BIOFUMIGATION: PROSPECTS FOR CONTROL OF SOIL BORNE PLANT DISEASES

One of the biggest worries for farmers is the spread of pathogens through the soil. These diseases are difficult to control because they are often tiny in size, buried in the soil, and frequently highly harmful even in small numbers. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, to which the majority of countries are signatories, has restricted the use of residual pesticides for the management of soil-borne infections, and the demand for food that is free of blemishes is rising. However, it has become urgently necessary to find suitable substitutes as a result of the phase-out of methyl bromide, a significant chemical. After introducing plants that contain glucosinolate, which is digested to produce isothiocyanates (ITC) in the soil, biofumigation has emerged as a crucial procedure to control plant diseases. The existence of glucosinolates and the byproducts of their hydrolysis in soil illustrate the effectiveness and environmental impact of biofumigation. The most significant producers of bioactive chemicals are Brassica species, which makes them suitable for biofumigation applications. This review focuses on the concept, the effective application of biofumigants against soil-borne diseases, and offers several case examples to highlight upcoming difficulties for the concept's continued advancement.