Efficacy of biologically active agents and antagonistic yeast to control the incidence of postharvest diseases: A meta-analysis and meta-regression

Abstract

Fruits are highly susceptible to postharvest diseases, and the application of biological control (biocontrol) agents has proved to be an effective alternative to artificial fungicides, to prolong their shelf-life. Recently, many researchers recommend the combination of low concentrations of bioactive substances (e.g., antioxidants, fungicides, and antimicrobials) with antagonistic yeasts for postharvest disease control. In this work, we used random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of combined treatments against disease incidence percentage (DI%) in wounded fruits. The combined treatments significantly decreased in vivo DI% (mean of relative disease incidence reduction 65.35, [95 %CI: 59.58–71.12; p = 0.00]), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.99%). Both Begg's (p = 1.36) and Egger's test (p = 0.26), suggested no publication bias. Based on the meta-regression analysis, storage temperature and the number of pathogens cells inoculated were the main factors that account for significant variations in DI%. Antagonistic yeast combined with bioactive substances represented effective agents for sustainable control of DI in wounded fruits.