Management of Postharvest Diseases of Vegetables in a Tropical and Sub-tropical Environment of the Kingdom of Eswatini

Abstract

Vegetables are important in human diets as a side dish eaten either cooked or raw as in salads. They are important for their nutritional contribution as major sources of minerals, vitamins, nine essential amino acids, beneficial phytochemicals, fibre and interesting colour from an aesthetic point of view. Despite the immerse health benefits offered by vegetables there are challenges encountered in their post-harvest handling and storage up to consumption. Challenges include post-harvest losses due to diseases. Some losses occur even at household level when vegetables are not stored appropriately when stored under the sink where humidity can be high leading to an environment which promotes diseases. Diseases in the post-harvest chain are caused by bacteria and opportunistic pathogenic fungi. Post-harvest losses of vegetables are not only a threat to nutritional security but a threat to food security as well. The aim of this research study was to document major post-harvest diseases of vegetables found in the Kingdom of Eswatini and to suggest appropriate management strategies or ways of alleviating them.

Emerging potato pathogens affecting food security in southern Africa: Recent research

“…The success of such training efforts has been shown in Kenya and Swaziland inter alia. 45,75 One of the challenges encountered in gathering the information for this review was the lack of published data on disease occurrence and epidemiology, type of pathogen strains present, prevalence of pathogens or effect of diseases on potato production in southern Africa. Smith et al 57 made similar observations on the reporting of plant pests and pathogens in Africa, with the number of reports of new pest introductions in Africa having dropped over the last century compared to Europe.…”

“…35,37 The disease complex is a major concern to the potato industry worldwide and a significant contributing factor to yield losses in southern Africa. 44,45 This disease has increased in both severity and distribution, likely due to an increase in planting of susceptible varieties, and the effect of climate change on the composition of the pathogen population causing soft rot and blackleg in southern Africa. 11 The majority of research on the SRP in southern Africa has been done in South Africa, and to a lesser extent in Zimbabwe.…”

“…11 The majority of research on the SRP in southern Africa has been done in South Africa, and to a lesser extent in Zimbabwe. [44][45][46] The most prevalent pathogen causing soft rot and blackleg in these countries is Pectobacterium brasiliense. 44,45 Pectobacterium brasiliense has been shown to grow at temperatures between 20 °C and 38 °C 47 , which are the prevailing temperatures during the main potato growing seasons in southern Africa.…”