Yeast Warriors: Exploring the Potential of Yeasts for Sustainable Citrus Post-Harvest Disease Management

Citrus fruits stand as pivotal and extensively cultivated fruit crops on a global scale, boasting substantial economic and nutritional significance. Despite their paramount importance, citrus growers and the industry face a formidable obstacle in the form of post-harvest losses caused by plant pathogens. Effectively addressing this challenge has become imperative. The predominant approach to tackle these pathogens has traditionally involved the use of chemical fungicides. However, the escalating environmental concerns associated with chemical interventions, coupled with a growing consumer preference for pesticide-free produce, have catalyzed an earnest quest for alternative methods of disease control in the citrus industry. The antagonistic yeasts hold great promise as biocontrol agents for mitigating post-harvest fungal diseases in citrus. In this regard, this review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the study of yeast strains with biocontrol potential. Thus, the various modes of action employed by these yeasts and their effectiveness against prominent citrus pathogens such as Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum and Geotrichum citri were discussed. Additionally, the review delved into the challenges associated with the practical implementation of yeast-based biocontrol strategies in citrus post-harvest management and investigated the potential of yeast-based approaches to enhance the safety and quality of citrus produce, while reducing the reliance on chemical fungicides and contributing to the sustainable and environmentally responsible future of the citrus industry.