ABSTRACT
Fruits and vegetables contain high moisture content and hence become infected by several postharvest pathogens, causing heavy losses. For the control of postharvest diseases, fungicides are primarily used. However, due to consumer awareness about harmful effects of fungicides, there is now a search for safer and more eco-friendly alternatives. As of now, several biological approaches have been recommended to reduce losses caused by postharvest diseases across the globe. These approaches include use of resistant varieties, induction of resistance, use of plant extracts and essential oils and microbial antagonists. Accordingly, several bioagents, such as Debaryomyces hansenii Lodder & Kreger-van Rij, Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn, Cryptococcus laurentii Kufferath & Skinner, and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, have been attempted with success. Accordingly, some biocontrol products such as BioSave, Aspire, Yieldplus, Rhioplus, Mesenger, Shemer, etc., have also been developed and registered. Bioagents suppress postharvest pathogens by competition for nutrients and space, antibiosis, direct parasitism, and by inducing resistance in the harvested fruits and vegetables. Bioagents are applied either before or after harvest, but postharvest applications are more effective. Mixed cultures of the bioagents provide better control of postharvest diseases over individual cultures or strains. Similarly, the efficacy of bioagents can be enhanced if they are used with low doses of salt additives, fungicides, growth regulators and physical treatments such as hot water dips, irradiation, etc. This technology is an emerging technology but results are to be tested on commercial scale and under field conditions.
