜡质变化及其在果实品质保持中的作用。

Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits. The cuticular wax coating, which covers the outermost layer of a fruit's epidermal cells, is insoluble in water. Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs); their derivatives, including esters, primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones; and triterpenoids. This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface. Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit, thereby maintaining the fruit's commodity value. To date, research has mostly focused on the changes, function, and regulation of fruit wax before harvest, while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage. This paper reviews on the composition, structure, and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits. It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition, such as storage temperature, relative humidity (RH), gas atmosphere, and as exogenous hormones; and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality, including water dispersion, fruit softening, physiological disorders, and disease resistance. These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.