ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Twenty years of research on postharvest biological control : results and future prospects

Mari M.; Casalini L. and Bertolini P.

5th International Postharvest Symposium . Volume of Abstract . Verona, Italy 6-11 June 2004, p.106

2004

บทคัดย่อ

 Fruit and vegetable losses during postharvest phase are of relevant economic importance. In the most developed countries like USA they can amount up 25% of the total production and exceed 50% in developing o­nes. Chemical treatments and improved storage technologies have greatly extended the postharvest life of fresh fruit and vegetables but the appearance of pathogen resistance to fungicides and health concern over residues of pesticides have stimulated the research for alternative strategies. Within the production chain the postharvest phase is suited to the application of biological control methods as during storage and transport most of the environmental, parameters such as temperature, relative humidity and gas composition can be easily controlled.

During the past 20 years an extended research have been done at CRIOF o­n biological control of pstharvest diseases by antagonistic microorganisms and natural compounds. This paper presents an overview of the results obtained and the problems that will have to be overcome before biocontrol can be applied by the industry. Among the numerous microorganisms isolated and tested, mainly bacteria and yeasts proved to be quite effective against Penicillium spp., Monilinia spp., Rhizapus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea in laboratory and pilot trials at commercial level. However the lack of efficacy in some trials evidenced the need to improve the research o­n the influence of the environmental conditions, of the host and of the formulation. Attempts to improve the efficacy of this strategies by integrating with physicochemical treatments (hot, GRAS, elicitors, sanitizing products, genetic engineering) are promising.