Basic Substances and Potential Basic Substances: Key Compounds for a Sustainable Management of Seedborne Pathogens

Abstract

Seedborne pathogens represent a critical issue for successful agricultural production worldwide. Seed treatment with plant protection products constitutes one of the first options useful for reducing seed infection or contamination and preventing disease spread. Basic substances are active, non-toxic substances already approved and sold in the EU for other purposes, e.g., as foodstuff or cosmetics, but they can also have a significant role in plant protection as ecofriendly, safe, and ecological alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Basic substances are regulated in the EU according to criteria presented in Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009. Twenty-four basic substances are currently approved in the EU and some of them such as chitosan, chitosan hydrochloride, vinegar, mustard seed powder, and hydrogen peroxide have been investigated as seed treatment products due to their proven activity against fungal, bacterial, and viral seedborne pathogens. Another basic substance, sodium hypochlorite, is under evaluation and may be approved soon for seed decontamination. Potential basic substances such as essential oils, plant extracts, and ozone were currently found effective as a seed treatment for disease management, although they are not yet approved as basic substances. The aim of this review, run within the Euphresco BasicS project, is to collect the recent information on the applications of basic substances and potential basic substances for seed treatment and describe the latest advanced research to find the best application methods for seed coating and make this large amount of published research results more manageable for consultation and use.

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of chitosan and identification of potentially toxigenic fungi in stored maize of Nayarit, Mexico

“…On the other hand, chitosan can induce defense mechanisms in fruits and vegetables such as the synthesis of phenolic compounds, hydrolase antifungal enzymes such as chitinases and glucanases that hydrolyze the main components of the cell wall of fungi, thus inhibiting their growth. In this sense, the development of post-harvest diseases can be controlled or inhibited and the duration of storage for fruits, vegetables, and seeds can be prolonged (Moumni et al, 2023;Orzali et al, 2023).…”

“…Control systems to combat the proliferation of mycotoxigenic fungi involve physical methods (thermal treatments, ventilation), chemical products (fungicides), and biological systems (bacterial species, yeasts, atoxigenic strains) (Moumni et al, 2023;Orzali et al, 2023;Sirohi et al, 2021). However, none of these methods has been able to be effective to control or reduce postharvest losses.…”

“…Additionally, the use of fungicides has been withdrawn from the market and even prohibited in many countries due to the toxicity caused in humans, harmful to the environment, and damage to the quality of the product (Sirohi et al, 2021;Wan et al, 2021). There is growing interest in the use of antifungal compounds obtained from natural resources, such as chitosan, mainly obtained from shrimp exoskeletons (Mukarram et al, 2023;Orzali et al, 2023). Several studies have shown that chitosan has direct antimicrobial properties, and film-forming activity, and triggers the defense mechanisms of the plant (Gutiérrez-Martínez et al, 2020;Herrera-Gonzaléz et al, 2022;Rodríguez-Guzmán et al, 2022;Ramos-Bell et al, 2022;Rayón-Díaz et al, 2021;Saberi et al, 2024).…”

Chitosan as a Control Tool for Insect Pest Management: A Review

“…Chitosan can enhance the availability and stabilization of some insecticides or botanicals, while some chitosan derivatives have demonstrated insecticide activity towards various agricultural pests [12,15]. For this reason, chitosan is currently authorised in the EU as an active and non-toxic basic substance for plant protection as an environmentally friendly and safe alternative to synthetic pesticides (Regulation EC No 1107/2009 [16,17]. Various formulations of chitosan, supplemented with natural or synthetic insecticides, were studied as insect pest control tools in agriculture and public health but also as instruments for protecting foodstuffs [18][19][20][21].…”