Efficacy of Debaryomyce hansenii in the biocontrol for postharvest soft rot of strawberry and investigation of the physiological mechanisms involved

•D. hansenii significantly reduced the incidence of postharvest soft rot of strawberry.•D. hansenii can stably colonize the surface and wounds of strawberry.•D. hansenii reduced the spore germination rate and germ tube length of R. stolonifer.•D. hansenii induced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX, PPO and PAL in strawberry.•D. hansenii increased total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin content in strawberry.