ABSTRACT
Litchi or lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit belongs to highly perishable commodity and hence is extremely susceptible to postharvest decay (rot). Important pathogens of litchi fruit at postharvest stage are Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioide, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Botryodiplodia sp. and Peronophythora litchii. Several factors directly and indirectly influence postharvest disease worldwide, and the losses due to these factors can be reduced by using different type of techniques, viz. sulphur fumigation, modified packaging techniques, fungicide and hot water dips. Results have shown that biological control by the fructoplane antagonist Bacillus subtilis is the most effective alternative for large-scale application. This chapter summarizes the symptoms and an etiology of postharvest diseases of litchi and the results of various studies conducted to manage postharvest losses in litchi. A future research direction and management options are also suggested.
