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Agronomy
Special Issues
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Biopesticides and the Biological Control for Pest...
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Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Biopesticides and the Biological Control for Pest Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2025 | Viewed by 1096

Special Issue Editors

Dr. María Liza López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CONICET-Estación Experimental Agropecuaria INTA San Juan, San Juan, Argentina
Interests: semiochemicals; pest; essential oils; chemical ecology; biopesticides
Dr. María Paula Zunino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Concejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Cátedra de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
Interests: essential oil; terpenes; insects; volatile organic compounds; bioactivity; repellence; antifungal compounds; botanical pesticides; economic analysis; legislation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of biological control in agriculture dates back to ancient times, with early civilizations employing natural enemies to manage pests. The modern development of biopesticides began in the 20th century with the discovery of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an insecticidal bacterium. Since then, advances in microbiology, biotechnology, and integrated pest management (IPM) have accelerated the development of biopesticides derived from microorganisms, plant extracts, and natural enemies. Today, biopesticides and biological control are central to sustainable agriculture, addressing pest challenges while reducing environmental impact.

The increase in pest populations due to climate change and their geographic expansion presents a significant challenge. Food production must adapt by adopting sustainable practices, developing control strategies that ensure food security while also being environmentally friendly.

This Special Issue aims to gather innovative research on biopesticides and biological control to enhance sustainable pest management, aligning with environmental goals and agricultural productivity. This Special Issue will highlight novel strategies relating to biopesticides and biological control, semiochemical effects and mechanisms, and advancements that align with environmental goals while supporting agricultural productivity.

Dr. María Liza López
Dr. María Paula Zunino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • semiochemicals
  • biopesticides
  • biological control
  • chemical ecology
  • pest management

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 665 KiB  
Article
Potential of Salvia discolor Extract Against Common Agricultural Pathogens
by Poonam Devi, Anna Paola Lanteri, Andrea Minuto, Valentina Parisi, Valeria Iobbi, Nunziatina De Tommasi and Angela Bisio
Agronomy 2025, 15(6), 1268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061268 - 22 May 2025
Abstract
Phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria pose a serious threat to global agriculture, leading to significant economic losses and potential health risks. Consequently, the search for natural alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals has garnered increasing scientific attention, with plant extracts emerging as promising environmentally friendly solutions. [...] Read more.
Phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria pose a serious threat to global agriculture, leading to significant economic losses and potential health risks. Consequently, the search for natural alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals has garnered increasing scientific attention, with plant extracts emerging as promising environmentally friendly solutions. In this context, the surface extract of Salvia discolor, obtained using dichloromethane, was analyzed for its bioactive potential. Chemical profiling revealed a rich composition of terpenoids and flavonoids. The antimicrobial potential of the ground extract was evaluated against nine phytopathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae race 1, Phoma betae, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, Pythium dissotocum, and Stemphylium sp.), and two phytopathogenic bacteria (Clavibacter michiganesis subsp. michiganesis and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum), selected from common pathogens of agricultural interest. Complete inhibition of P. chlamydospora at 1000 µg mL−1 and strong activity against P. dissotocum, F. solani and B. cinerea was observed, and low inhibition (<40%) against C. lindemuthianum and F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae race 1. However, the extract showed promising results in the post-harvest protection of tomatoes against gray mold. Moderate antibacterial activity was seen against C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. These findings indicate that S. discolor extract has the potential to serve as an effective natural crop protection agent, though further optimization may be needed for broader application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Biopesticides and the Biological Control for Pest Management)
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11 pages, 1286 KiB  
Article
Entomopathogenic Nematodes for Sustainable Thrips Control in Nectarine Cultivation: Efficacy, Pollinator Safety, and Integrated Pest Management Strategies
by Evangelos Moutsaras, Aikaterini Gerasimatou, Athanasios Antonopoulos, Christina Panopoulou, Dimitrios Lazarakis and Antonios Tsagkarakis
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030627 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 727
Abstract
The efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, for controlling Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae, Pergande, 1895) in nectarine orchards, was evaluated, alongside their potential impact on honeybees (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera: Apidae, Linnaeus, 1785). Field trials revealed that [...] Read more.
The efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, for controlling Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae, Pergande, 1895) in nectarine orchards, was evaluated, alongside their potential impact on honeybees (Apis mellifera, Hymenoptera: Apidae, Linnaeus, 1785). Field trials revealed that S. feltiae significantly reduced thrips populations and fruit damage compared to the control, while H. bacteriophora showed no significant effect. The reduction in feeding scars on fruits from S. feltiae–treated trees underscores its potential as a sustainable biocontrol agent. However, laboratory bioassays indicated that another EPN, Steinernema carpocapsae, induced delayed mortality in honeybees under high-exposure conditions, pinpointing the need for careful application to minimize risks to pollinators. These findings demonstrate the potential of S. feltiae for integrated pest management (IPM) in nectarine cultivation while emphasizing the importance of species-specific selection and pollinator safety. Future research should focus on optimizing application methods, understanding environmental influences on EPN efficacy, and assessing long-term impacts on pollinator health to ensure sustainable pest management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Biopesticides and the Biological Control for Pest Management)
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