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Plants
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Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens
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Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 5856

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Sebastián Dambolena

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Guest Editor
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
Interests: mycoviruses; mycotoxins; Fusarium; fumonisin; hypovirulence; secondary metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Virginia Lara Usseglio

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba 5016, Argentina
Interests: biopesticides; insect pests; Fusarium; semiochemicals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impact of climate change on the environment brings with it numerous negative consequences for agroecosystems, among which are the yield losses caused by the action of pest insects and the deterioration caused by fungi and their mycotoxins. The combined management of agricultural practices that integrate the use of resistant genotypes, transgenic events for insect control, and the use of synthetic pesticides is the most commonly used strategy for the prevention and control of agricultural pests. However, the potential negative impacts on the environment and food security of synthetic pesticides, added to the emergence of resistance, drive the search for natural alternatives for pest control. Studies have shown that natural compounds can inhibit the growth and spread of plant pathogens through a variety of mechanisms, including direct killing of pathogens, regulating the plant immune system to enhance resistance, etc. In addition, compared with synthetic pesticides, natural compounds tend to be more environmentally friendly, safer, and less likely to induce resistance. Therefore, the use of natural compounds as a method for plant pathogen management has great potential in agriculture.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles, short communications, or reviews that cover the most recent scientific discoveries in the search of natural insecticides and fungicides for controlling plant pathogens.

Dr. José Sebastián Dambolena
Guest Editor

Dr. Virginia Lara Usseglio
Co-Guest Editor

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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • plant disease
  • natural compounds
  • antifungal activity
  • insecticidal activity
  • insect pests of plants
  • phytopathogens
  • mycotoxins

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 2473 KB  
Article
In Vitro Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum Seed Extract and Its Potential Application in Plant Protection
by Stelica Cristea, Alina Perisoara, Bianca-Maria Tihauan, Manuela Diana Ene, Mariana Constantin, Alexandru-Mihai Florea, Elena Ştefania Ivan, Relu Cristinel Zala, Bogdan Purcăreanu, Dan Eduard Mihaiescu and Lucia Pirvu
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3320; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213320 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 344
Abstract
In the context of promoting ecological alternatives to synthetic pesticides, this study investigates the antifungal activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract and its potential application in plant protection. The extract, obtained by maceration in 40% ethanol, was analysed using UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods [...] Read more.
In the context of promoting ecological alternatives to synthetic pesticides, this study investigates the antifungal activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract and its potential application in plant protection. The extract, obtained by maceration in 40% ethanol, was analysed using UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods to assess its phytochemical composition, including phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, and soluble proteins, as well as antioxidant activity in acellular system (ABTS, DPPH, TEAC, and CUPRAC) and CAT, SOD, peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation in planting material lysate. Additionally, the extract was qualitatively analysed using ATR-FT-IR and FT-ICR-MS methods. The antifungal activity was tested in vitro against three fungal strains, revealing significant inhibitory effects, especially on Fusarium graminearum and Monilinia laxa. Following the biogermination study on wheat seeds, it was highlighted that the extract obtained from fenugreek seeds manifested a strong inhibitory effect, especially at the highest concentration (1.50%) studied, probably due to the high content of phenols and presence of steroidal saponins (diosgenin and precursor diosgenin–protodiosgenin) and pyridine alkaloids (trigonelline). These findings suggest that Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract possesses potent antifungal properties, making it a promising candidate for the development of biofungicides in sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens)
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16 pages, 3274 KB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of Artemisia capillaris Essential Oil Against Alternaria Species Causing Black Spot on Yanbian Pingguoli Pear in China
by Zu-Xin Kou, Yue Dang, Li Liu, Xue-Hong Wu and Yu Fu
Plants 2025, 14(20), 3146; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14203146 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 444
Abstract
Black spot is currently one of the most widespread diseases affecting Yanbian Pingguoli pears (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. ‘Pingguoli’), resulting in significant economic losses for fruit farmers. It is mainly caused by infestation by the fungal group of Alternaria species. To date, no [...] Read more.
Black spot is currently one of the most widespread diseases affecting Yanbian Pingguoli pears (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. ‘Pingguoli’), resulting in significant economic losses for fruit farmers. It is mainly caused by infestation by the fungal group of Alternaria species. To date, no research has reported the presence of Alternaria species and the pathogen of black spot disease on Yanbian Pingguoli pears in China. This study isolated, identified, and performed molecular profiling of 124 Alternaria strains collected from 15 major growing areas of Yanbian Pingguoli pear (more than 5000 trees). Moreover, the study evaluated the ability of Artemisia capillaris essential oil (AcEO) to suppress the mycelial expansion of Alternaria pathogens and conducted comprehensive chemical profiling. Overall, 124 pathogenic fungi were identified as Alternaria tenuissima (67 isolates, 54.0%) and A. alternate (57 isolates, 46.0%). AcEO showed a strong inhibitory effect on the two Alternaria species, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value equivalent to 5.0 μL/mL. Eucalyptol, 2,2-Dimethyl-3-methylenebicyclo [2.2.1] heptane, (-)-alcanfor, and β-copaene were identified as the predominant bioactive components of AcEO. AcEO demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of the mycelial growth of A. tenuissima and A. alternata. These findings position AcEO as a promising candidate for developing sustainable fungicides to combat Alternaria-induced crop losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens)
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15 pages, 1679 KB  
Article
Eco-Friendly Crop Protection: Argyrantemum frutescens, a Source of Biofungicides
by Eduardo Hernández-Álvarez, Samuel Rodríguez-Sabina, Noelia Labrador-García, Javier Hernández Pérez, Carolina P. Reyes, María Ángeles Llaría-López, Ignacio A. Jiménez and Isabel L. Bazzocchi
Plants 2025, 14(7), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14070985 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
Plant-derived biopesticides are emerging as a promising and popular alternative for promoting cleaner and safer agricultural practices. The present work aims to explore Argyranthemum frutescens (Asteraceae) as a source of botanical pesticides and to validate this through a cultivation process. To [...] Read more.
Plant-derived biopesticides are emerging as a promising and popular alternative for promoting cleaner and safer agricultural practices. The present work aims to explore Argyranthemum frutescens (Asteraceae) as a source of botanical pesticides and to validate this through a cultivation process. To this task, a bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic root extracts from both wild and cultivated A. frutescens on phytopathogenic fungi of Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata was conducted. This approach led to the identification of polyacetylenes with higher potency than commercial fungicides. Specifically, compounds 3 (capillin) and 5 (frutescinone) showed more than 90% growth inhibition at 0.05 mg/mL concentration on B. cinerea, while compounds 2 (capillinol) and 3 were also more active than positive controls, Fosbel-Plus and Azoxystrobin, against F. oxysporum. The structures of the isolated polyacetylenes (1–6, 9, and 10) and alkamides (7, 8, and 11) were determined through spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configuration of stereocenter C1 of compounds 1, 2, 4 and 9 was determined by NMR-spectroscopy with (R)-(-)-α-methoxy-phenylacetic as a chiral derivatizing agent, and biogenetic considerations. Overall, this study supports the potential of polyacetylenes as promising agrochemical lead compounds against phytopathogens, and validates A. frutescens cultivation as a viable source of biopesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens)
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20 pages, 2022 KB  
Article
Bioactive Sesquiterpenoids from Santolina chamaecyparissus L. Flowers: Chemical Profiling and Antifungal Activity Against Neocosmospora Species
by Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Jesús Martín-Gil, Vicente González-García, José Casanova-Gascón and Pablo Martín-Ramos
Plants 2025, 14(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020235 - 16 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2302
Abstract
Santolina chamaecyparissus L. (cotton-lavender) is receiving increasing attention due to its potential for modern medicine and is considered both a functional food and nutraceutical. In this work, the phytochemical profile of its flower hydromethanolic extract was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and its [...] Read more.
Santolina chamaecyparissus L. (cotton-lavender) is receiving increasing attention due to its potential for modern medicine and is considered both a functional food and nutraceutical. In this work, the phytochemical profile of its flower hydromethanolic extract was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and its applications as a biorational for crop protection were explored against Neocosmospora spp., both in vitro and in planta. The phytochemical profiling analysis identified several terpene groups. Among sesquiterpenoids, which constituted the major fraction (50.4%), compounds featuring cedrane skeleton (8-cedren-13-ol), aromadendrene skeleton (such as (−)-spathulenol, ledol, alloaromadendrene oxide, epiglobulol, and alloaromadendrene), hydroazulene skeleton (ledene oxide, isoledene, and 1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydro-2,2,8-trimethyl-,(3aα,8β,8aα)-5,6-azulenedimethanol), or copaane skeleton (cis-α-copaene-8-ol) were predominant. Additional sesquiterpenoids included longiborneol and longifolene. The monoterpenoid fraction (1.51%) was represented by eucalyptol, (+)-4-carene, endoborneol, and 7-norbornenol. In vitro tests against N. falciformis and N. keratoplastica, two emerging soil phytopathogens, resulted in effective concentration EC90 values of 984.4 and 728.6 μg·mL−1, respectively. A higher dose (3000 μg·mL−1) was nonetheless required to achieve full protection in the in planta tests conducted on zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cv. ‘Diamant F1’ and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. ‘Optima F1’ plants inoculated with N. falciformis by root dipping. The reported data indicate an antimicrobial activity comparable to that of fosetyl-Al and higher than that of azoxystrobin conventional fungicides, thus making the flower extract a promising bioactive product for organic farming and expanding S. chamaecyparissus potential applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens)
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19 pages, 8551 KB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of Genistein Against Phytopathogenic Fungi Valsa mali Through ROS-Mediated Lipid Peroxidation
by Fangjie Li, Chen Yang, Maoye Li, Su Liu, Kuo Xu and Xianjun Fu
Plants 2025, 14(1), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14010120 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1317
Abstract
Valsa mali (V. mali) is a necrotrophic fungus responsible for apple Valsa canker, which significantly diminishes apple production yields and quality in China. Our serendipitous findings revealed that genistein significantly inhibits the mycelial growth of V. mali, with an inhibition [...] Read more.
Valsa mali (V. mali) is a necrotrophic fungus responsible for apple Valsa canker, which significantly diminishes apple production yields and quality in China. Our serendipitous findings revealed that genistein significantly inhibits the mycelial growth of V. mali, with an inhibition rate reaching 42.36 ± 3.22% at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that genistein caused significant changes in the structure of V. mali, including mycelial contraction, distortion, deformity, collapse, and irregular protrusions. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed leakage of cellular contents, blurred cell walls, ruptured membranes, and organelle abnormalities. Genistein has been shown to increase reactive oxygen species levels in V. mali mycelia, as demonstrated by 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining. This increase was associated with a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity alongside increases in catalase and peroxidase activities. These changes collectively disrupted the oxidative equilibrium, leading to the induction of oxidative stress. The transcriptomic analysis revealed 13 genes enriched in this process, linked to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis (three downregulated DEGs), saturated fatty acid biosynthesis (three upregulated and six downregulated DEGs), and fatty acid metabolism (four upregulated and nine downregulated DEGs). Additionally, the downregulated DEGs VMIG_07417 and VMIG_08675, which are linked to ergosterol biosynthesis, indicate possible changes in membrane composition. In conjunction with the qRT-PCR results, it is hypothesized that genistein exerts an antifungal effect on V. mali through ROS-mediated lipid peroxidation. This finding has the potential to contribute to the development of novel biological control agents for industrial crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds for Controlling Plant Pathogens)
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