Utilisation of Plant-Based Product in Post-harvest Disease Management of Fruits

Fungal disease has become a significant threat to plants, animals, and the public. Fungal plant pathogens affect the profitability, quality, and quantity of crop yields through various mechanisms of pathogenesis that compromise the immune system of the plants, such as developing ways to attack the plants, seeking entry via open pores or exposed surfaces or wounds, as well as sourcing nutrients forcefully for their growth and development. These mechanisms will negatively affect the plant's health, homeostasis, and physiology while causing systemic damage, in some cases at severe levels. Synthetic chemical fungicide has been commercially used to control fungal diseases in crops. Unfortunately, the unregulated and excessive use of fungicides can threaten public health due to the toxicological safety of fresh produce, which encourages environmental pollution associated with these chemicals and enhances the development of pathogen resistance to the fungicide. The increasing global population today requires sufficient, safe and synthetic chemical free fresh produce. Therefore, finding alternative ways to improve productivity, quality, and safety of crop yields is of utmost importance.