Abstract: Fruits are vulnerable to pathogen infection and consequently decay during growth and storage, which causes huge economic losses. At present, the prevention and control fruit diseases and postharvest preservation are primarily achieved by the use of synthetic fungicides. Chemical fungicides are commonly used to control diseases of fruits and vegetables because of their high efficiency and convenience. However, due to the development of resistance to fungicides in fungal pathogens, which causes harmful effects on the environment and human health, it is necessary to develop safer alternative methods without causing any adverse effects on the environment or human health. Biological control using biological control agents (BCAs) especially antagonistic yeasts has emerged as a very promising way to substitute synthetic fungicides to mitigate postharvest diseases of fruits. This review outlines the advantages and shortcomings of biocontrol yeasts in the prevention and control of postharvest diseases of fruits and discusses the current status and future prospects of biological control agents. We hope that this review will provide valuable information for commercial production and application of biocontrol agents.

Key words: yeast, fruit, postharvest diseases, biological control, biological agents