Endophytic Fungi Volatile Organic Compounds as Crucial Biocontrol Agents Used for Controlling Fruit and Vegetable Postharvest Diseases

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of the human diet, but during transportation and storage, microbial pathogens attack and spoil fruits and vegetables, causing huge economic losses to agriculture. Traditionally used chemical fungicides leave chemical residues, leading to environmental pollution and health risks. With the emphasis on food safety, biocontrol agents are attracting more and more attention due to their environmental friendliness. Endophytic fungi are present in plant tissues and do not cause host disease. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they produce are used to control postharvest diseases due to their significant antifungal activity, as well as their volatility, safety and environmental protection characteristics. This review provides the concept and characterization of endophytic fungal VOCs, concludes the types of endophytic fungi that release antifungal VOCs and their biological control mechanisms, as well as focuses on the practical applications and the challenges of applying VOCs as fumigants. Endophytic fungal VOCs can be used as emerging biocontrol resources to control postharvest diseases that affect fruits and vegetables.