Unravelling Recent Advances in Ionizing Irradiation-Based Management of Post-Harvest Crop Losses: a Pan-Global Survey

Postharvest disease is a pivotal issue worldwide that causes notable losses of vegetables and fruits. Although a variety of treatments exist for the control of pathogen-induced postharvest losses, it is imperative to develop more eco-friendly and less hazardous replacements to reduce the risks to the environment. Ionizing radiation, a productive nonthermal approach, is considered an additional promising alternative to pre-existing chemicals. However, irradiation singularly cannot be as efficacious as a fungicide, and additionally, an overdose results in detrimental impacts on the physical attributes of the produce. Thus, combined treatments can be proficiently utilized to augment the efficiency and consistency of these treatments against postharvest diseases, thereby providing a potential approach. Although a surplus quantity of fruits and vegetables undergo irradiation treatment every year to regulate postharvest diseases, the use of irradiation is debatable, as it is rarely accepted by consumers and industries. This review addresses the probable modes of action of ionizing radiation, the factors affecting the susceptibility of pathogens, and the impacts of combined treatments involving other physical, chemical, and biological methods.