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The dark side of avocados: a review of anthracnose and stem-end rot in postharvest fruit

Summary

Avocados are a valuable global fruit crop, but two fungal diseases—anthracnose and stem-end rot—cause major economic losses by making fruit unmarketable. These fungi infect avocados in the orchard but remain hidden until the fruit ripens, making them difficult to detect and control. Recent advances in detection technology and disease management strategies, including biological controls and natural treatments, offer promising solutions to reduce losses and keep avocados fresh from farm to table.

Background

Avocados are a globally significant fruit crop valued at $15.83 billion in 2023, with projected growth to $26.04 billion by 2030. Postharvest diseases, particularly anthracnose and stem-end rot, cause significant economic losses with rejection rates exceeding 70% in some regions, complicating fruit marketability due to the latent nature of these infections.

Objective

This comprehensive review examines the biology, distribution, and detection of anthracnose and stem-end rot pathogens in avocados. The review explores advancements in detection technologies, host-pathogen interactions through omics approaches, preharvest practices affecting disease outcomes, and emerging management strategies including biological control and sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides.

Results

Over a dozen Colletotrichum species and multiple Botryosphaeriaceae genera cause avocados anthracnose and stem-end rot respectively. Advanced detection methods including qPCR, LAMP, NIR spectroscopy, and deep learning achieve high sensitivity and specificity. Multi-omics studies reveal coordinated virulence mechanisms, including cell wall-degrading enzyme expression and host defense suppression, activated during ripening.

Conclusion

Effective postharvest disease control requires integrated approaches combining molecular detection, non-destructive screening, and sustainable management strategies. Key research gaps include the imbalance between anthracnose and stem-end rot studies, limited monitoring in the United States, and need for translating emerging technologies into practical field applications.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41140412
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