Direct and Indirect Effects of Essential Oils for Sustainable Crop Protection

Abstract

Plant essential oils (EOs) are gaining interest as biopesticides for crop protection. EOs have been recognized as important ingredients of plant protection products including insecticidal, acaricidal, fungicidal, and nematicidal agents. Considering the growing importance of EOs as active ingredients, the domestication and cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) to produce chemically stable EOs contributes to species conservation, provides the sustainability of production, and decreases the variations in the active ingredients. In addition to these direct effects on plant pests and diseases, EOs can induce plant defenses (priming effects) resulting in better protection. This aspect is of relevance considering that the EU framework aims to achieve the sustainable use of new plant protection products (PPPs), and since 2020, the use of contaminant PPPs has been prohibited. In this paper, we review the most updated information on the direct plant protection effects of EOs, focusing on their modes of action against insects, fungi, and nematodes, as well as the information available on EOs with plant defense priming effects.

Chemical Profiling and Antifungal Activity of Ziziphora clinopodioides Leaf Essential Oil against the Pathogen Verticillium dahliae

“…Hence, an increasing interest is to find alternative fungicides without the risks to human health and ecological environment [25] . EOs as plant‐derived secondary metabolism are usually used as natural antifungal agents to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi which can cause crop diseases [26] . Our results also implied that Z. clinopodioides EO is promising to be explored as a novel fungicide against crop diseases.…”

Seed priming with essential oils for sustainable wheat agriculture in semi-arid region

“…The increases in yield were associated with the regulation of ABA in plants treated with thyme oil ( Ben-Jabeur et al, 2019 ). According to the results of the studies based on gene expression analysis, essential oil treatment play an important role in the activation of molecular mechanisms in tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress factors ( Ben-Jabeur et al, 2015 ; Banani et al, 2018 ; Sukegawa et al, 2018 ; Kesraoui et al, 2022 ). Essential oil treatment is effective in activating JA, ET and SA biosynthesis and their hormonal interactions including complex signaling steps ( Rienth et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Today, the usage areas of plants have expanded with increasing biotechnological methods. Antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant properties of essential oils (EO) obtained from medicinal and aromatic plants are promising approaches for extending product shelf life, biological control against diseases and pests, and increasing plant stress tolerance to abiotic stress factors ( Cuadrado et al, 2019 ; Kahramanoglu & Usanmaz, 2021 ; Kesraoui et al, 2022 ). Especially their easy metabolism has paved the way for their use instead of synthetic chemicals in agricultural areas ( Belasli et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Scientific studies mostly focused on the antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal effects of plant essential oils ( Mancini & Romanazzi, 2014 ; Belasli et al, 2020 ; Moumni et al, 2021 ; Kesraoui et al, 2022 ). Besides, some studies have determined the effects of essential oils on germination and seedling formation in abiotic stress tolerance ( Yavaş, 2010 ; Atak, Mavi & Uremis, 2016 ; Bingöl & Battal, 2017 ; Souri & Bakhtiarizade, 2019 ; Binbir et al, 2019 ; Ben-Jabeur et al, 2019 ; Săndulescu, Manole & Stavrescu-Bedıvan, 2020 ).…”

Alpha-Phellandrene and Alpha-Phellandrene-Rich Essential Oils: A Systematic Review of Biological Activities, Pharmaceutical and Food Applications

“…Furthermore, considering the research conducted against food-borne pathogens, it can be stated that alpha-phellandrene could have promising applications in the food and agro-industrial supply chains, ranging from biological treatment of crops to pre- and post-harvest treatments. The attention of researchers to these new applications of EOs is well documented [ 123 , 124 , 125 ].…”