Ramsés Ramón González-Estrada

Tropical fruit processing generates substantial quantities of seed-derived by-products that remain underutilized despite their potential as sources of bioactive compounds, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber, and polysaccharides. This critical narrative review evaluates their conversion into functional ingredients by integrating compositional variability, pretreatment and extraction, antinutritional-factor mitigation, structural characterization, food-system performance, storage stability, gastrointestinal behavior, safety, regulatory readiness, and scale-up feasibility. Direct evidence was distinguished from mechanistic support derived from non-target botanical matrices. An exploratory semantic clustering of 100 PubMed records published in 2024–2026 was conducted with Carrot2 to organize application-oriented themes and identify knowledge gaps; its output was interpreted as a thematic aid rather than a quantitative trend analysis. The review also examines biochar production from exhausted or non-food-grade seed biomass as a complementary cascading route, considering feedstock properties, thermochemical conditions, physicochemical quality, safety, application performance, and techno-economic constraints. The main contribution is an evidence-derived multi-stage decision framework linking ingredient validation with residual-biomass valorization. Current evidence supports promising nutritional and technological applications but remains heterogeneous and predominantly laboratory-based, with limited standardized comparisons, in vivo validation, regulatory assessment, and pilot-scale studies. Advancing these materials therefore requires application-specific, safety-oriented, and economically realistic validation within circular bioeconomy systems.

Fruit and vegetable production is often impacted by microbial pathogens that compromise the quality of produce and lead to significant economic losses at the postharvest stages. Due to their efficacy, agrochemicals are widely applied in disease management; nevertheless, this practice has led to the appearance of microbial strains resistant to these types of agrochemicals. Additionally, there is growing concern among consumers about the presence of these chemical residues in fruits and the negative impacts they cause on multiple ecosystems. In response, there is a growing need for safe, effective, green, and sustainable disease control technologies. Bionanocomposites, with their unique ability to combine nanomaterials and biopolymers that have attractive properties, represents a promising alternative for postharvest disease control. These technologies allow for the development of functional coatings and films with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and barrier properties, which are critical for extending shelf life and preserving fruit quality. Recent advances have demonstrated that integrating nanoparticles, such as ZnO, TiO₂, Ag, and chitosan-based nanosystems, into biopolymeric matrices, like alginate, pectin, starch, or cellulose, can enhance mechanical strength, regulate gas exchange, and control the release of active agents. This review presents systematized information that is focused on the creation of coatings and films based on bionanocomposites for the management of disease in fruits and vegetables. It also discusses the use of diverse biopolymers and nanomaterials and their impact on the quality and shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

La fresa (Fragaria × ananassa) es un fruto de gran valor económico y nutricional, ampliamente demandado en mercados nacionales e internacionales, especialmente en países productores como México. Sin embargo, su alta susceptibilidad al deterioro poscosecha, derivada de su naturaleza perecedera y elevado contenido de agua, la convierte en un cultivo vulnerable a diversas enfermedades fúngicas. Patógenos como Botrytis cinerea, agente causal de la pudrición gris, y especies de Colletotrichum, responsables de la antracnosis, generan pérdidas significativas en calidad y rendimiento, impactando negativamente en productores y consumidores. El control tradicional de estos hongos ha dependido del uso de fungicidas sintéticos, los cuales, si bien son efectivos, presentan limitaciones relacionadas con la generación de resistencia, residuos químicos en los frutos, riesgos para la salud humana y daños ambientales. En respuesta a estas problemáticas, los compuestos naturales han emergido como alternativas sostenibles y seguras. Dichos compuestos, derivados de plantas, microorganismos o subproductos agroindustriales, incluyen aceites esenciales, polifenoles, terpenoides y otros metabolitos secundarios con propiedades antifúngicas. Su mecanismo de acción puede ir desde la inhibición directa del patógeno hasta la estimulación de defensas vegetales. Este artículo analiza los avances y desafíos en la aplicación de compuestos naturales en fresa, destacando su relevancia en una agricultura más sustentable y competitiva.

The effects of phytopathogenic fungi on fruits and vegetables are a significant global concern, impacting various sectors including social, economic, environmental, and consumer health. This issue results in diminished product quality, affecting a high percentage of globally important fruits. Over the last 20 years, the use of chemical products in the agri-food sector has increased by 30%, leading to environmental problems such as harm to main pollinators, high levels of chemical residue levels, development of resistance in various phytopathogens, and health issues. As a response, various organizations worldwide have proposed programs aimed at reducing the concentration of active compounds in these products. Priority is given to alternative treatments that can mitigate environmental impact, control phytopathogens, and ensure low residuality and toxicity in fruits and vegetables. This review article presents the mechanisms of action of three alternative treatments: chitosan, citral, and hexanal. These treatments have the potential to affect the development of various pathogenic fungi found in tropical and subtropical fruits. It is important to note that further studies to verify the effects of these treatments, particularly when used in combination, are needed. Integrating the mechanisms of action of each treatment and exploring the possibility of generating a broad-spectrum effect on the development of pathogenic microorganisms in fruits is essential for a comprehensive understanding and effective management.

Mango fruit is one of the most important cultivars in the world. In postharvest handling, mango fruit can be affected by pathogens. Some of the phytopathogens that severely attack mango fruit are the fungal Colletotrichum, Aspergillus, Alternaria and Botrytis. The presence of these pathogens can generate postharvest losses between 5-30% of mango production. Fungicides are used to control these microorganisms. To reduce and eradicate its use in post-harvest, methods that are not harmful to the consumer have been developed and are classified into chemical, physical and biological methods. The selection of a postharvest method depends on its ability to adapt to an established process and its ability to extend its shelf life. Different post-harvest methods have been applied to mango fruit, including cold storage, hydrothermal treatment, UV, edible coatings and 1-MCP. The result with the application of these methods has been efficient but increases with the application of synergies between different postharvest methods. This review presents a compilation and recent advances of the different postharvest control methods that have been applied individually or in synergy in mango fruits to control and/or prevent the attack of pathogens and preserve the quality parameters to extend the shelf life of the fruit.

Quality in fruit production is crucial to get the final acceptance of consumers. However, fruits can be affected by the presence of pathogens, causing significant losses due to the presence of diseases at the postharvest stage. The use of chemical fungicides for disease management is a traditional practice; however, consumers are aware of the presence of chemical residue on fruits. In this context, new technologies for disease control need to develop in order to obtain fruits free of chemical residue; in this sense, the use of biopolymers as edible coatings represents an interesting alternative for preserving fruit quality. These biopolymers also can act as carriers of compounds with antimicrobial activities such as essential oils, compounds recognized as GRAS substances. This chapter summarizes the characteristics and properties of essential oils as active agents that can be incorporated into biopolymer matrices for postharvest disease management.

Crown rot, caused by Fusarium species, is the most devastating postharvest disease in bananas. Fungicides are traditionally applied as a postharvest treatment to control crown rot in bananas. However, there is a need to research environmentally friendly compounds as postharvest treatments instead of chemical fungicides. The phenolic compounds gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and chlorogenic acid were identified in coconut mesocarp extract. Overall, the treatments were more efficient in crown-based than fruit-based culture mediums. The mycelial development was inhibited in a range from 20 to 26% (applying coconut mesocarp extract at 5%) compared to the control. Sporulation and spore germination were significantly inhibited, with a reduction of 88% in spore production and 91% in spore germination inhibition compared to the control. In in vivo tests, the aqueous extracts were effective by limiting the percentage of infected fruit, crown rot, and fruit severity. The use of coconut mesocarp extracts can be an effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the use of fungicides for controlling Fusarium musae on bananas.