Role of Chitosan in Post Harvest Disease Management
Arun. A.T. *
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
Pramod. R
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
Radhakrishnan N.V
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
Susha S. Thara
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
Reji Rani O. P
Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
Anuradha. T
Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, (Kerala), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Post harvest losses due to microbial spoilage remain a significant challenge in agriculture, affecting both food security and economic sustainability. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, showed potential in recent years as a means of reducing post harvest diseases in fruits and vegetables. This review investigates into the complex role that chitosan plays in managing post harvest diseases. It emphasises the antimicrobial qualities, capacity to trigger defence mechanisms in plants, development of physical barriers, regulation of enzymatic activity, compatibility with biological control agents, and ecological sustainability of chitosan. Chitosan based treatments offer an environmentally sustainable approach to prolonging the period of the shelf life of produce by effectively preventing the growth of microbes, enhancing the plant's natural resistance to pathogens, and maintaining post harvest quality. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of chitosan in disease management is essential for optimizing its application and integrating it into integrated disease management strategies in agricultural practices.
Keywords: Chitosan, post harvest, disease management, eco friendly strategy, shelf life, sustainable agriculture