Recent advances in chemical control of postharvest diseases of fruit crops for domestic and international markets

Abstract EN

The introduction of disease control chemicals during the 20 th century has been responsible, in part, for human population growth on every continent of earth.

Yet, as the 21st century approaches, the lack of food seems to have become more apparent and widespread even in some developed countries.

The question before us today, as dictated by public concern, is how to cope with the increased demand for food yet reduce or eliminate the use of fungicides to control plant diseases.

Recent advances in chemical control methods have lessened the unpredictability of crop production and marketing.

We must accept and realize that without effective fungicide applications (pre-and/or postharvest) there are no guaranteed practices currently available for the marketing of affordable fresh fruit products of high quality.

The long term goals of countries appear to proscribe continued overproduction of food and replace it with a more effective long-term storage system.

Thus in this discussion we emphasize the need, development, and registration of improved, environmentally compatible, disease control chemicals for integration with non-chemical procedures to prevent sever losses in crops grown for both domestic and international markets.

Expanded international cooperative research on postharvest disease control is needed to permit the marketing of fruit crops without excessive regulatrory constraints.