Sulfur: –redefining versatility in crop protection and production

Abstract

Sulfur (S) is the fourth vital nutrient for the growth, health and development of plants. It plays a key role in the structure of proteins, the function of enzymes, in photosynthesis and the defence of plants against stresses, diseases and pests, as also in the keeping quality of produce. A wide range of recently developed sulfur-containing agrochemicals, constitute a distinct class of chemical compounds with novel modes of action. Over 30% of today’s agrochemicals, mostly fungicides, acaricides, and insecticides, contain at least one sulfur atom in different forms. Sulfur has a plethora of attributes in enhancing crop productivity with a simultaneous robust role in protecting the quality produce. This article, is an attempt to summarize the available scattered literature on the aforementioned aspects and highlights. The objective of this review is to provide an update on recent findings related to these subjects, the versatile domains of sulfur, vis-à-vis the role of different input organizations in fostering the molecule against various diseases of crops.