Yeast Cell Wall: A Novel Biocontrol Platform for Next-Generation Postharvest Fruit Preservation

Fruits are essential in human diets due to their rich nutritional composition, yet they are highly susceptible to postharvest decay, leading to significant quality loss and economic waste. Biopreservation represents a promising approach to mitigate these issues, with yeast-based control gaining attention for its environmental safety and absence of harmful residues. In particular, yeast cell wall (YCW), while widely used in feed, biosorption, and biomaterials, remains underexplored for postharvest fruit management. This review systematically outlines the structural composition and bioactivities of YCW and summarizes its emerging applications in postharvest fruit quality maintenance, disease prevention, and mycotoxin adsorption. Furthermore, it discusses strategies to enhance YCW efficacy, including culture optimization, polysaccharide extraction, integration with conventional treatments, and bioactive enrichment. We also propose the development of YCW-derived biocontrol formulations tailored to commercial settings. YCW-based treatments offer a safe, efficient, and sustainable alternative for fruit preservation. Their unique structure and functional groups facilitate the binding of active compounds, broadening application prospects. However, research in this area is still nascent, and further technological refinement is necessary to enable large-scale commercial adoption.