A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce

Secretaria, Leizel B.; Hoffman, Eleanor; Bekker, Marlize; Joyce, Daryl

doi:10.3390/horticulturae11060596

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A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce

¹

School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia

²

Department of Horticultural Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Horticulturae 2025, 11(6), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060596

Submission received: 12 March 2025 / Revised: 12 May 2025 / Accepted: 13 May 2025 / Published: 27 May 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Postharvest Biology, Quality, Safety, and Technology)

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Abstract

Supplying fresh produce that meets consumers’ needs necessitates production of robust fruit and vegetables. However, supply chains can struggle to deliver robust produce, especially for delicate leafy vegetables. Interacting preharvest genetic, environment, and management factors influence product robustness at harvest, with subsequent implications for perishability, including food safety. Fresh produce quality typically cannot be improved after harvest. This review explores preharvest interventions to optimize robustness at harvest. It overviews conventional, new, and emerging strategies. It considers mineral nutrient management along with chemical and physical elicitors. It also explores approaches to measure and monitor fresh fruit and vegetable robustness, particularly hyperspectral technologies. Recommendations are proffered for future research towards enhanced fresh produce robustness, particularly leafy vegetables, through preharvest management. Optimizing robustness is fundamental to efficient, effective, and sustainable fresh produce supply chain management, thereby contributing to food security and consumer satisfaction and wellbeing.

Keywords: fruits; logistics; postharvest; quality supply chain; value chain; vegetable

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MDPI and ACS Style

Secretaria, L.B.; Hoffman, E.; Bekker, M.; Joyce, D. A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 596. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060596

AMA Style

Secretaria LB, Hoffman E, Bekker M, Joyce D. A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(6):596. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060596

Chicago/Turabian Style

Secretaria, Leizel B., Eleanor Hoffman, Marlize Bekker, and Daryl Joyce. 2025. "A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce" Horticulturae 11, no. 6: 596. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060596

APA Style

Secretaria, L. B., Hoffman, E., Bekker, M., & Joyce, D. (2025). A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce. Horticulturae, 11(6), 596. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11060596

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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A Contemporary Review of Preharvest Mineral Nutrient Management and Defense Elicitor Treatments for Robust Fresh Produce

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