ABSTRACT
Grape is an important fruit crop with considerable export and value addition potential. Worldwide, postharvest losses caused by microorganisms have been estimated up to 50% of the harvested crop. In India, postharvest loss in grapes is 8.30% and it is more for distant market sale and less for local market disposal. The grapes are vulnerable for postharvest diseases including grey mould rot, anthracnose, blue rot, Botrytis rot, Fusarium rot and soft rot, whereas black rot and Rhizopus rot are major in India. The use of synthetic fungicides, physical measures, biological agents and plant extracts will have both individual pros and cons in managing the postharvest diseases of grapes. Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) compliance must be considered for designing postharvest management strategies for grapes by following Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to comply with market requirements. Methods to eliminate the microbial load on the berries include physical exposure to UV and fumigation before storage, use of plant-based products and plant defence-activating molecules during transportation and storage known to enhance shelf life and reduce postharvest loss due to pathogenic fungi. By introducing natural enemies of the pathogen, normal growth or activity of pathogen can be restricted. Although botanicals and biological means rated better over fungicides, they are less used commercially. Safer storage methods can be further developed to address the challenges of postharvest diseases of grapes.
