Management of Post-Harvest Anthracnose: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Anthracnose is a severe disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. on several crop species. Fungal infections can occur both in the field and at the post-harvest stage causing severe lesions on fruits and economic losses. Physical treatments and synthetic fungicides have traditionally been the preferred means to control anthracnose adverse effects; however, the urgent need to decrease the use of toxic chemicals led to the investigation of innovative and sustainable protection techniques. Evidence for the efficacy of biological agents and vegetal derivates has been reported; however, their introduction into actual crop protection strategies requires the solutions of several critical issues. Biotechnology-based approaches have also been explored, revealing the opportunity to develop innovative and safe methods for anthracnose management through genome editing and RNA interference technologies. Nevertheless, besides the number of advantages related to their use, e.g., the putative absence of adverse effects due to their high specificity, a number of aspects remain to be clarified to enable their introduction into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols against Colletotrichum spp. disease.

Exogenous application of a Burkholderia sp. and jasmonic acid at the postharvest stage for management of anthracnose in dessert banana (Musa acuminata)

“…BSL isolate (1 × 10 8 cfu/mL) and jasmonic acid (0.2 mM) to reduce anthracnose development significantly in banana cultivars Kolikuttu and Seenikesel, under naturally infected and artificially inoculated conditions, proving its potential to control quiescent and wound anthracnose. These findings are in agreement with the large body of research findings elaborated by Ciofini et al (2022) on the reduction of anthracnose in several agricultural commodities by exogenous treatment of microbial antagonists and JA or Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) (Bron et al, 2023; Gonzalez‐Aguilar et al, 2003). Bacteria (e.g.…”

“…and yeast (i.e. Metchnikowia pulcherrima and Pichia kluyveri ) have been reported by Ciofini et al (2022) as potential biological control agents for reducing anthracnose caused by C. gloeosporioides , C. acutatum and C. truncatum in several horticultural crops. According to Droby et al (1999) postharvest applications of jasmonates (i.e.…”

“…& Curt) v. Arx. C. musae performs two types of infections namely, latent (quiescent) and wound (Ciofini et al, 2022; Prusky et al, 2000). Fruit damage in export banana is mainly caused by wound anthracnose (Chillet et al, 2007), and latent infection of banana fruits starts when the crop is in the plantations and develops symptoms on the peel at the stage of fruit ripening (Chillet et al, 2007; Shuai et al, 2020).…”

“…& Curt) v. Arx.C. musae performs two types of infections namely, latent (quiescent) and wound (Ciofini et al, 2022;Prusky et al, 2000). Fruit damage in export banana is mainly caused by wound anthracnose (Chillet et al, 2007), and latent infection of banana fruits starts when the…”

Antifungal Activity of <i>Poncirus trifoliata</i> Roots against Colletotrichum Species

“…These techniques include physical treatments, such as storage in a controlled-atmosphere (temperature and humidity) environment, radiation with low energy γ-rays, hot air and water treatment, controlling ethylene production, CO 2 treatment, use of biocontrol agents, and use of chemical fungicides [2] [5]. Fungicide application is the most widely used practice in the pre-and post-harvest prevention of fruit and vegetable loss due to fungal infections [2] [3]. Because of the emergence of resistance to currently used fungicides and the spread of fungal infections to new regions and hosts, there is a need to develop fungicides with novel modes of action and with different target sites from those currently in use.…”