Plant-based extracts and elicitors (signaling molecules that activate the fruit’s innate defense responses) have emerged as promising and sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemicals for preserving postharvest fruit quality and extending shelf life. This review provides a comprehensive analysis, uniquely complemented by a bibliometric assessment of the research landscape from 2005 to 2025, to identify key trends and effective solutions. This review systematically examined the efficacy of various natural compounds including essential oils (complex volatile compounds with potent antimicrobial activity such as lemongrass and thyme), phenolic-rich botanical extracts like neem and aloe vera, and plant-derived elicitors such as methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid. Their preservative mechanisms are multifaceted, involving direct antimicrobial activity by disrupting microbial membranes, potent antioxidant effects that scavenge free radicals, and the induction of a fruit’s innate defense systems, enhancing the activity of enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD). Applications of edible coatings of chitosan or aloe vera gel, nano-emulsions, and pre- or postharvest treatments effectively reduce decay by Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium spp.), delay ripening by suppressing ethylene production, minimize water loss, and alleviate chilling injury. Despite their potential, challenges such as sensory changes, batch-to-batch variability, regulatory hurdles, and scaling production costs limit widespread commercialization. Future prospects hinge on innovative technologies like nano-encapsulation to improve stability and mask flavors, hurdle technology combining treatments synergistically, and optimizing elicitor application protocols. This review demonstrates the potential of continued research and advanced formulation to create plant-based preservatives, that can become integral components of an eco-friendly postharvest management strategy, effectively reducing losses and meeting consumer demands for safe, high-quality fruit.

Physalis grisea is an orphan crop with significant economic and medicinal potential. Although initial genome editing applications have recently emerged for Physalis species, the development and optimization of highly efficient, visually traceable Agrobacterium-mediated editing platforms remain crucial for advancing its functional genomics. This study uses the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene—a key enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway—as a visual reporter to develop a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing platform in P. grisea. A dual-target guide RNA (sgRNA) expression vector was constructed, and transgenic plants were successfully generated via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of hypocotyl explants. Strikingly, phenotypic observations revealed that the regenerated mutants exhibited characteristic complete albino or green-white chimeric phenotypes, accompanied by distinct developmental retardation and dwarfing. Physiological quantitative analysis showed that total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in the mutant leaves were significantly reduced by over 70% and 78%, respectively. Targeted sequencing further confirmed that the CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently induced various mutations at the PgPDS locus (derived from Physalis grisea)—including fragment deletions, 1–4 bp insertions, and 2–3 bp substitutions—revealing a specific preference for non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair. In summary, this study not only validates the suitability of PgPDS as a reporter gene but also successfully establishes a robust genome editing technical system for P. grisea, providing a solid foundation for future functional genomics research and molecular breeding in this crop.