Main diseases in postharvest blueberries, conventional and eco-friendly control methods: A review

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a very attractive crop mainly for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, it is susceptible to different postharvest diseases such as gray mold and anthracnose causing mainly by fungi and bacteria. In this regard, different control methods of chemical nature, physical and biological origin are applied to these fruits to prevent and decrease these diseases. Synthetic fungicides are the main control method, however, they can cause harm to human health and the environment. Therefore, other methods have been studied such as modified atmospheres, UV radiation, and natural origin compounds such as chitosan and essential oils extracted from plants with antimicrobial properties, as well as microbial antagonists (bacteria, fungus, and yeast). Hence, the objective of this review is to analyze the main pathogens that attack blueberry fruits during the postharvest period, and to address the different control methods applied, their possible mechanisms of action and their impact on fruit quality.