Emerging Topics in Botanical Biopesticides — 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The increase in world population and advances in the agricultural industry have contributed to global warming. Additionally, it has been discovered that pests can grow in abundance and generate resistance to applied synthetic pesticides. Each year, herbivorous insects and phytopathogenic fungi destroy up to a fifth of the world's agricultural production. This increase in the population of pest insects is also due to human-manipulated habitats, where crops are selected and grouped in one confined area. In this way, it not only favours the needs of humans but also those of phytophagous organisms. Above all, these pests can widely proliferate in tropical and subtropical regions due to climatic conditions.

Many plants produce secondary metabolites that have evolved along with the development of insects, and they have various defence functions against phytophagous insects. Many of these natural products are useful as insecticides, fungicides, and manipulators of insect behaviour. Furthermore, these compounds are safe for the environment and human health. Secondary plant metabolites, especially essential oils or their components, could be a natural source for the design of biopesticides. On the other hand, biological interactions, such as those between plants and microorganisms, are a source of new natural products that can be used to control and manage insect pests. It is also important to be familiar with the regulations and legislation that may exist or arise as these new products are applied. Finally, it is important to consider economic aspects, such as the cost of production and storage, arising from using these new botanical pesticides. Nowadays, essential oils already have an international market and cultivation areas. That is why this Special Issue will instead be dedicated to using natural compounds to manage agricultural pests.

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

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• essential oils
• terpenes
• insect
• volatile organic compounds
• bioactivity
• repellence
• antifungal compounds
• botanical pesticides
• economic analysis
• legislation.

• Emerging Topics in Botanical Biopesticides in Plants (7 articles)