Guns 'N Roses: Fungal Volatile Warfare in Postharvest Disease Control

Phytopathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms are major contributors to postharvest crop losses. Some species of fungi are able to produce mycotoxins, posing health risks to both humans and animals. Control methods based on synthetic fungicides raised environmental and health concerns and led to the development of fungicide-resistant pathogens. As a result, biological control has gained momentum as an eco-friendly alternative. Microbial biocontrol agents (BCAs) are increasingly being commercialized, with recent research exploring volatile-mediated interactions between BCAs, pathogens, and the treated commodities. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play a crucial role in biocontrol. This review focuses on fungal volatiles, their chemical diversity, their effects, and the application of VOC-emitting fungi or synthetic VOCs as biofumigants. Future research directions include enhancing VOC-producing agents through targeted mutagenesis and synthetic biology, understanding interspecies interactions, and applications of artificial intelligence in analytical chemistry, which shall lead to increased efficiency and precision in postharvest biocontrol.