15 - Biological control of postharvest diseases in fruit vegetables

Abstract

This chapter describes the situation on the use of microorganisms for controlling postharvest diseases in fruit and vegetables after more than 20 years of research. The most remarkable results in selection, mode of action, production and formulation of biocontrol agents (BCAs), possible approaches to improve their viability and efficacy and the integration with other alternative methods have been described. However, all the effort conducted until now to implement the use of biocontrol agents as a practical control strategy has not been enough to bring in a commonly used method at a commercial level. More governmental and industrial support is necessary and new areas of research should be developed to make biological control a real substitute for chemicals.