Abstract
Research carried out in the D²BIOFRUITS project focussed on four fruit species considered susceptible to losses: peach, mango, chestnut and table grapes. First, tools for quantifying and evaluating the factors causing losses in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector weredeveloped through company diagnostics and identification of key processes. A method to identify chestnut diseases and a tool to anticipate losses of table grapes have also been developed. Other research focussed on the evaluation of physical methods (heattreatments, controlled atmosphere, anoxia, UV-C) or using biological control products (antagonistic yeast and essential oils). Physical techniques have been found to be the most effective in controlling the development of rot or killing insects inside thefruit,and some can be quickly transferred on a large scale. The application of the antagonistic yeast Metschnikowia fructicolaor essential oils have shown in vitro efficacy on fungi responsible for fruit rot, but this efficacy has not been validated in post-harvest fruit applications.