To obtain an overall view on transcript modification during the tomato fruit in response to postharvest UV-C irradiation (4kJ/m2), a microarrary analysis was performed by using Affymetrix tomato genechip arrays. The results showed that 331 and 150 genes were up- or down-regulated, respectively, more than two folds in postharvest UV-C irradiated tomato fruit as compared with that in control fruit. The up-regulated genes mainly involved cell wall related, signal transduction, stress related and defense response. Conversely, genes related to ethylene and primary metabolism were generally down-regulated. These results opened ways to probe into the molecular mechanisms of the effects of postharvest UV-C irradiation on increasing disease resistance, delaying ripening and prolonging postharvest life in tomato fruit.