Author(s): Ananya Reetu Gogoi, Lalfakawma Khiangte, Sukram Thapa, Deewakar Baral and and Bikash Subba

Abstract: Fruit postharvest decay management is crucial because it directly affects financial loss and food security. Various pathogens are to blame for the significant fruit losses during storage and transportation. Abuse of chemical fungicides to prevent postharvest infections causes severe Pollution of the surroundings and harm to human health. Since Gutter and Littauer originally described the use of Bacillus subtilis against citrus fruit diseases in 1953 for human health, the biocontrol potential of microbes against postharvest degradation has drawn substantial attention. Yeast and yeast-like fungi are crucial among the various microbial antagonists since they can be genetically improved, have resilient biocontrol efficacy against diseases and are ecologically friendly. In addition, these antagonistic yeasts exhibit an advanced system for handling, culturing, storing, and fermenting, Competition for nutrition and space is just one of the many explanations put out to explain their aggressive behaviour, the parasitism of the pathogen, the dispersion of antifungal agents, the emergence of host resistance, the creation of biofilms, and, most recently, the usage of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the defence response. Throughout the last couple of decades, there has been plenty of research on the biocontrol mechanisms of antagonistic yeast. Antagonistic yeasts were coupled with additional substances or treatments to enhance the efficacy of biocontrol. This review covers the following topics: improving efficacy, commercial applications, using antagonistic yeasts to control postharvest degradation, including hostile yeast species and sources, antagonistic procedures, and using antagonistic yeasts.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i7k.1632