Trends in ethylene management strategies: towards mitigating postharvest losses along the South African value chain of fresh produce – a review

The management of ethylene during postharvest storage is of critical importance to fresh produce wholesalers and retailers. The management of ethylene is an important determinant of the quality and shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables. Ethylene blocking action and ethylene removal via potassium permanganate, photocatalytic oxidation and ozonation have been extensively researched and applied on a commercial scale to manage the impacts of ethylene postharvest. However, these techniques have certain inherent limitations that make them ineffective for long-term postharvest applications. This review therefore focuses on ethylene removal strategies during postharvest handling, and characterisation of the merits and demerits of such strategies. In addition, it provides an overview of emerging techniques such as photolysis, photocatalytic oxidation and ozone-assisted catalytic oxidation, as alternatives for ethylene management along the postharvest value chains. The intent of this review was to guide the development of more effective ethylene management technologies for long-term application in the South African fruit industry.