Regulating postharvest pathogen infection and decay using biotechnological tools

Abstract

Regulating postharvest pathogen infection and decay using biotechnological tools explores the critical issues surrounding postharvest losses in fruits and vegetables caused by pathogens and their management. Despite the pivotal role of plants in sustaining life on Earth, they face continuous challenges from environmental stresses, including biotic factors like bacteria, fungi, and insect pests, which lead to preharvest and postharvest crop losses. With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, there is a pressing need to address these losses, estimated at 30%–50% or more, to meet increasing food demands. This chapter delves into the causes of postharvest diseases, including latent infections and infections initiated during and after harvest, highlighting the importance of pathogen detection and identification. Additionally, economic and social challenges posed by postharvest factors, such as environmental pollution from pesticide usage and health risks associated with pesticide residues, are discussed. Conventional methods like chemical treatments are commonly employed for disease control, but their adverse effects necessitate the exploration of alternative strategies. The chapter then explores 136novel biotechnological approaches, including genetic engineering, RNA interference, and genome editing, as promising solutions to mitigate postharvest losses sustainably. While challenges in the commercialization of biotechnological approaches exist, the precision and potential of CRISPRCas-based genome editing offer promising avenues for future research and crop improvement to ensure global food security.