1
Journal of PhytoPathology and Disease Management
Print ISSN: 3009-6111 Online ISSN: 3009-6170
Volume 11, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 111
Review Article
Postharvest application of Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride for
improving storability and controlling mold disease of strawberry fruits
Ahmed M. Alsaiari1 | Adel D. AlQurashi1 | Mohamed I. Elsayed1 | Kamal A. M. AboElyousr1,2*
1Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 80208, Saudi Arabia
2University of Assiut, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Pathology, 71526, Assiut, Egypt
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.14013982
Received:
8 October 2024
Accepted:
24 October 2024
Published online:
30 October 2024
Correspondence:
Kamal A. M. AboElyousr
Department of Agriculture, Faculty
of Environmental Sciences, King
Abdulaziz University, Jeddah
80208, Saudi Arabia.
Email: kaaboelyousr@agr.au.edu.eg
Abstract:
Strawberry fruits are highly perishable, with postharvest losses often attributed to mold
diseases such as Botrytis cinerea, and physiological deterioration leading to reduced shelf
life. Various postharvest treatments have been explored to mitigate these challenges,
with particular attention to the application of Prohexadione-Ca (Pro-Ca) and calcium
chloride (CaCl₂). This review critically examines the potential of these compounds to
enhance strawberry storability and control mold-related spoilage. Prohexadione-Ca, a
plant growth regulator known for modulating plant growth and inducing disease
resistance, has shown promise in reducing mold incidence when applied postharvest.
Calcium chloride, widely used to improve fruit firmness and structural integrity,
complements Pro-Ca by enhancing cell wall stability and reducing fruit susceptibility to
physical damage and microbial invasion. The synergistic effects of Pro-Ca and CaCl₂ on
fruit physiology, including the modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS),
maintenance of membrane integrity, and calcium-mediated improvements in firmness,
are discussed. Moreover, the review highlights the mechanisms by which these
treatments can reduce mold proliferation and extend storage life, offering insights into
their practical applications in the strawberry supply chain. This comprehensive review
provides a basis for future research and offers strategies for integrating Pro-Ca and CaCl₂
into postharvest handling protocols to reduce losses and improve strawberry quality
during storage. This version is more appropriate for a review article, focusing on
summarizing existing knowledge and discussing potential applications.
Keywords:
Prohexadione-Ca; calcium chloride; mold disease; strawberry.
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2 | Journal of Plant Pathology and Disease Management | Vol. 11, No. 1 |
1. Introduction
Strawberry fruits are of high nutrient content but suer from
several postharvest problems aecting their quality, thereby
reducing the consumer acceptance level. Of these
postharvest problems, phytopathogenic fungus-related
diseases and physiological disorders can adversely aect the
storage life and marketability of the fruit. Since they are
highly perishable, strawberry fruits, once harvested, require
careful handling by maintaining low temperatures and
controlled relative humidity to ensure their storability and
nutritional attributes before reaching consumers. Many
eorts have been made to extend the storage life of
strawberries; among them, the application of dierent
postharvest treatments has achieved remarkable progress.
Calcium chloride and prohexadione-Ca are reported to be
very eective in harvesting and postharvest management
(Azmi et al., 2022; Başak, 2021; Lal et al., 2020; Li et al., 2024;
Reitz & Mitcham, 2025; Wallis & Cox, 2020). Prohexadione-
Ca acts as a potential plant growth retardant by inhibiting a
key enzyme that catalyzes gibberellin biosynthesis. It is
commonly used in some crops such as apple, sweet cherry,
and strawberry to reduce internode length, crop load, and
modulate fruit shape to make it more attractive to customers.
Therefore, the postharvest application of P-Ca alone and in
combination with calcium chloride may improve the overall
storability of strawberry fruits. Since strawberries, being a
perennial crop grown in open elds under natural
environmental conditions, can be attacked by most molds,
more than one mold disease might occur, especially under
high relative humidity and temperatures during holding or
storage conditions. It becomes economically important to
control these molds in strawberries for wider consumer
acceptability. In that view, the present experiment has been
conducted. Therefore, considering the above aspects, this
review focuses on the potential utilization and signicance of
P-Ca and/or CaCl2 application as a postharvest treatment to
enhance overall storability and to prevent the sour rot of pre-
packed strawberry fruits. It must also focus on improving
fruit storage life and address the factors aecting both mold
infections and some physiological aspects. (Garza-Alonso et
al., 2022; Liu et al., 2022; Lu et al., 2024).
2. Importance of postharvest management in strawberry fruits
In many fruit crops, including strawberries, the postharvest
phase represents the most critical period determining the
decay and subsequent loss in value of a highly perishable
commodity. Chlorophyll-containing horticultural products
are sensitive to dierent types of stresses, which can be
applied mechanically, physiologically, or microbiologically.
The majority of storage disorders, molds, and decay are fruit
injuries that occur at the time of eld packing or after arriving
in the store, not because of growing conditions. This
emphasizes the importance of post-harvest management for
fruit quality and longevity (Matar et al., 2020; Quarshi et al.,
2023; Shehata et al., 2020). Consumer purchase behavior is
strongly inuenced by a product’s appearance, especially
when it comes to fresh fruit. Any defect reducing the visual
quality of the product would be a disadvantage in the
competitive market environment. A renewed interest in
fruits and vegetables, on behalf of consumers, has followed
increasing scientic evidence about their role in illness
prevention. As a consequence, intensive commercial activity
has been generated in this area. In order to meet the two
conditions above, the producer must not consider the
phytopathologic risk only before harvesting, but also the
diculties that will be found after it (Adrita, 2020; Ishak et
al., 2020; Khayru et al., 2021; Peña-García et al., 2020).
Postharvest technologies have great potential in increasing
the quantity of fruits available for consumption and export.
The principal parameters for this process are to rapidly divide
the products into consuming and processing channels and,
within the former, to assort and ship the products in a way
that freshness is indicated to distinguish the products. The
most dicult application for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables is
related to color cosmetics control, to eliminate luminosity
loss and discoloration, which are the most destructive
processes reducing the salability of the product
(Kahramanoğlu et al., 2022; Karoney et al., 2024; Palumbo et
al., 2022). The traditional strategy, based on cold storage or
hypobaric storage, heat treatment, and fungicide application,
can lead to the consumption of the chemical substances
present on the fruit as residues. The arising risks are mainly
toxicity; however, they could also be related to the
exploitation of consumer anxiety. For these reasons, the
attention of international organizations is drawn to these
problems, and the research on natural products is considered
to have the potential to benet strawberry human nutrition,
with no risk to consumers. Post-harvest losses include all
losses occurring between the time a crop is harvested and the
time it reaches the end consumer. These losses, if minimized
through proper handling, management, and postharvest
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3 | Journal of Plant Pathology and Disease Management | Vol. 11, No. 1 |
practices, represent a direct saving for the producing country
or area (Ali et al., 2021; Anand & Barua, 2022; Bendinelli et al.,
2020; Dsouza et al., 2023).
3. Role of Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride in
postharvest preservation
Given that Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride are
considered antitranspirants, they may suppress water loss
and reduce oxidation, which is crucial because high
respiration and oxidation processes usually shorten the shelf
life of the products. Prohexadione-Ca sprays delayed stem-
end softening and maintained rmness in dark-red, rm,
soft, and red ripe strawberries during storage at 1°C for up to
9 days and 21 days, respectively. The combination of calcium
chloride soaking with Prohexadione-Ca application
extended the shelf life of red ripe strawberries at the eating
stage according to visual observation, taste evaluation, and
volatile composition analysis. The disease severity indices
were signicantly reduced in pre-storage after Prohexadione-
Ca and calcium chloride treatments. Meanwhile,
Prohexadione-Ca, calcium chloride, and their combination
treatments facilitated avonoid and phenolic metabolism
enhancement during storage. In the present study, calcium
chloride was applied by soaking, which may rapidly increase
Ca2+ concentration in fruit tissue in order to replace other
cations in cell walls and enhance cell wall strength. In the
meantime, Prohexadione-Ca sustained the avonoid
biosynthesis process of red strawberries during storage,
which may not only contribute to strong antioxidant
properties in the fruit but also show synergistic eects with
reduced fruit softening. The synergistic eects of
Prohexadione-Ca, calcium chloride, and soaking may have
therapeutic potential in producing fruits with good sensory
quality and anti-pathogen properties. The postharvest
application of fatty acids may increase the percentage of
fungistatic cells and thus have a positive eect in reducing the
infection period of the gray mold causal agent.
4. Mold diseases in strawberry fruits: Causes and impact
Like other fruits, strawberries are very perishable after
harvest. The main reason for the decay of soft fresh fruits is
mold disease infection. Strawberry fruits are particularly
sensitive to many molds, and the major ones associated with
their diseases are Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer.
Additionally, Alternaria spp. and Penicillium spp. are other
common pathogens that cause disease in strawberries. The
conditions that favor mold growth can be detected in poor
storage conditions, such as high humidity and wet fruits,
which encourage fungal infection and growth. Once the
molds have infected a batch of fruits, numerous
consequences occur. The fresh fruits lose their market value,
and the grower suers signicant economic loss. This not
only aects the raw material producer but also decreases
consumer trust in the market's products. Thus, growing and
harvesting healthy strawberry fruits is essential for the
protability of the fresh market (Maia et al., 2021; Rhouma et
al., 2022; Tančinová et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2021). When the
fruits are diseased, a signicant portion of them will suer
from gray mold. Botrytis is readily spread from decayed areas
to intact fruits by mechanical pressure during handling,
transportation, and display at the market. If not sterilized
promptly, gray mold causes other fruit to decay rapidly.
Botrytis is carried throughout the eld on plant parts aected
by the disease. Lack of sanitation in strawberry elds can also
result in the introduction of gray mold, which can further
spread in high humidity conditions in the greenhouse
environment. Gray mold signicantly aects the quality,
storage period, and consumption of strawberries. Managers
can make practical decisions to control and manage gray
mold if shown how the slopes of the susceptibility graph
change seasonally. Varieties of fruits dier in their response
to lesions caused by gray mold, but internal sections are
aected less than external ones. Improving the eciency of
our strawberry industry involves assessing the willingness of
fruit inoculation matrices and tray plant tissues with gray
mold fungus in lesion development. Gray mold causes
spotting as a symptom with a clear center and dark border up
to 4 mm, mainly observed on substrate soil culture. Many
losses could be reduced in strawberries by transferring
infected owers or owering plants from the eld to clean
storage. The impact of mold on strawberries depends on the
moisture conditions around and inside the fruits, such as
high humidity (El-fawy et al., 2020; Kahramanoğlu et al.,
2022; Suthaparan et al., 2024; Tančinová et al., 2022).
5. Research and studies on Prohexadione-Ca and calcium
chloride in postharvest applications
Several previous studies have evaluated the eects of
Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride treatments in
preserving strawberry fruits; however, all were conducted on
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4 | Journal of Plant Pathology and Disease Management | Vol. 11, No. 1 |
the date of harvesting and/or in the rst days of storage.
Consequently, there is no literature on the best time for
Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride treatments for
postharvest management of strawberry fruits. The eect of
Prohexadione-Ca application on fruit shelf life varies
depending on the strawberry genotype and on prevailing
temperature and relative humidity. The application of
Prohexadione-Ca is not of interest alone but in association
with other treatments and only postharvest and not during
production. We found that the above-mentioned chemical
treatment could be useful in preserving 'Camarosa' fruits
under controlled-atmosphere-stored conditions because of
reduced decay rates (do Amarante et al., 2020; Ozbay &
Metin, 2020; Philion & Joubert, 2021; Wallis & Cox, 2020).
Dipping fruit in a high concentration of calcium chloride at
cooling time extends the shelf life of strawberries. The
ecacy of calcium chloride treatments in controlling fruit
decay varies according to environmental conditions. We
found that 3% calcium chloride can extend the shelf life of
strawberries because it can delay the time for the rst fruit rot
symptoms to appear. The behavior of the treated and
untreated fruits was tested by the three representative
commercial cold storage facilities at 10°C under normal
atmospheric conditions. Also, in this case, to design the new
study, the data from previously published work was used. In
this study, the content and the semi-quantitative evaluation
of thylakoidal chlorophyll protein complex in 'Camarosa'
fruit at the end of 12 cold air storage were reported (Demes et
al., 2021; Shahzad et al., 2020; Sunila et al., 2020).
6. Methods of application: Dosage, timing, and techniques
The application dosage, timing, and techniques for PCa and
CaCl2 should be adjusted based on fruit cultivars, dierent
cultivation areas, sugar, and acid composition of the fruits,
and the intended period during storage. PCa and CaCl2 were
applied immediately after harvest by spraying and dipping
methods and were incorporated into packaging by
microencapsulation for developing protective barriers.
Aqueous solutions as well as wax-beeswax emulsions can be
used to improve the ecacy of active compounds.
Application by spraying: This method uses a low dose of
solution, namely, 0.643 L of solution per 100 kg of
strawberries (0.256 g of PCa and 0.512 g of CaCl2). Application
by dipping: A high amount of aqueous solution is used,
resulting in an increase in the accumulation of these active
compounds in the fruits, leading to an increased preservative
eect. For example, 400 mg·L-1 (1.6 g of PCa and 3.2 g of
CaCl2) could be used. It is recommended to immerse
strawberries for 6 to 21 seconds, depending on the
operational line and the symmetry of the dryer.
Incorporation into packaging: This method is currently
under development. The active compounds are indirectly in
contact with the fruit. Treatment by crossow
microencapsulation in beeswax can be added in a dedicated
compartment into new packaging developed by bio-moulded
trays in polylactic acid through broadband plasma activation.
Regarding the incorporation of active compounds in
packaging, the required dose has to be experimentally
established in specic conditions: fruit cultivars, postharvest
treatment, storage conditions, etc. Postharvest application of
PCa and CaCl2 can reduce weight loss, decay incidence,
oxidative stress, preserve quality parameters, and prolong the
shelf life of small and large-sized strawberries during storage.
Spraying branching and developing fruits for 30 days at
intervals of plucking leads to the best maximal ripening and
delayed ripening periods (Rastegar et al., 2022; Ribeiro et al.,
2020).
7. Effects of Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride on
strawberry fruit quality
Strawberry fruit quality is signicantly important for growers,
consumers, and producers. Certain postharvest treatments
may have a benecial eect on the quality of strawberry fruit.
This section provides the eects of Prohexadione-Ca and
calcium chloride applications on strawberry fruit quality with
respect to rmness, color, taste, and some nutrients. Our
results convincingly show that, by applying a combination of
Pro-Ca at 200 ppm and CaCl2 at 3%, the main fruit quality
parameters would not be signicantly changed during
storage. A longer shelf life prolongs the availability of
strawberry fruit, with potentially positive consequences on
both human nutrition and the economy. Pro-Ca at 200 ppm
decreased the toughness of strawberry fruit compared to all
treatments, while treatments could maintain the taste and
nutrients in strawberry fruit compared with the control
treatment. Pro-Ca at 200 ppm alone slowed the change in
fruit color by maintaining a steady DE value. A chromameter
has estimated that the inuence of postharvest CaCl2
application may be limited. Besides storage duration, it
seems that Pro-Ca exerted its major eect only on the IA
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parameter. The eect of these treatment interactions is not
clear. At the beginning and the end of the storage period,
most treatments showed consumer preferences for the
strawberries. The postharvest treatment with Pro-Ca and
CaCl2 might be relevant for the denition of marketing
strategies and increasing the fruity aroma and agreeable
aroma intensities. Additionally, strawberries are known as
functional foods attributed to their vitamin C and polyphenol
content, although their most concentrated types of phenolic
substances were avor substances and responsible for their
appeal. In conclusion, producing strawberry fruit with high-
quality standards can be achieved by these postharvest
treatments (Kamalashree & Nnayaka, 2023; Singh et al., 2024).
8. Mechanisms of action in controlling mold diseases
Mold diseases are the major postharvest problem of
harvested fruits, causing severe economic losses.
Prohexadione-Ca is a well-known plant growth regulator
combined with fungistatic activity in controlling fungal
infections. Prohexadione-Ca inhibits the accumulation of
ethylene, which is of great interest to researchers in the fruit-
mold disease resistance relationship. The inhibition of
ethylene accumulation by Prohexadione-Ca delayed the
ripening process, indicated by an increasing shelf life of
fruits, besides the fungistatic activity. Ethylene production
increases in fruits, and thereby succulence is increased as cell
turgor increases. This is favorable to the conidial germination
of pathogens. Prohexadione-Ca in premium gold peaches
drastically decreased their respiration rates and
corresponding oxygen uptake. Variations in ethanol and
acetaldehyde accumulation developed by the passive lm can
be explained by postharvest disease susceptibility/resistance
and DMI sensitivity. Ethanol and acetaldehyde are natural
penetrant fungicides (Cheng et al., 2020; Godana et al., 2023;
Huang et al., 2021; Oyom et al., 2022). Another way to control
postharvest diseases is to activate fruits by exogenous
application of chemical agents. Calcium chloride plays an
essential role in improving the postharvest storage quality of
fruits with fungistatic activity. Postharvest calcium
applications could increase the natural levels and/or enhance
the initial GB from the localities that bio-blockers could pose
a threat to. Calcium plays an essential role in the cell wall
structure and diusion of ions, and also plays a physiological
role in fruit development, promoting anti-deterioration and
reducing losses during storage. The fortication of cell walls
by calcium can oer some resistance to infection by fungal
pathogens. In sweet cherries, it also improved disease
resistance to Monilinia fructicola disease; it was reported that
fruit calyx ends and rmness were amended upon using
calcium chloride. Calcium transportation to the fruit is a
complicated event that occurs after the harvest and has not
been completely claried by experiments; as essential
mineral ions, Ca2+ are transported from the peel and
distributed in fruit esh, assisting in fruit vigor. These two
chemicals contribute positively to the plant defense response
and could avoid the nutritional losses of strawberries. Up to
date, very little work has been conducted on the impact of
Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride application to
strawberries, either separately or in combination, on the
incidence of mold disease at the postharvest stage. This study
is aimed at revealing the mechanisms of action in reducing
mold diseases on strawberries (Gao et al., 2020; Mazumder et
al, .2021; Sati & Qubbaj, 2021; Shahzad et al., 2020).
9. Comparative analysis with other postharvest treatments
In order to place the results of this study on Prohexadione-Ca
plus calcium chloride into the entire body of alternative
postharvest treatments, this section summarizes various
alternatives tested with a comparative discussion of
eectiveness in extending shelf life and maintaining the
quality of fruit. The alternatives, from chemicals to natural
compounds, have pros and cons to emphasize. Extended
information on other areas of knowledge regarding the mode
of action and safety prole will be included in the context of
the benets and risks of each specic treatment. The
increasing consumer preferences for more "natural"
treatments of produced goods must be considered in
dening the most appropriate postharvest management
strategy. Economic implications are mandatory to be taken
into account when deciding to adopt postharvest treatment
strategies. Several modes of action of chemicals are
considered in this review, as many of the chemical treatments
are active in a wide and sometimes not completely clear way.
Although they extend the shelf life of fruit, they are often
perceived negatively by consumers. This contrasts with the
action of the most innovative and eco-friendly compounds,
which are often used for the so-called "eaten skin" fruits or
those with a high impact on human health. Although they
may result in some residues in the fruit, they are widely
accepted and permitted after testing, considering their potential
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metabolism in the human body as benecial. The dichotomy
between the use of allowed synthetic chemicals and innovative
natural products is also shown (Shuttleworth, 2021).
10. Commercial applications and market trends
The commercial application of Prohexadione-Ca and
calcium chloride for the strawberry fruit industry might be
interesting due to the production of safer fruit with no
agrochemical residues at the moment of the nal sale. In
addition, the implementation might result in a signicant
economic impact on packinghouses and, through these, on
fresh product producers, given the demands and market
trends that are currently reected in consumers who demand
increasingly longer postharvest life as well as fruit that meets
food safety and quality requirements. Greater storability
translates into greater in-season protability and can satisfy
the requirements of national and international markets.
Although strawberry production worldwide is in full expansion,
technologies that promote longer postharvest life have great
market potential by reducing quality losses caused by various
factors (Winkler et al., 2022). These treatments, Prohexadione-Ca
and calcium chloride, make it possible to control the main
mold disease of strawberry fruit and, consequently, extend
their storability. The acceptance of these agents in the food
chain has the support of several stakeholders, and, in the case
of Washington State apple supplies, they have even
implemented such applications to control wound periderm
watercore during their handling. The high cost of control is
due to the lack of agrochemicals with the same function in
the market, and the unacceptance of accidental resistance to
postharvest treatments could be the main limitations to the
implementation of these treatments. The combination of
both treatments has already been tested in a commercial
company, and improvements in strawberry fruit shelf life
have been observed. However, there may be another limiting
factor when consumers are encouraged to read the active
ingredients in the labels of the products used. It is therefore
also important to determine whether such postharvest
treatments can be accepted, especially by consumers and
supermarket buyers (Winkler et al., 2022).
11. Regulatory aspects and safety considerations
Despite the strong evidence for the use of Prohexadione-Ca
and calcium chloride in reducing decay and browning in
strawberry fruits during storage, there are still some
important considerations that need to be addressed before
commercial interest. Postharvest treatment with these
antioxidants should comply with legal requirements,
including Maximum Residue Levels, for approval of their use
in international markets. The registration of antifungal
agents for postharvest treatment on fruits and vegetables is
often based on risk assessments in various regulatory systems
around the world, balancing safety regarding health issues
and environmental risks (Chen et al., 2024). Research studies
have shown that low residues of Prohexadione-Ca and
calcium chloride were detected after postharvest treatment
of some fruits such as apples, tomatoes, and strawberries.
Eorts are required to predict residues and conduct safety
assessments based on each specic fruit or vegetable on
which these compounds will be applied, in order to meet food
safety standards. In addition, the possibility of increased
product demand may lead to a signicant health impact,
given that some compounds can lead to associated health
risks. Eorts are needed to raise awareness among both
farmers and consumers. This includes the environmental
impacts of chemical disposal to avoid residues remaining on
the treated surface of the skin. Research and development to
identify other alternative treatments are needed to reduce
dependence on articial chemical treatments. It is well
established that most consumers have been educated about
the ways and treatments to keep fruits safe and extend shelf
life. Environmental stress factors, such as climate change,
energy markets, and food costs, have led to increasing
demand and interest from consumers in natural,
environmentally friendly products and the elimination of
conventional chemical food residues from fruits and
vegetables (Reitz & Mitcham, 2025).
12. Future research directions
Regulation to Innovation Opportunities exist to provide
additional research on potential innovative eects of
Prohexadione-Ca and CaCl2 application, as well as
possibilities in their application technique and formulation
to ensure the use of a low dose of chemicals. It is essential to
study the possible long-term uses of treated fruits on the
consumer’s health. Furthermore, studying the consumer
attitudes towards treated fruits could be of interest to the
industry. In relation to management, it is necessary to
determine the most adequate strategies to be used according
to the specic weather and the dierent maturation stages of
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7 | Journal of Plant Pathology and Disease Management | Vol. 11, No. 1 |
some cultivars. For example, it would be feasible to reduce
the dose of Prohexadione-Ca and/or CaCl2 in warm areas
with respect to those used in cooler regions, taking into
account that low temperatures can act as natural correctors
of the traditional chemical agents. Many international fresh
strawberry production areas are researching non-chemical
substances that can be naturally incorporated into the crops,
acting as a treatment for fresh fruits, and in some cases,
aiming to improve the functional and/or nutritional
properties of strawberry fruit. In this regard, the research on
the identication of natural compounds as antifungal agents
associated with the use of MAP will be crucial to delay
postharvest fungal decay of fresh quality strawberries.
Finally, it will be interesting to promote interest in emerging
opportunities with industry stakeholders. These studies
could also show the eectiveness of reduced treatments
tested under the experimental conditions for rst practical
application in the industry. We encourage researchers and
industry stakeholders to conduct deeper analyses on the
antifungal peel application of Prohexadione-Ca and CaCl2 as
an alternative and/or complementary treatment method
based on the identied and discussed chemical approach.
Research in postharvest, particularly with regard to the
correct application of postharvest treatments, to improve the
commercial value of fresh fruits and to minimize waste,
remains a vital area for further study. Optimal Dosing and
Timing Optimal dosing of antifungal and anti-stress agents
across dierent environments is by no means
straightforward. In developing strategies for the use of these
chemicals to minimize the negative impacts of postharvest
mold and cold stress to fruit, it is important to assess the
method of application and formulation, environmental
conditions, elapsed time since application, the physiological
state of the exposed tissues at the time of cold stress, and
other variables that may inuence the phytotoxic responses
as well as the antifungal ecacy. Practices that have proven
benecial in a treatment or set of environmental conditions
cannot be simply translated to or assumed eective in
another treatment or growth environment. In this respect,
the potential use of these abiotic responses has not been well
quantied and is generally under-investigated (Ali et al.,
2021a; 2021b; Chen et al., 2024).
13. Conclusion
Prohexadione-Ca in combination with calcium chloride
could be eectively recommended in postharvest
management for improving the shelf life of strawberry fruits,
maintaining quality traits, and suppressing mold disease
during commercial handling and marketing. Eective
concentration, dipping duration, and application method are
required to achieve positive results. Prohexadione-Ca and
calcium chloride, when used as pre-harvest applications,
have a limited eect, and when used in combination, could
emerge as a new process for enhancing overall shelf life. The
present study provides scope for exploring new technologies
for restoring the storability of strawberries. Even though
eorts were made to highlight the potential use of
Prohexadione-Ca and calcium chloride in extending the shelf
life of strawberry fruit, it is important to address application-
specic strategies for achieving optimal results (Musacchi et
al., 2023; Reitz & Mitcham, 2025). Semi-commercial and full-
commercial implementations of the applications on dierent
strawberry genotypes, and on fruit stored at varying
temperatures and varying postharvest handling techniques,
including packaging materials and modied atmospheric
storage conditions, are required. The regulatory compliance
and the cost-eectiveness of the treatments and postharvest
management operations are to be considered, along with the
advances in biotechnology, wherein the stability of
Prohexadione-Ca and the eect of calcium chloride in
combination with newer technologies such as radiant energy
and nanotechnology are to be evaluated. These directions of
future research are expected to set a new milestone for the
development of postharvest technologies. Urgent attention
should be paid to resolve the commercial and regulatory
issues required for the postharvest applications of the
recommended concentrations and materials. Research and
industry should come forward to join hands in translating
this hard-earned knowledge from laboratory scale to
industrial scale to make the applications of chemicals in the
postharvest sector. This will sustainably pave the way for
extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of
marketable strawberry produce for consumer acceptance
(Azmi et al., 2022; Bhattacharjee et al., 2022).
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Acknowledgments: The authors have no acknowledgments
to declare.
Funding Information: The authors received no external
funding for this article.
Data Availability: Data are available upon request.
Correspondence and requests for materials should be
directed to Kamal A. M. AboElyousr .
Author Contributions: All authors contributed equally to
this work and share rst authorship.
Human and Animal Rights: This research did not involve
human or animal subjects.
Conicts of Interest: The authors report no known
nancial or personal relationships that could have inuenced
the work presented in this article.
How to cite this article: Alsaiari, A.M., AlQurashi,
A.D., Elsayed, M.I., & AboElyousr, K.A.M. (2024).
Postharvest application of Prohexadione-Ca and calcium
chloride for improving storability and controlling mold
disease of strawberry fruits. Journal of PhytoPathology
and Disease Management, 11(1), 1–11.