Microbiome-based biotechnology for reducing food loss post harvest.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Plant microbiomes enhance resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Inherent microbial communities adapt to host physiology and environmental changes throughout the plant life cycle.
• The role of the plant microbiome, particularly during the postharvest period, remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of inherent plant microbiomes for improving postharvest life of fruits and vegetables.
• To address the significant issue of postharvest losses in produce, currently nearing 50% globally.
• To explore microbiome-based solutions for enhancing storability, quality, and safety of fruits and vegetables.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing novel multiomics technologies to study microbiome responses at a community level.
• Analyzing the interplay between plant physiology, environment, and microbial communities.
• Developing advanced approaches to complement traditional methods in microbiome research.

Main Results:

• The study highlights the untapped potential of intrinsic plant microbiomes.
• Multiomics technologies enable a deeper understanding of microbiome dynamics.
• Current biological control methods for spoilage and storage diseases are insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Harnessing the plant microbiome offers a promising avenue for reducing postharvest losses.
• Advanced multiomics approaches are crucial for developing effective microbiome-based strategies.
• Future research should focus on robust microbiome solutions for improved fruit and vegetable storability, quality, and safety.