Recent advances on the use of natural and safe alternatives to conventional methods to control postharvest gray mold of table grapes

a b s t r a c t Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the main postharvest decay of table grapes. It can develop in the vineyard and spread rapidly among berries after harvest, during long distant transport, cold storage and shelf-life. In conventional agriculture, bunches are sprayed with fungicides after flowering, at pre-bunch closure, at veraison, and later, depending on the time of harvest. Harvested bunches are usually stored in the presence of sulfur dioxide. However, the use of synthetic fungicides and of sulfur dioxide is not allowed on organic grapes and the study of alternative methods to control postharvest decay has developed over several decades, along with the demand for safer storage methods. This review summarizes the