{"title":"Phytochemicals as next-generation bioactive tools for plant protection: mechanisms, innovations and field applications","authors":"Lingareddy Usha Rani, Nishanth Mallappa, Theerthagiri Anand, Vaibhav Kumar Singh, Nagendran Tharmalingam, Govindasamy Senthilraja","doi":"10.1186/s40538-026-00913-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Plant diseases cause over 20% annual crop losses worldwide, with rising fungicide resistance and environmental concerns driving urgent demand for sustainable alternatives. Phytochemicals naturally occurring secondary metabolites such as thymol, berberine, and quercetin offer a promising solution due to their broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, coupled with low environmental persistence and biodegradability. However, their efficacy is highly dependent on plant species, developmental stage, and environmental factors including temperature, light intensity, soil quality, and nutrient availability, all of which influence biosynthesis and bioactivity. Moreover, extraction methods such as aqueous, ethanol, or organic solvent-based techniques significantly affect phytochemical stability, solubility, and antimicrobial potency, contributing to variability in performance. Despite their potential, challenges related to compositional heterogeneity, phytotoxicity risks, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks have limited widespread agricultural adoption. This review synthesizes recent advances (2015–2025) in phytochemical research for plant disease management, focusing on biosynthesis pathways, extraction optimization, mechanisms of action, and innovative formulation technologies. We highlight how phytochemicals exert dual effects: directly disrupting pathogen membranes, inhibiting viral replication, and interfering with essential enzymes, while also priming plant immune responses through salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and systemic acquired resistance signaling. Emerging technologies including ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction, and nanoencapsulation enhance yield, stability, and field efficacy, enabling targeted, sustained delivery. Furthermore, breakthroughs in genetic engineering, microbial bioproduction, AI-guided formulation design, and circular economy models such as valorizing agro-waste for extraction are overcoming scalability and standardization barriers. We propose a framework for “smart phytochemical deployment” that integrates precision delivery, resistance management, and systems biology. This review positions phytochemicals not merely as alternatives to synthetic pesticides, but as next-generation tools for resilient, climate-smart, and sustainable agriculture.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":512,"journal":{"name":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s40538-026-00913-3.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40538-026-00913-3","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Plant diseases cause over 20% annual crop losses worldwide, with rising fungicide resistance and environmental concerns driving urgent demand for sustainable alternatives. Phytochemicals naturally occurring secondary metabolites such as thymol, berberine, and quercetin offer a promising solution due to their broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, coupled with low environmental persistence and biodegradability. However, their efficacy is highly dependent on plant species, developmental stage, and environmental factors including temperature, light intensity, soil quality, and nutrient availability, all of which influence biosynthesis and bioactivity. Moreover, extraction methods such as aqueous, ethanol, or organic solvent-based techniques significantly affect phytochemical stability, solubility, and antimicrobial potency, contributing to variability in performance. Despite their potential, challenges related to compositional heterogeneity, phytotoxicity risks, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks have limited widespread agricultural adoption. This review synthesizes recent advances (2015–2025) in phytochemical research for plant disease management, focusing on biosynthesis pathways, extraction optimization, mechanisms of action, and innovative formulation technologies. We highlight how phytochemicals exert dual effects: directly disrupting pathogen membranes, inhibiting viral replication, and interfering with essential enzymes, while also priming plant immune responses through salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and systemic acquired resistance signaling. Emerging technologies including ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical CO2 extraction, and nanoencapsulation enhance yield, stability, and field efficacy, enabling targeted, sustained delivery. Furthermore, breakthroughs in genetic engineering, microbial bioproduction, AI-guided formulation design, and circular economy models such as valorizing agro-waste for extraction are overcoming scalability and standardization barriers. We propose a framework for “smart phytochemical deployment” that integrates precision delivery, resistance management, and systems biology. This review positions phytochemicals not merely as alternatives to synthetic pesticides, but as next-generation tools for resilient, climate-smart, and sustainable agriculture.
期刊介绍：
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed forum for the advancement and application to all fields of agriculture of modern chemical, biochemical and molecular technologies. The scope of this journal includes chemical and biochemical processes aimed to increase sustainable agricultural and food production, the evaluation of quality and origin of raw primary products and their transformation into foods and chemicals, as well as environmental monitoring and remediation. Of special interest are the effects of chemical and biochemical technologies, also at the nano and supramolecular scale, on the relationships between soil, plants, microorganisms and their environment, with the help of modern bioinformatics. Another special focus is the use of modern bioorganic and biological chemistry to develop new technologies for plant nutrition and bio-stimulation, advancement of biorefineries from biomasses, safe and traceable food products, carbon storage in soil and plants and restoration of contaminated soils to agriculture.
This journal presents the first opportunity to bring together researchers from a wide number of disciplines within the agricultural chemical and biological sciences, from both industry and academia. The principle aim of Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture is to allow the exchange of the most advanced chemical and biochemical knowledge to develop technologies which address one of the most pressing challenges of our times - sustaining a growing world population.
Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture publishes original research articles, short letters and invited reviews. Articles from scientists in industry, academia as well as private research institutes, non-governmental and environmental organizations are encouraged.
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