Current status and future trends of eco-friendly management of postharvest fungal decays in tomato fruit

Zhenshuo Wang; Mumian Wu; Qinhong Liao; Yawen Wang; Yuan Sui; Chao Gong

doi:10.1038/s41538-025-00477-w

Current status and future trends of eco-friendly management of postharvest fungal decays in tomato fruit

NPJ Sci Food. 2025 Jun 18;9(1):104. doi: 10.1038/s41538-025-00477-w.

Authors

Zhenshuo Wang^#¹, Mumian Wu^#^{2

3}, Qinhong Liao^#⁴, Yawen Wang^{2

3}, Yuan Sui⁵, Chao Gong⁶

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Lab of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
² Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
³ College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
⁴ Chongqing Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation of Special Aromatic Spice Plants, College of Smart Agriculture/Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, 402160, China.
⁵ Chongqing Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation of Special Aromatic Spice Plants, College of Smart Agriculture/Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, 402160, China. suiyuan-mine@163.com.
⁶ Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China. gongchao@gdaas.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

This article reviews sustainable strategies to control postharvest fungal decay (e.g., Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria spp., and Colletotrichum gloeosporioide) in tomato. Eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides, focusing on microbial antagonists, and integrated approaches combining biological control with natural compounds, are discussed. Emerging technologies like microbial consortia, nanomaterials, and CRISPR/Cas9 show great potential, though further research and regulatory approval are required. These sustainable methods are crucial for maintaining tomato quality and yield while supporting environmentally responsible production.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

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