Biocontrol Efficacy of Microbial Antagonists Against Pectobacterium carotovorum-Induced Soft Rot in Fruits and Vegetables in East Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum is a major postharvest problem in fruits and vegetables, particularly in East Asia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to collate and critically evaluate studies on the biocontrol efficacy of microbial antagonists against P. carotovorum in East Asia, quantitatively estimate their effectiveness, and identify research gaps. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and yielded 14 eligible studies (21 datasets) from East Asia. The overall pooled estimate of the relative reduction in disease incidence by microbial antagonists was 82% (95% CI: 74–88%; I2 = 88.2%), indicating high but highly variable biocontrol efficacy across studies. Subgroup analyses revealed varying efficacy among different antagonists, with Chitosan-enhanced Lactobacillus pentosus and Leuconostoc fallax showing the highest potential (100% reduction), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (90%), Bacillus velezensis (85.7%), and Lactobacillus paracasei WX322 (82.2%). Meta-regression identified BCA cell concentration, sample size, storage days, and storage temperature as significant sources of heterogeneity. Most studies were conducted in China, highlighting the need for more research in other East Asian countries. Microbial antagonists demonstrate substantial potential for reducing soft rot incidence, yet the high heterogeneity across studies warrants cautious interpretation of the pooled effect. While these findings are promising, further field validation and expanded geographical representation are needed.