Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are major pests that significantly impact the production of economically important crops, posing a threat to global food security. Currently, the use of nematicides for PPN control is facing increasing restrictions due to their detrimental effects on the environment and human health, leading to strict regulatory measures. Consequently, alternative management strategies are needed. These alternatives include crop rotation, trap crops, resistant crop varieties, organic amendments, plant extracts, and microbial control instead of synthetic chemical nematicides. Owing to their biological composition, the development of bio-based nematicides is considered the future of nematicides in this challenging industry. Despite many bioproducts demonstrating nematicidal properties against PPN, fewer than 10% are presently registered in the agrochemical market.
The use of plant extracts for plant protection is one of the most sustainable methods to manage PPN. However, these extracts may also possess allelochemicals as active compounds with multiple modes of action, which can induce toxicity in protected crops, humans, animals, and non-target organisms, usually at higher concentration levels.
This Research Topic will also collect articles on models for toxicity as well as the toxic effects of plant-based products and/or extracts used in pest management, enabling the assessment of the potential risk posed by these products in the environment. One aspect to consider is the sustainability of plant materials used to develop and produce. This approach will cover mitigation aspects of the sustainable use of plant material, using propagation methods to generate more plants to avoid the extinction of species. Lastly, we will consider economic feasibility in terms of reducing production costs compared to the use of expensive synthetic chemicals. Together, these efforts can sustain the environment and improve food security to feed the growing population.
This Research Topic explores botanicals for managing plant parasitic nematodes, focusing on their impacts on crops and the environment. We welcome Reviews, Opinion, and Original Research articles on the development of innovative strategies for PPN control using plant-based products and/or extracts, including plant breeding strategies for resistance against PPN, studies on the mode of action of bionematicides, and applied research on the use of antagonistic microorganisms (i.e., bacteria or fungi) or microbiomes as preventive tools for PPN population growth.
Sustainable Agriculture:
o Applications of plant extracts for nematode management.
o Comparative studies of botanicals versus traditional nematicides.
o Synergistic effects with sustainable methods such as crop rotation.
o Propagation methods to avoid species extinction.
o Role of bionematicides in preserving beneficial soil organisms.
Climate-Smart Agriculture:
o Natural products like bio-stimulants to boost crop productivity.
o Technological growth-enhancement systems like OMET.
o Sustainable use of plant materials in product development.
Toxicology:
o Potential phytotoxicity of plant extracts on non-target organisms.
o Safety protocols and mitigation strategies.
o Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments for product registration.
o Biodegradability and environmental impact of plant-derived nematicides.
This Research Topic highlights novel and underexplored aspects of botanicals in sustainable nematode management, including:
o Molecular mechanisms through which plant extracts affect nematodes and ecosystems.
o Emerging technologies and innovative plant-based nematode control agents.
o Economic feasibility, aiming to reduce production costs compared to synthetic chemicals.
Keywords:
Root-knot nematodes, Plant extracts, Toxicity, Nematicides, Pest
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are major pests that significantly impact the production of economically important crops, posing a threat to global food security. Currently, the use of nematicides for PPN control is facing increasing restrictions due to their detrimental effects on the environment and human health, leading to strict regulatory measures. Consequently, alternative management strategies are needed. These alternatives include crop rotation, trap crops, resistant crop varieties, organic amendments, plant extracts, and microbial control instead of synthetic chemical nematicides. Owing to their biological composition, the development of bio-based nematicides is considered the future of nematicides in this challenging industry. Despite many bioproducts demonstrating nematicidal properties against PPN, fewer than 10% are presently registered in the agrochemical market.
The use of plant extracts for plant protection is one of the most sustainable methods to manage PPN. However, these extracts may also possess allelochemicals as active compounds with multiple modes of action, which can induce toxicity in protected crops, humans, animals, and non-target organisms, usually at higher concentration levels.
This Research Topic will also collect articles on models for toxicity as well as the toxic effects of plant-based products and/or extracts used in pest management, enabling the assessment of the potential risk posed by these products in the environment. One aspect to consider is the sustainability of plant materials used to develop and produce. This approach will cover mitigation aspects of the sustainable use of plant material, using propagation methods to generate more plants to avoid the extinction of species. Lastly, we will consider economic feasibility in terms of reducing production costs compared to the use of expensive synthetic chemicals. Together, these efforts can sustain the environment and improve food security to feed the growing population.
This Research Topic explores botanicals for managing plant parasitic nematodes, focusing on their impacts on crops and the environment. We welcome Reviews, Opinion, and Original Research articles on the development of innovative strategies for PPN control using plant-based products and/or extracts, including plant breeding strategies for resistance against PPN, studies on the mode of action of bionematicides, and applied research on the use of antagonistic microorganisms (i.e., bacteria or fungi) or microbiomes as preventive tools for PPN population growth.
Sustainable Agriculture:
o Applications of plant extracts for nematode management.
o Comparative studies of botanicals versus traditional nematicides.
o Synergistic effects with sustainable methods such as crop rotation.
o Propagation methods to avoid species extinction.
o Role of bionematicides in preserving beneficial soil organisms.
Climate-Smart Agriculture:
o Natural products like bio-stimulants to boost crop productivity.
o Technological growth-enhancement systems like OMET.
o Sustainable use of plant materials in product development.
Toxicology:
o Potential phytotoxicity of plant extracts on non-target organisms.
o Safety protocols and mitigation strategies.
o Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessments for product registration.
o Biodegradability and environmental impact of plant-derived nematicides.
This Research Topic highlights novel and underexplored aspects of botanicals in sustainable nematode management, including:
o Molecular mechanisms through which plant extracts affect nematodes and ecosystems.
o Emerging technologies and innovative plant-based nematode control agents.
o Economic feasibility, aiming to reduce production costs compared to synthetic chemicals.
Keywords:
Root-knot nematodes, Plant extracts, Toxicity, Nematicides, Pest
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.