Aug 2026· Frontiers in Nutrition· Vol 13· 0 citations· 102 references
Abstract
Postharvest losses of horticultural produce, primarily due to microbial decay, remain a major challenge to global food security, accounting for 35–50% of production annually. To control this, overuse of synthetic fungicides has led to pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and health concerns, prompting a shift toward sustainable biocontrol agents (BCAs). This review comprehensively examines the potential of microbial antagonists (yeasts, bacteria, and fungi), plant-based agents (essential oils and extracts), and natural compounds (e.g., chitosan, alginate, organic acids, etc.) for managing postharvest diseases in fruits and vegetables. Key mechanisms of action including competition for nutrients and space, production of antifungal metabolites and enzymes, biofilm formation, induction of host resistance, and volatile organic compounds are discussed in detail. Application strategies (pre- and postharvest), synergistic integrations with physical/chemical treatments, advantages over conventional pesticides, and major challenges (e.g., formulation stability, regulatory hurdles, and commercialization) are critically analyzed. Emerging approaches such as omics technologies, microbial consortia, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology offer promising avenues to enhance BCA efficacy and consistency. This review highlights successful examples and future perspectives of BCAs in postharvest diseases control setup and more importantly their co-applications together with other natural disease control methods and technologies. Finally, it underscores BCAs as viable, eco-friendly alternatives that can extend shelf life, preserve quality, and support sustainable postharvest management.
Pre- and postharvest losses caused by fungal infections represent one of the greatest constraints in agricultural production worldwide. Due to increasingly stringent regulations, as well as environmental and health concerns associated with their use, synthetic fungicides have been restricted, driving the development and application of sustainable alternatives within the framework of integrated plant disease management. Among these, Actinobacteria (also referred to as Actinomycetota) have attracted considerable attention over the past decades due to their versatile metabolites and plant growth-promoting properties, supporting their potential application as bacterial biocontrol agents. Their activity against phytopathogenic fungi is largely associated with direct antagonistic mechanisms. Currently, special attention is paid to the excreted secondary metabolites, lytic enzymes, volatile organic compounds and their in vitro antifungal activity. Therefore, this review summarizes current knowledge on these direct mechanisms, aiming to support the future application of actinobacteria and their metabolites as part of biological plant disease management strategies.
András Sáhó, E. Lakatos, Babett Greff· Agriculture· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Postharvest fungal diseases are major contributors to global losses of fruits and vegetables, while excessive reliance on synthetic fungicides has raised concerns regarding resistance development, environmental contamination, and food safety. Essential oil derived from aromatic plants have emerged as promising natural alternatives due to their broad-spectrum antifungal activity, biodegradability, and Generally Recognized as Safe status. This review critically evaluates recent advances in essential oil-based postharvest disease management, focusing on antifungal mechanisms, application strategies, formulation technologies, and commercialization challenges. Essential oils inhibit fungal pathogens through membrane disruption, inhibition of spore germination and enzymatic activity, induction of oxidative stress, and alteration of cell wall integrity. Recent developments in edible coatings, nanoencapsulation, fumigation systems, and biodegradable delivery platforms have improved essential oil stability, controlled release, and practical applicability. However, large-scale adoption remains constrained by variability in essential oil composition, formulation costs, phytotoxicity risks, regulatory inconsistencies, and limited industrial scalability. Future research should prioritize mechanistic validation under commercial conditions, standardization of formulations, safety assessment of nano-enabled systems, and development of cost-effective application technologies. Essential oil-based preservation systems have strong potential as sustainable alternatives to improve food safety, reduce postharvest losses, and support environmentally responsible agriculture.
Bhaskar Dowarah, Rosie Brahma, C. Mili et al.· International Journal of Veg...· 0 citations
Fruits such as mango (Mangifera indica), apple (Malus × domestica ), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), are consumed worldwide and fall under a highly economical category of crops. In contrast, the postharvest management against fungal infections particularly remains a challenge for maintaining the quality standards of these fruits. For decades, farmers have been dependent upon synthetic fungicides, thus having a serious impact on human health as well as the overall ecosystem. In order to avoid such situations, diverse research laboratories around the world have discovered safe alternatives to these chemical fungicides. The current review aims to summarize as well as analyze the substitute postharvest treatments, including plant extracts, edible films/coatings, green metallic nanoparticles, and plant-based essential oils for controlling fungal infections. The review also highlights the challenges related to each methodology. Natural fungicides effectively kill or inhibit postharvest fungi in addition to maintaining the overall fruit quality that is of utmost importance for retailers, farmers, and ultimate consumers.
H. Kumar, Kamil Kuča, Nidhi Sethi et al.· Beni-Suef University Journal...· 0 citations
The dual application of microalgae for carbon sequestration and wastewater treatment is emphasized, along with their ability to enrich soil, which aligns with the objectives of closed-loop systems and circular agriculture.
Adeline Juanita, S. Mohanty, Kaustubha Mohanty· Blue Biotechnology· 0 citations
Trichoderma species are widely investigated and commercially applied as eco-friendly biocontrol agents in sustainable agriculture. These filamentous fungi protect plants through multiple complementary mechanisms, including mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition for nutrients and ecological niches, and induction of systemic resistance in host plants. These activities are mediated by a diverse array of secondary metabolites, hydrolytic enzymes, and signaling pathways that collectively suppress pathogens and enhance plant health. Beyond disease control, selected Trichoderma strains promote plant growth by improving nutrient acquisition, modulating phytohormone signaling, and increasing tolerance to abiotic stresses. This review summarizes recent advances in the mechanisms underlying Trichoderma spp. mediated biocontrol, with particular emphasis on secondary metabolites, formulation strategies, commercialization, and field applications. Commercial products are available in various formulations, including wettable powders, granules, and liquid preparations, and have demonstrated efficacy against several economically important plant diseases under field conditions. However, their performance remains highly dependent on strain characteristics, host species, environmental conditions and agricultural practices, resulting in inconsistent efficacy across agroecosystems. Recent progress in genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics has substantially improved our understanding of Trichoderma–plant–pathogen interactions and revealed considerable strain-specific variation in biocontrol and plant growth-promoting traits. Future research should prioritize strain-specific optimization, formulation stability, microbiome-informed applications, and improved field predictability. Overall, Trichoderma spp. Represents a valuable component of integrated disease management, offering an effective and sustainable alternative to synthetic pesticides.
Sidratul Muntaha Binta Anam Otithi, Md. Sohel Rana, M. Islam et al.· Plants· 0 citations