Zinc nanomaterials: A safe tool for postharvest disease management

Nowadays, fruit and vegetable consumption is important due to the positive impact on human health. However, phytopathogens can attack fruits in different stages of their production, leading to significant losses at the postharvest stage. The application of fungicides is widely accepted for controlling postharvest diseases worldwide due to their high effectiveness. Nevertheless, consumer awareness of the desirability of fruits with no chemical residues has an important impact on fruit distribution, due to the association with health problems. The use of nanotechnology is promising as an alternative for postharvest disease control, to replace the application of chemical fungicides. Various studies have reported that nanomaterials are more efficient compared to micrometric materials. In addition, nanomaterials can be incorporated with other control systems. This chapter discusses different control methods and summarizes information about the use and application of zinc nanomaterials on several fruits for controlling diseases.