Potencial de fungos endofíticos no controle de doenças pós-colheita de frutas

Abstract

Postharvest losses are significant to the agricultural production yield and generate a considerable amount of food losses every year in a world constantly affected by starvation and food unsafety. Moreover, sustainable alternatives are increasingly sought for replacing or reducing conventional methods of postharvest diseases control based on synthetic chemical compounds, which may be harmful to human health and environment. Endophytic fungi has been the subject of several studies for its diverse biotechnological appliance. Endophytic microbes are widely used as a protection against field disease incidence of crops with economic interests. The fungal assortment such as its wealthy bioactive compounds promote a deeper investigation about this alternative and expansion for new areas as postharvest. At this study, a bibliographic survey was accomplished aiming to evaluate endophytic fungi potential and its products in the control of postharvest fruits pathogens. In general, in vivo and in vitro studies revealed the efficiency of endophytic fungi as post-harvest biocontrol agents due its antifungal activity observed against the main pathogens of this management period. Therefore, the endophytic fungi offer an alternative disease control method more sustainable with the possibility of replacing or reducing synthetic fungicide appliances.