Title:	Pulcherrimin and beyond: The multifaceted role of metschnikowia pulcherrima in postharvest disease management—A scoping review.
Authors:	BELAS, J. P. R. COELHO, C. C. de S. GOTTSCHALK, L. M. F. CAVALCANTI, E. D. C. FREIRE, D. M. G. FREITAS-SILVA, O.
Affiliation:	JULIANA PEREIRA RODRIGUES BELAS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO CAROLINE CORREA DE SOUZA COELHO, CPAF-RR LEDA MARIA FORTES GOTTSCHALK, CTAA ELISA D’AVILA COSTA CAVALCANTI, UNIVERSIADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO DENISE MARIA GUIMARÃES FREIRE, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DI RIO DE JANEIRO OTNIEL FREITAS SILVA, CTAA.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Journal of Fungi, v. 12, n. 4, 2026.
Description:	Postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables are a global problem that directly affect food security, the economy, and the environment. These losses are mainly associated with fungal diseases during storage. Due to the limitations of synthetic fungicides, including the development of resistance and risks to human health, there is growing interest in sustainable disease control strategies. This scoping review analyzes the potential of the yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima as a biocontrol agent for postharvest phytopathogens, based on the scientific literature published between 2014 and 2026. The reviewed studies identify several antagonistic mechanisms, including competition for nutrients and space, the production of organic volatile compounds, hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm formation, and the induction of resistance in fruits. In vitro and in vivo assays show that M. pulcherrima effectively reduces postharvest disease incidence and severity caused by certain fungi. Furthermore, its synergistic effect when combined with emerging technologies is notable. The results highlight its potential as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides, although further studies are needed for large-scale commercial application.
Thesagro:	Pós-Colheita Doença Fúngica Fungo Conservação Fruta Hortaliça
NAL Thesaurus:	Postharvest losses Metschnikowia pulcherrima Fungal diseases of plants
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/jof12040298
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CTAA)