Natural compounds: an effective and eco-friendly strategies for controlling and combating plant pathogens

Abstract

Currently, the management of phytopathogenic agents is an ongoing challenge globally, as they cause major damage in agricultural plantations. However, the use of synthetic pesticides currently in use has negative effects on the environment and on the living organisms that develop their life cycle in these habitats. For this reason, research in the last decade has led to the identification and exploitation of natural compounds with important antifungal properties as natural alternatives to combat and control pathogens. This review is based on the description of plant extracts, essential oils and natural compounds with important anti-fungal properties. However, their direct application to plants is difficult, because their adhesion and persistence in environmental conditions does not allow this fact. The current challenge is to develop formulations based on natural compounds that retain their properties over time in order to be applied to agricultural crops.