trans-2-Octenal controls Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, the causal agent of tomato wilt in vitro, in soil and in the field

Fungal plant diseases cause major crop losses. Phytopathogenic fungi's ability to evolve resistance to fungicides, alongside ongoing prohibition of such agents by the European Commission because of their pronounced adverse effects on human health and the environment, make their control a challenge. Moreover, the development of less perilous fungicides is a complex task. Here we describe the process and challenges involved in the development of a novel fungicide, from in-vitro studies to field experiments.