Postharvest anthracnose disease in mango (Mangifera indica L.) fruit: Sustainable alternatives for the control

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) anthracnose disease has been a challenging issue for the past several years, causing about 30%–60% economic loss in its annual production. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides survives as an endophyte, during later stages develops infection, thereby causing serious pre- as well as postharvest crop losses. Such losses become difficult to overcome as the supply of the fruit gets affected due to quality reduction as a result of anthracnose. For many decades, synthetic fungicides have been used as primary control measures to the disease. However, indiscriminate use of synthetic fungicides against the pathogen has raised concerns due to their detrimental effects on environmental health and residual toxicity in plants and fruits. The disease resistance and resurgence against synthetic fungicides have also been major threat to farming community and stakeholders. Given these harmful effects, researchers, agro-industries, and farming communities are exploring sustainable alternatives to anthracnose disease in mango with phyto-extracts and essential oils as promising options globally. This comprehensive review suggests eco-friendly alternative for combating C. gloeosporioides in mango fruit. The effectiveness of plant-based extracts and oils in preventing anthracnose-related postharvest losses is highlighted, along with the future prospects for high-quality mangoes. The botanical-based management strategies can also provide a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic control measures and reduce chemical load in the management of the disease during storage. In the context of climate change, developing and using these options will have a strong potential to address the challenges posed by chemicals.