An Ethical Appraisal of Hormesis: Towards a Rational Discourse on the Acceptability of Risks and Benefits (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Produce postharvest losses are due to pre-harvest factors [1], poor harvesting techniques [2], bad practices of handling [3] as well as bacterial [4] and fungal infections [5]. The amount of fruits and vegetables losses have been estimated to range from 5 to 50% in developing countries, being still substantial even in areas with the most advanced technologist available [6]. In some raw products, fungi are the primary spoilage organisms [5]. Out of these, Alternaria spp. is one of the most important postharvest pathogens, as it causes destructive leaf spots, blights (foliar and blossom), blemishes and damage to stored products [7,8]. This gender had been reported in apple, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, potato, cabbage, tomato, pepper, melon, citrics, ornamentals and in a great number of seeds [9].