Nanotechnology in Managing Fruits and Vegetables Postharvest Diseases

Postharvest diseases significantly reduce the quality and shelf-life of fruits and vegetables (FVs) during transportation, storage, and marketing and cause huge economic losses, particularly in third world countries where almost 50% of harvested FVs are lost before they reach the end consumer. The current strategies to control postharvest diseases include cold storage, hygiene practices and sanitation, biological control, and the use of chemicals. Synthetic fungicides are widely used because of their high efficacy; however, they have detrimental effects on human health. To address this limitation, researchers have continued exploring alternative, innovative, and sustainable control methods, such as using nanotechnology to manage FVs postharvest diseases. The application of nanomaterials is increasingly becoming popular in various industries, partly due to their unique characteristics, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, that can be exploited to manage the growth, development, and proliferation of postharvest diseases in FVs. Nanoformulations such as nanoemulsions, nanocomposites, nanospheres, nano-bubbles, nanocapsules, and metal-based nanoparticles are integrated into existing control methods for controlling postharvest diseases in horticultural crops. Given the growing interest and research in the use of nanotechnology, this chapter discusses the application of nanomaterials in controlling postharvest diseases of FVs, highlighting their modes of action, challenges, and prospects in improving their quality, safety, and marketability.