Effectiveness of antagonistic yeasts and essential oils in the control of postharvest diseases of fruit

Postharvest decays are a major challenge during storage of fruit. Essential oils (EOs) and biocontrol agents (BCAs) could be promising alternatives to synthetic fungicides to reduce postharvest decay. The research aimed to find alternative solutions to fun gicides to control postharvest pathogens of fruit crops, including strawberries and nectarines. Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Aureobasidium pullulans were identified as effective BCAs for controlling postharvest rots of strawberry, significantly reducing r ot incidence and severity without compromising fruit quality. Microbiome analysis revealed insights into the fungal community shift in response to treatments. A similar approach was employed to control brown rot in nectarines, with yeasts such as M. pulcherrima and A. pullulans exhibiting efficacy comparable to chemical treatments. These BCAs did not adversely affect fruit quality and demonstrated promising potential for disease management. Additionally, the study explored the use of EOs as an alternative t o synthetic fungicides for controlling storage rots in nectarines. Basil, fennel, and lemon EOs showed significant inhibition activity, reducing rot without compromising fruit quality. Microbiome analysis highlighted modifications in fungal genera abundanc e. While treatments effectively reduced Monilinia spp., basil EO appeared to favour the presence of Penicillium spp. These findings contribute to the development of sustainable strategies for postharvest disease management of fruit.