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Bioherbicide Development for Weed Control II
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Bioherbicide Development for Weed Control II

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 4347

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Shiguo Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: natural product; plant immune inducer; bioherbicide; plant–microbe interactions; stress signaling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioherbicides are shedding new light on weed control in an economical and safe manner. The origins of most bioherbicides are living microorganisms including funguses, bacteria, and viruses (microbial herbicides) and naturally occurring products. So far, fifteen bioherbicides based on living microorganisms have been registered for use globally. However, only two are commercially available out of all registered bioherbicides. Such a status of microbial herbicides is due to their vulnerabilities that consist of narrow host range and low adaptability to slight fluctuations of environmental temperature and moisture conditions in the field. The exploration of natural products is another important approach of bioherbicide development. Approximately 200,000 secondary metabolites from plants and microorganisms have been identified. These natural products with high structural diversity and broad biological activity are considered to be an important resource for the development of new bioherbicides. However, there are also great challenges to efficiently discover target compounds with excellent herbicidal activity from huge amounts of natural products, as well as to clarify their mode of action and develop effective formulations. Advances in life and material sciences, especially the development of genetic engineering, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and nano techniques, will revolutionize these problems. Such research is helpful to understand pathogen–weed interactions and action mechanism of metabolites, improve virulence of pathogens and their adaptability to environmental variables, and develop good formulations and application methods. The aim of this Special Issue is to promote bioherbicide development through the publication of original research articles and reviews of research, theory, and technology.

Prof. Dr. Shiguo Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microbial herbicides
  • natural products
  • herbicidal activity
  • mode of action
  • pathogen–weed interactions
  • formulation development
  • application techniques and methods

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 7194 KiB  
Article
Structure-Based Design, Virtual Screening, and Discovery of Novel Patulin Derivatives as Biogenic Photosystem II Inhibiting Herbicides
by He Wang, Jing Zhang, Yu Ji, Yanjing Guo, Qing Liu, Yuan Chang, Sheng Qiang and Shiguo Chen
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1710; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121710 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 928
Abstract
Computer-aided design usually gives inspirations and has become a vital strategy to develop novel pesticides through reconstructing natural lead compounds. Patulin, an unsaturated heterocyclic lactone mycotoxin, is a new natural PSII inhibitor and shows significant herbicidal activity to various weeds. However, some evidence, [...] Read more.
Computer-aided design usually gives inspirations and has become a vital strategy to develop novel pesticides through reconstructing natural lead compounds. Patulin, an unsaturated heterocyclic lactone mycotoxin, is a new natural PSII inhibitor and shows significant herbicidal activity to various weeds. However, some evidence, especially the health concern, prevents it from developing as a bioherbicide. In this work, molecular docking and toxicity risk prediction are combined to construct interaction models between the ligand and acceptor, and design and screen novel derivatives. Based on the analysis of a constructed patulin–Arabidopsis D1 protein docking model, in total, 81 derivatives are designed and ranked according to quantitative estimates of drug-likeness (QED) values and free energies. Among the newly designed derivatives, forty-five derivatives with better affinities than patulin are screened to further evaluate their toxicology. Finally, it is indicated that four patulin derivatives, D3, D6, D34, and D67, with higher binding affinity but lower toxicity than patulin have a great potential to develop as new herbicides with improved potency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioherbicide Development for Weed Control II)
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Review

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29 pages, 2418 KiB  
Review
Microbial Bioherbicides Based on Cell-Free Phytotoxic Metabolites: Analysis and Perspectives on Their Application in Weed Control as an Innovative Sustainable Solution
by Diego Ocán-Torres, Walter José Martínez-Burgos, Maria Clara Manzoki, Vanete Thomaz Soccol, Carlos José Dalmas Neto and Carlos Ricardo Soccol
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1996; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141996 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1316
Abstract
Weeds cause significant agricultural losses worldwide, and herbicides have traditionally been the main solution to this problem. However, the extensive use of herbicides has led to multiple cases of weed resistance, which could generate an increase in the application concentration and consequently a [...] Read more.
Weeds cause significant agricultural losses worldwide, and herbicides have traditionally been the main solution to this problem. However, the extensive use of herbicides has led to multiple cases of weed resistance, which could generate an increase in the application concentration and consequently a higher persistence in the environment, hindering natural degradation processes. Consequently, more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as microbial bioherbicides, have been sought. Although these bioherbicides are promising, their efficacy remains a challenge, as evidenced by their limited commercial and industrial production. This article reviews the current status of microbial-based bioherbicides and highlights the potential of cell-free metabolites to improve their efficacy and commercial attractiveness. Stirred tank bioreactors are identified as the most widely used for production-scale submerged fermentation. In addition, the use of alternative carbon and nitrogen sources, such as industrial waste, supports the circular economy. Furthermore, this article discusses the optimization of downstream processes using bioprospecting and in silico technologies to identify target metabolites, which leads to more precise and efficient production strategies. Bacterial bioherbicides, particularly those derived from Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas, and fungal bioherbicides from genera such as Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Trichoderma and Phoma, show significant potential. Nevertheless, limitations such as their restricted range of action, their persistence in the environment, and regulatory issues restrict their commercial availability. The utilization of cell-free microbial metabolites is proposed as a promising solution due to their simpler handling and application. In addition, modern technologies, including encapsulation and integrated management with chemical herbicides, are investigated to enhance the efficacy and sustainability of bioherbicides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioherbicide Development for Weed Control II)
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12 pages, 622 KiB  
Review
Nonchemical Aquatic Weed Control Methods: Exploring the Efficacy of UV-C Radiation as a Novel Weed Control Tool
by Dian Udugamasuriyage, Gayan Kahandawa and Kushan U. Tennakoon
Plants 2024, 13(8), 1052; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081052 - 9 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1537
Abstract
Aquatic weeds, including invasive species, are a worldwide problem. The presence of aquatic weeds poses several critical issues, such as hindering the continuous flow of water in irrigation channels and preventing the proper distribution of adequate water quantities. Therefore, effective control measures are [...] Read more.
Aquatic weeds, including invasive species, are a worldwide problem. The presence of aquatic weeds poses several critical issues, such as hindering the continuous flow of water in irrigation channels and preventing the proper distribution of adequate water quantities. Therefore, effective control measures are vital for agriculture and numerous downstream industries. Numerous methods for controlling aquatic weeds have emerged over time, with herbicide application being a widely used established method of weed management, although it imposes significant environmental risks. Therefore, it is important to explore nonchemical alternative methods to control existing and emerging aquatic weeds, potentially posing fewer environmental hazards compared with conventional chemical methods. In this review, we focus on nonchemical methods, encompassing mechanical, physical, biological, and other alternative approaches. We primarily evaluated the different nonchemical control methods discussed in this review based on two main criteria: (1) efficiency in alleviating aquatic weed problems in location-specified scenarios and (2) impacts on the environment, as well as potential health and safety risks. We compared the nonchemical treatments with the UV-C-radiation-mediated aquatic weed control method, which is considered a potential novel technique. Since there is limited published literature available on the application of UV-C radiation used exclusively for aquatic weed control, our review is based on previous reports of UV-C radiation used to successfully control terrestrial weeds and algal populations. In order to compare the mechanisms involved with nonchemical weed control methods, we reviewed respective pathways leading to plant cell death, plant growth inhibition, and diminishing reemergence to justify the potential use of UV-C treatment in aquatic habitats as a viable novel source for aquatic weed control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioherbicide Development for Weed Control II)
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