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The effectiveness of nitric oxide (NO) for control of grey spot rot cause by <i>Pestalotiopsis eriobotryfolia</i> in harvested loquat fruit and its probable mechanisms have been investigated. The results showed that NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) did not evidently inhibit mycelial growth and spore germination of <i>P. eriobotryfolia</i>, but resulted in a low disease incidence and small lesion diameter. SNP resulted in a higher hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) level in the early stage after inoculation and a lower H₂O₂ level in the latter period by regulating the activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase. At the same time, SNP enhanced the activities of chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonialyase, polyphenoloxidase, and total phenolic content in loquat fruit. However, SNP treatment inhibited the activities of cell wall-modifying enzymes and the modification of cell wall components. Our results suggested that NO treatment might have potential in reducing grey spot rot of postharvest loquat fruit.