CHAPTER 12 – NOVEL APPROACHES FOR ENHANCING HOST RESISTANCE

This chapter deals with the synthetic fungicides, which are the primary means used for controlling postharvest diseases. The resistance developed by postharvest pathogens to some fungicides, and the withdrawal of a number of key fungicides in response to health concerns over pesticide contamination, have stimulated the search for alternative technologies for postharvest disease control. Among the various possible alternative means of control, much attention has been drawn to the wide range of natural substances with antimicrobial activity. The chapter also examines inducible resistance in harvested tissues, which has recently joined the general concept that resistance in plants can be enhanced by modulating their natural defense mechanisms. Activation of defense responses in harvested crops has been demonstrated in various host–pathogen interactions via application of physical, chemical, or biological elicitors.