Biocontrol mechanisms of antagonistic yeasts on postharvest fruits and vegetables and the approaches to enhance the biocontrol potential of antagonistic yeasts.

During storage and transportation, fruits and vegetables are susceptible to various pathogens, leading to quality degradation and significant economic losses. Currently, chemical pesticides are primarily used for control; however, their overuse poses serious threats to human health and causes environmental pollution. Biocontrol, known for its environmentally friendly characteristics, has been extensively studied. Among biocontrol agents, yeasts are widely distributed and possesses strong antagonistic abilities, making them crucial agents against numerous pathogenic fungi. Despite their considerable promise, the full potential of antagonistic yeasts for broader application remains untapped. Therefore, this paper reviews the mechanisms of antagonistic yeasts as biocontrol agents for postharvest diseases, including space and nutrients competition, competition for scarce iron resources, parasitism, production of soluble and volatile antifungal compounds, and induction of host systemic resistance. The paper also introduces research on the combined application of antagonistic yeasts with physical, chemical, and other microbial methods. Ultimately, this review provides a potential pathway to enhance the biocontrol effectiveness of antagonistic yeasts and expand their application prospects.