Natural Products in Crop Pest Management

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The significant enhancement in crop yields over the years has been facilitated, in part, by the use of chemicals for pest control. However, as the global population continues to grow in the coming decades and resistance to conventional pesticides persists, there is an ongoing demand for the discovery of new lead compounds. Natural products (NPs) are secondary metabolites isolated from living organisms and can be originated from plant, microbial, or animal origins. Due to their abundant biodiversity and environmentally friendly characteristics, NPs are being increasingly explored and developed. This is evident in the numerous NP-based crop protection compounds that have emerged.

In the context of this Topic, our focus will be on the isolation and characterization bioactive NPs from plants or microorganisms, synthetic compounds inspired by NPs, semi-synthetic chemicals derived from NPs, and the assessment of their biological activities for potential applications in crop protection.

We invite the submission of research articles, review articles, and short communications.

Prof. Dr. Yiming Wang
Dr. Danyu Shen
Dr. Wei Yan
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agrochemicals agrochemicals	-	-	2022	16.7 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.3	6.2	2011	17.6 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Molecules molecules	4.2	7.4	1996	15.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Plants plants	4.0	6.5	2012	18.9 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Microorganisms microorganisms	4.1	7.4	2013	11.7 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	3.5	5.7	2011	16.1 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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22 pages, 4133 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition and Toxicity of Achillea millefolium L. Essential Oil Against Acrobasis advenella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

by Edyta Górska-Drabik, Katarzyna Golan, Cezary Sempruch, Grzegorz Chrzanowski, Michał P. Dybowski and Monika Poniewozik

Molecules 2025, 30(9), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30091927 - 26 Apr 2025

Viewed by 224

Abstract

The solutions of essential oil (0.5%, 0.8%, and 1.0% w/v) derived from Achillea millefoilum (EOAM) were evaluated for their repellent and insecticidal activity toward Acrobasis advenella, as well as their effects on the activity of selected larval tissue enzymes. [...] Read more.

The solutions of essential oil (0.5%, 0.8%, and 1.0% w/v) derived from Achillea millefoilum (EOAM) were evaluated for their repellent and insecticidal activity toward Acrobasis advenella, as well as their effects on the activity of selected larval tissue enzymes. The chemical composition of the EOAM analyzed by GC-MS showed that the main compounds included β-pinene, chamazulene, eucalyptol, and β-caryophyllene. Selection tests showed that larvae avoided inflorescences treated with 0.8% and 1.0% EOAM concentrations. The mortality of larvae increased with concentration and time of exposure to the EO, and the highest mortality rate was observed after 72 h. In addition, the impact of EO was examined on the activity of catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX), α- and β-glucosidases, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), i.e., important antioxidants, detoxification, digestive, and nervous system enzymes. A significant increase in CAT activity was found in larvae treated with 0.8% and 1.0% EOAM after both 24 and 48 h. Initially, treating larvae with 0.5% EO decreased β-glucosidase activity while increasing α-glucosidase activity. Moreover, 0.8% EOAM inhibited the activity of POX. These findings suggest that EOAM can affect important biochemical processes within the tissues of A. advenella larvae, making it a promising agent for the protection of black chokeberry crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Natural Products in Crop Pest Management)

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12 pages, 1145 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Composition, Repellency, and Insecticidal Activity of Pinus halenpenssis Leaf Essential Oil from Morocco on Adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

by Imane Naimi, Hafida Bouamama and Touria Ba M’hamed

Plants 2025, 14(3), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030407 - 30 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1063

Abstract

Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum are two significant insect pests that affect the quality, quantity, and commercial value of stored products. The aim of this study was to assess the chemical composition, repellency, and insecticidal activity of Pinus halepensis leaf EO on adults [...] Read more.

Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum are two significant insect pests that affect the quality, quantity, and commercial value of stored products. The aim of this study was to assess the chemical composition, repellency, and insecticidal activity of Pinus halepensis leaf EO on adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The EO of P. halepensis Mill. was extracted using hydrodistillation and analyzed for its chemical composition by GC-MS. The major components identified were 1-nonadecene (25.51%), 1-hexadecene (20.79%), pimaric acid (16.71%), and palmitic acid (12.47%). The repellency test was determined by the area-preference method. P. halepensis EO exhibited significant repellent activity against T. castaneum and R. dominica. It showed high class IV repulsion rates, reaching 63.60% against T. castaneum and 66.50% against R. dominica. The repellent effect was most potent at the highest concentration tested (16 µL/mL), achieving a 100% efficacy against T. castaneum after 4 h and after 3 h against R. dominica. The contact toxicity test was carried out by impregnating filter paper disks with increasing doses of the EO studied. P. halepensis EO was the most toxic against R. dominica (LC₅₀ = 17.11 µL/mL, LC₉₀ = 30.02 µL/mL) and T. castaneum (LC₅₀ = 20.92 µL/mL, LC₉₀ = 32.18 µL/mL) after 96 h of exposure. The ability of P. halepensis EO to repel and eliminate insects suggests that it could be used as a new treatment to prevent insect infestations of R. dominica and T. castaneum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Natural Products in Crop Pest Management)

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Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 1812 KiB)

18 pages, 2447 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Profiling Metabolites with Antifungal Activities from Endophytic Plant-Beneficial Strains of Pseudomonas chlororaphis Isolated from Chamaecytisus albus (Hack.) Rothm.

by Wojciech Sokołowski, Monika Marek-Kozaczuk, Piotr Sosnowski, Ewa Sajnaga, Monika Elżbieta Jach and Magdalena Anna Karaś

Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4370; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184370 - 14 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1324

Abstract

Fungal phytopathogens represent a large and economically significant challenge to food production worldwide. Thus, the application of biocontrol agents can be an alternative. In the present study, we carried out biological, metabolomic, and genetic analyses of three endophytic isolates from nodules of Chamaecytisus [...] Read more.

Fungal phytopathogens represent a large and economically significant challenge to food production worldwide. Thus, the application of biocontrol agents can be an alternative. In the present study, we carried out biological, metabolomic, and genetic analyses of three endophytic isolates from nodules of Chamaecytisus albus, classified as Pseudomonas chlororaphis acting as antifungal agents. The efficiency of production of their diffusible and volatile antifungal compounds (VOCs) was verified in antagonistic assays with the use of soil-borne phytopathogens: B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, and S. sclerotiorum. Diffusible metabolites were identified using chromatographic and spectrometric analyses (HPTLC, GC-MS, and LC-MS/MS). The phzF, phzO, and prnC genes in the genomes of bacterial strains were confirmed by PCR. In turn, the plant growth promotion (PGP) properties (production of HCN, auxins, siderophores, and hydrolytic enzymes, phosphate solubilization) of pseudomonads were bioassayed. The data analysis showed that all tested strains have broad-range antifungal activity with varying degrees of antagonism. The most abundant bioactive compounds were phenazine derivatives: phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2-hydroxy-phenazine, and diketopiperazine derivatives as well as ortho-dialkyl-aromatic acids, pyrrolnitrin, siderophores, and HCN. The results indicate that the tested P. chlororaphis isolates exhibit characteristics of biocontrol organisms; therefore, they have potential to be used in sustainable agriculture and as commercial postharvest fungicides to be used in fruits and vegetables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Natural Products in Crop Pest Management)

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17 pages, 523 KiB  

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antifungal Potential of Carnosic Acid from Salvia somalensis against Phytopathogenic Fungi

by Valeria Iobbi, Marta Lo Vetere, Anna Paola Lanteri, Jakob K. Reinhardt, Ombeline Danton, Morris Keller, Matthias Hamburger, Annalisa Salis, Gianluca Damonte, Olivier Potterat and Angela Bisio

Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071444 - 2 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1364

Abstract

The aims of the present study were (i) to characterize the dichloromethane extract of the fresh aerial parts of S. somalensis, cultivated in Liguria (Italy), (ii) to quantify carnosic acid production and (iii) to find an eco-friendly alternative approach to control diseases [...] Read more.

The aims of the present study were (i) to characterize the dichloromethane extract of the fresh aerial parts of S. somalensis, cultivated in Liguria (Italy), (ii) to quantify carnosic acid production and (iii) to find an eco-friendly alternative approach to control diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi. The phytochemical investigation yielded several known terpenoids, as well as a diterpene, 4α,9α-epoxy-2H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-7(5H)-one, not previously described as a plant metabolite before. The results showed a noteworthy quantity of carnosic acid (113.90 µg/mg of dried extract). The potential antifungal activity of the plant surface extract and carnosic acid against five phytopathogenic fungi (Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea and Rhizoctonia solani) was considered. A complete inhibition of C. coccodes, S. sclerotiorum and R. solani mycelium growth was observed by carnosic acid at 500 µg/mL. High inhibition values were observed against B. cinerea and F. oxysporum compared to reference active ingredients. Four different B. cinerea strains exhibited a pronounced sensitivity to carnosic acid, as well as those originating from agricultural crop scenarios where a high load of active ingredient for gray mold control was historically adopted. Additionally, the formation and development of the germinative tube in B. cinerea were greatly slowed down. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Natural Products in Crop Pest Management)

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