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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 (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 63439

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kirstin Wurms

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Guest Editor

BioProtection, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 3230, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
Interests: bioprotection products; natural product biopesticides; host resistance and defense mechanisms; pathogenesis-related proteins; seconary metabolism; host-microbe interactions; integrated pest management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of natural products, i.e., materials sourced from nature, to control pests and diseases in plants has been around for thousands of years and is often practiced by indigenous peoples. However, widespread adoption has increased markedly in the last 10 years, given consumer demands for reduced use of traditional synthetic pesticides and antimicrobials because of increased concern about environmental toxicity, human health, and the long-term sustainability of agricultural and horticultural practices. The scope of this Special Issue of Plants, titled “Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control,” will include products taken directly from nature and used as is, as well as products that have been originally sourced from nature, but which have been subsequently purified and/or combined with other natural products and/or synthesized in the laboratory. It will not include biocontrol agents, which are living organisms in their own right, and therefore are not considered to be inanimate products. Plants can include both terrestrial and freshwater/marine species; disease-causing pathogens encompass all manner of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses and protozoa; and pests can be insects, invertebrates such as slugs, and vertebrates. Although the word ‘natural’ often implies something that is non-toxic and beneficial, many natural products, e.g., strychnine and mercury, are highly toxic, thus papers must demonstrate efficacy of pest/disease control without significant phytotoxicity or other adverse effects on the host (such as reduced yield), the environment or human health. Novel research contributions are welcome, exploring all aspects of natural product application on the host/pathogen/pest interaction including efficacy trials/assays, demonstration of integration into an integrated pest management program, and mode-of-action studies based on transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics.

Dr. Kirstin Wurms
Guest Editor

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Keywords

natural products mode of action
natural product efficacy
natural product toxicity
bioprotection products
natural products in integrated pest management

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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14 pages, 2936 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Botanical Control of Citrus Green Mold and Peach Brown Rot on Fruits Assays Using a Persicaria acuminata Phytochemically Characterized Extract

by Melina G. Di Liberto, Gisela M. Seimandi, Laura N. Fernández, Verónica E. Ruiz, Laura A. Svetaz and Marcos G. Derita

Plants 2021, 10(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030425 - 24 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2918

Abstract

Persicaria acuminata (Polygonaceae) is a perennial herb that grows in the central area of Argentina and it is commonly used by native populations to heal infected wounds and other conditions related to fungal infections. In this article, we explored the in vitro antifungal activity of its ethyl acetate extract against a panel of three fruit phytopathogenic fungi including: Penicillium digitatum, P. italicum, and Monilinia fructicola. The sesquiterpenes isolated from the extract were also evaluated against these strains, demonstrating that the dialdehyde polygodial was the responsible for this activity. In order to encourage the use of the extract rather than the pure compound, we displayed ex vivo assays using fresh oranges and peaches inoculated with P. digitatum and M. fructicola, respectively, and subsequently treated by immersion with an extract solution of 250 and 62.5 µg/mL, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatments with commercial fungicides and the extract over the control of both fruit rots. The concentration of the active compound present in the extract used on fruit experiments was determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. Finally, cytotoxicity evaluation against Huh7 cells showed that P. acuminata extract was less cytotoxic than the commercial fungicides at the assayed concentrations. After these findings we could conclude that a chemically characterized extract of P. acuminata should be further developed to treat fungal diseases in fruits from an agro-ecological model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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25 pages, 9436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipid-Based Natural Food Extracts for Effective Control of Botrytis Bunch Rot and Powdery Mildew on Field-Grown Winegrapes in New Zealand

by Kirstin V. Wurms, Annette Ah Chee, Peter N. Wood, Joseph T. Taylor, Frank Parry, Robert H. Agnew, Duncan Hedderley and Philip A. G. Elmer

Plants 2021, 10(3), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030423 - 24 Feb 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2635

Abstract

Synthetic controls of crop pathogens are increasingly associated with harm to the environment and human health, and pathogen resistance. Pesticide residues in crops can also act as non-tariff trade barriers. There is therefore a strong imperative to develop biologically based and natural product (NP) biofungicides as more sustainable alternatives for crop pathogen control. We demonstrate the field efficacy, over multiple seasons, of NP biofungicides, NP1 (based on anhydrous milk fat) and NP2 (based on soybean oil), on two major diseases of winegrapes—Botrytis bunch rot (Botrytis) and powdery mildew (PM). The NPs were integrated into a season-long integrated disease management programme that has produced chemical-residue-free wines. Efficacies for Botrytis control on three different varieties were: 63–97% on Chardonnay, 0–96% for Sauvignon Blanc and 46–58% on Riesling; with 65–98% PM control on Chardonnay and Riesling. NP2 exhibited the significant control of Botrytis latent infections, making it a viable alternative to mid-season synthetic fungicides. Disease control was significantly better than the untreated control and usually as efficacious as the synthetic fungicide treatment(s). Yields and wine quality in NP-treated crops were normally equivalent to those in the synthetic fungicide treatments. The results indicate that NP-mediated disease control of Botrytis and powdery mildew can be obtained in the vineyard, without synthetic fungicide input. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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14 pages, 2658 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fungicidal Efficacy of Drying Plant Oils in Green Beans against Bean Rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)

by Vera Breiing, Jennifer Hillmer, Christina Schmidt, Michael Petry, Brigitte Behrends, Ulrike Steiner, Thorsten Kraska and Ralf Pude

Plants 2021, 10(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010143 - 12 Jan 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5044

Abstract

As biorationals, plant oils offer numerous advantages such as being natural products, with low ecotoxicological side effects, and high biodegradability. In particular, drying glyceride plant oils, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, might be promising candidates for a more sustainable approach in the discussion about plant protection and the environment. Based on this, we tested the protective and curative efficacy of an oil-in-water-emulsion preparation using drying plant oils (linseed oil, tung oil) and a semi-drying plant oil (rapeseed oil) separately and in different mixtures. Plant oils were tested in greenhouse experiments (in vivo) on green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) against bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus). We observed that a 2% oil concentration showed no or very low phytotoxic effects on green beans. Both tested drying oils showed a protective control ranging from 53–100% for linseed oil and 32–100% for tung oil. Longer time intervals of 6 days before inoculation (6dbi) were less effective than shorter intervals of 2dbi. Curative efficacies were lower with a maximum of 51% for both oils when applied 4 days past inoculation (4dpi) with the fungus. Furthermore, the results showed no systemic effects. These results underline the potential of drying plant oils as biorationals in sustainable plant protection strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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12 pages, 1123 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Edible Chitosan/Propolis Coatings and Their Effect on Ripening, Development of Aspergillus flavus, and Sensory Quality in Fig Fruit, during Controlled Storage

by Pablo F. Aparicio-García, Rosa I. Ventura-Aguilar, Juan C. del Río-García, Mónica Hernández-López, Dagoberto Guillén-Sánchez, Dolores A. Salazar-Piña, Margarita de L. Ramos-García and Silvia Bautista-Baños

Plants 2021, 10(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10010112 - 7 Jan 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3537

Abstract

Biodegradable alternatives for the control of Aspergillus flavus in fig fruit were tested with the application of coatings based on chitosan (CS) and propolis (P). To potentiate the fungicidal effect, nanoparticles of these two (CSNPs and PNPs) were also considered. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of different formulations on: (a) the ripening process of the fig, (b) the incidence of A. flavus and the production of aflatoxins, and (c) the acceptance of the treated fruit by a panel. The nanostructured coatings did not influence the ripening process of the fruit during the 12 days of storage, however, the antioxidant activity increased by approximately 30% with the coating CS + PNPs + P. The figs treated with CS + CSNPs + PNPs + P, inhibited the growth of the fungus by about 20% to 30% under laboratory and semi-commercial conditions. For all treatments, the aflatoxin production was lower than 20 ppb compared to the control with values of c.a. 250 ppb. The sensory quality was acceptable among the panel. The edible coatings can be a non-toxic alternative for post-harvest preservation and the consumption of fig fruit. The next step will be its inclusion and evaluation at a commercial level in packing houses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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18 pages, 2812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Antifungal Activity of South African Medicinal Plant Extracts against Fusarium Pathogens and Their Phytotoxicity Evaluation

by Hlabana A. Seepe, Kafua E. Lodama, René Sutherland, Winston Nxumalo and Stephen O. Amoo

Plants 2020, 9(12), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121668 - 27 Nov 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4266

Abstract

Smallholder farmers play a major role in crop production towards household food security, particularly in resource-poor communities. Maize is a common crop produced in smallholder farming and it is cultivated from seeds that has been stored and re-used for years. Spoilage of stored grains is a major challenge, which leads to yield loss and poor seed quality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate in vivo antifungal activity of selected plant extracts against Fusarium pathogens on maize seeds, and to evaluate their phytotoxicity on seed germination and seedling growth. Fresh leaves collected from eight medicinal plants were dried and selectively extracted with water, ethyl acetate or acetone. The dried extracts were evaluated for antifungal activity against Fusarium pathogens (F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, F. subglutinans, F. verticilloides, F. semitectum, F. chlamydosporum, F. solani, F. equisite and F. graminearum) inoculated on maize seeds. Melia azedarach acetone extract showed strong antifungal activity (97% inhibition) against F. proliferatum while combined acetone extracts from Combretum erythrophyllum and Quercus acutissima exhibited 96%, 67% and 56% inhibition against F. verticilloides, F. proliferatum and F. solani, respectively. With the exception of Quercus acutissima ethyl acetate, none of the extracts significantly inhibited seed germination when compared to untreated seeds. This study showed that plant extracts could control Fusarium diseases without any adverse effects on maize seed germination or plant growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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18 pages, 4376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Mushroom Metabolites (Pleurotus ostreatus) as A Natural Product for the Suppression of Broomrape Growth (Orobanche crenata Forsk) in Faba Bean Plants

by Tamer Elsakhawy, Muneera D. F. ALKahtani, Ali A. H. Sharshar, Kotb A. Attia, Yaser M. Hafez and Khaled A. A. Abdelaal

Plants 2020, 9(10), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101265 - 25 Sep 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3386

Abstract

Broomrape parasitism on faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is the most destructive factor for this crop in Egypt. Pot experiments were conducted during the two successive seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the mitigation of broomrape stress on faba bean using a ten-fold dilution of 10% (w/v) spent mushroom substrate extract (SMSE) of Pleurotus ostreatus and the same dilution of culture filtrate of mushroom (MCF) grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) at a rate of 48 l hectare⁻¹ compared with the commercial herbicide Roundup (Glyphosate 48% emulsifiable concentrate) at a rate of 144 cm³ ha⁻¹ on the two varieties (Misr3 and Sakha3) cultivated in broomrape-infested soil. The treatments include the use of mushroom products as foliar spray and/or soil amendment in addition to Roundup spraying as a recommended treatment. Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) spectroscopy, our results indicate that the major components of the two mushroom products were bioactive compounds such as polyphenol and high molecular weight aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons that may interfere with parasite and host metabolism. These results indicated that SMSE of P. ostreatus and MCF of the same mushroom grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) gave the best control of broomrape, and increased plant height, root length, leaf area, chlorophyll concentration, relative water content and seed yield (g plant⁻¹), as well as anatomical characters of leaves in the two faba bean varieties (Misr3 and Sakha3), such as upper and lower epidermis, palisade tissue, spongy tissue and vascular bundles. Additionally, electrolyte leakage was decreased in the treated plants compared to control plants and the plants treated with Roundup (glyphosate) because of the important role of SMSE and MCF in the improvement of faba bean water status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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19 pages, 2676 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A New Active Substance Derived from Lyzed Willaertia magna C2c Maky Cells to Fight Grapevine Downy Mildew

by Sandrine Demanèche, Laurène Mirabel, Olivier Abbe, Jean-Baptiste Eberst and Jean-Luc Souche

Plants 2020, 9(8), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9081013 - 11 Aug 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4148

Abstract

Downy mildew of grapevine is one of the most destructive grapevine diseases worldwide. Nowadays, downy mildew control relies almost exclusively on the use of chemical pesticides, including copper products, which are efficient but controversial due to their environmental toxicity. Natural plant protection products have become important solutions in the quest for the sustainable production of food and pest management. However, most biocontrol agents currently on the market, such as biofungicides or elicitors, have a limited efficacy; thus, they cannot replace chemical compounds in full. Our innovation is a natural active substance, which is a lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky. This active substance is not only able to elicit grapevine defenses, but it also demonstrates direct fungicidal activity against Plasmopara viticola. The efficacy of this new natural substance was demonstrated both in a greenhouse and in a field. The amoeba lysate provided up to 77% protection to grapevine bunches in the field in a natural and safe way. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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24 pages, 399 KiB

Open AccessReview

Prototyping a Knowledge-Based System to Identify Botanical Extracts for Plant Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Pierre J. Silvie, Pierre Martin, Marianne Huchard, Priscilla Keip, Alain Gutierrez and Samira Sarter

Plants 2021, 10(5), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10050896 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4103

Abstract

Replacing synthetic pesticides and antimicrobials with plant-based extracts is a current alternative adopted by traditional and family farmers and many organic farming pioneers. A range of natural extracts are already being marketed for agricultural use, but many other plants are prepared and used empirically. A further range of plant species that could be effective in protecting different crops against pests and diseases in Africa could be culled from the large volume of knowledge available in the scientific literature. To meet this challenge, data on plant uses have been compiled in a knowledge base and a software prototype was developed to navigate this trove of information. The present paper introduces this so-called Knomana Knowledge-Based System, while providing outputs related to Spodoptera frugiperda and Tuta absoluta, two invasive insect species in Africa. In early October 2020, the knowledge base hosted data obtained from 342 documents. From these articles, 11,816 uses—experimental or applied by farmers—were identified in the plant health field. In total, 384 crop pest species are currently reported in the knowledge base, in addition to 1547 botanical species used for crop protection. Future prospects for applying this interdisciplinary output to applications under the One Health approach are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

27 pages, 1826 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biostimulant Properties of Seaweed Extracts in Plants: Implications towards Sustainable Crop Production

by Omar Ali, Adesh Ramsubhag and Jayaraj Jayaraman

Plants 2021, 10(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030531 - 12 Mar 2021

Cited by 245 | Viewed by 25433

Abstract

The use of seaweed-based bioproducts has been gaining momentum in crop production systems owing to their unique bioactive components and effects. They have phytostimulatory properties that result in increased plant growth and yield parameters in several important crop plants. They have phytoelicitor activity as their components evoke defense responses in plants that contribute to resistance to several pests, diseases, and abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, and cold. This is often linked to the upregulation of important defense-related genes and pathways in the plant system, priming the plant defenses against future attacks. They also evoke phytohormonal responses due to their specific components and interaction with plant growth regulation. Treatment by seaweed extracts and products also causes significant changes in the microbiome components of soil and plant in support of sustainable plant growth. Seaweed extracts contain a plethora of substances which are mostly organic, but trace levels of inorganic nutrient elements are also present. Fractionation of seaweed extracts into their components and their respective bioassays, however, has not yielded favorable growth effects. Only the whole seaweed extracts have been consistently proven to be very effective, which highlights the role of multiple components and their complex interactive effects on plant growth processes. Since seaweed extracts are highly organic, they are ideally suited for organic farming and environmentally sensitive crop production. They are also very compatible with other crop inputs, paving the way for an integrated management approach geared towards sustainability. The current review discusses the growth and functional effects evoked by seaweed extracts and their modes and mechanisms of action in crop plants which are responsible for elicitor and phytostimulatory activities. The review further analyses the potential value of seaweed extracts in integrated crop management systems towards sustainable crop production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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36 pages, 563 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cabbage Production in West Africa and IPM with a Focus on Plant-Based Extracts and a Complementary Worldwide Vision

by Abla Déla Mondédji, Pierre Silvie, Wolali Seth Nyamador, Pierre Martin, Lakpo Koku Agboyi, Komina Amévoin, Guillaume Koffivi Ketoh and Isabelle Adolé Glitho

Plants 2021, 10(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030529 - 11 Mar 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5435

Abstract

In urban and peri-urban areas in West Africa, the cabbage Brassica oleracea L. (Brassicaceae) is protected using repeated high doses of synthetic insecticides. After a brief description of available IPM components, this paper presents a literature review focused on the botanical extracts that have been experimented with at the laboratory or in the field in West Africa against major cabbage pests. The literature reviewed mentions 19 plant species from 12 families used for cabbage protection in the subregion. The species most used are Azadirachta indica, Capsicum frutescens, Ocimum gratissimum and Ricinus communis. An overview of the world literature showed that a total of 13 plant species belonging to 8 families used to control cabbage pests are reported from the rest of Africa, and 140 plant species belonging to 43 families from the rest of the world. The most commonly used and tested plant species against insect pests in the three geographical areas considered is A. indica. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Plant Pest and Disease Control)

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