A review on the use of essential oils for postharvest decay control and maintenance of fruit quality during storage

Consumer preference to organic fresh produce is increasingly becoming popular in the developed countries. Therefore, this review summarises the use of essential oils in the control of postharvest diseases of horticultural commodities, their mode of actions, effects on the defence mechanism and quality of fresh fruit. Future research must be focused on conducting large scale trials to prove the feasibility of combination treatments. The cost benefit analysis of the treatments needs to be carried out in order to implement their application and the commercial applications of essential oils and host pathogen infection must be investigated in detail in order to control latent infections during postharvest storage.