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Combination of physical and low-toxicity chemical postharvest treatments for integrated disease management of citrus fruit: a review Clara Montesinos-Herrero and Lluís Palou* Laboratori de Patologia, Centre de Tecnologia Postcollita, Institut Valencià d’Investigacions Agràries (IVIA), Apartat Oficial, 46113 Montcada, València, Spain Abstract Purpose of the review: Numerous physical and low-toxicity chemical treatments and their combinations have been evaluated to replace the common synthetic fungicides used to control green and blue moulds and sour rot, the most economically important postharvest diseases of citrus fruit. Although general or more specific research on this subject has been reviewed, new findings are reported every day because of the increasing interest and the large volume of research devoted to the establishment of suitable integrated disease management (IDM) programs. The present review summarises the knowledge on this topic, giving emphasis to the most recent research results and conclusions. Findings: Extensive research about combined physical and low-toxicity chemical treatments shows that the substitution of synthetic fungicides, or an important reduction in their required doses, by alternative treatments is currently feasible. In order to achieve an efficacy level commercially acceptable, these postharvest non-polluting alternative treatments need to be incorporated into IDM programs that also consider a variety of good practices to be followed from the field to the market. Limitations: Even when combined, physical and low-toxicity chemical treatments may lack the persistence and preventive action of conventional fungicides and their effectiveness against established fungal infections depends highly on the species, cultivar and fruit’s physical and physiological condition. High costs, excessive duration or other technological application problems are drawbacks of some effective alternative treatments when compared to the use of chemical fungicides. These handicaps have retarded the widespread commercial replacement of common fungicides by non-toxic alternatives for citrus postharvest management. Directions for future research: Ongoing research about host-pathogen interactions, new and more effective alternative treatments and the effects of these treatments on biochemical and molecular responses of fruits and pathogens is improving the efficacy of alternative treatments and their commercial applicability. In order to completely rely on alternative methods, there is a need to establish specific and optimised non-polluting IDM programs. Keywords: Penicillium digitatum; P. italicum; Geotrichum citri-aurantii; green mould; blue mould; sour rot; integrated disease management; GRAS; heat; antifungal edible coatings Stewart Postharvest Review 2010, 1:1 Published online 01 March 2010 doi: 10.2212/spr.2010.1.1 |