Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) cause substantial yield losses across a wide range of economically important crops worldwide, and the progressive withdrawal of synthetic nematicides due to toxicological and environmental concerns has created an urgent need for safer alternatives. Botanical extracts, owing to their chemically diverse secondary metabolites and multi-target nematicidal activity, represent one of the most thoroughly studied options. The present work synthesizes and critically evaluates the current state of knowledge on botanical extracts as nematicidal agents, encompassing phytochemical diversity, extraction methodology, nematicidal mechanisms, advanced formulation strategies, and the principal constraints limiting field-scale applicability. Research coverage has been markedly uneven: most studies have concentrated on a small set of plant families, particularly Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, and Meliaceae, with Meloidogyne spp. as the predominant target, while many other taxa remain underexplored. Proposed nematicidal mechanisms include oxidative stress, cholinergic interference, disrupted intracellular pH regulation, impaired detoxification, and induction of cell death; yet mechanistic integration through multi-omics approaches remains limited. Activity under laboratory conditions often declines markedly in soil, largely due to compound instability or volatility, a limitation that encapsulation and nanoemulsion formulations are beginning to address. Future research should prioritize standardized mechanistic studies and replicated field trials to bridge the gap between laboratory promise and practical nematode management.
Postharvest fungal decay is a primary cause of losses in blueberries, motivating the development of sustainable alternatives to conventional fungicides. This study aimed to develop and evaluate antifungal active films based on polylactic acid (PLA) enriched with citronella essential oil to control phytopathogenic fungi associated with blueberry spoilage. PLA films containing 7.5, 10, and 12.5% (w/w) citronella essential oil were produced by solvent casting and characterized for water vapor transmission rate and nanomechanical properties. The antifungal effect was tested in vitro against Epicoccum nigrum, Alternaria alternata, and Cladosporium herbarum. Active films exhibited concentration-dependent antifungal activity, with C. herbarum being the most sensitive fungus. The incorporation of citronella essential oil did not significantly alter the water vapor barrier properties of PLA, while mechanical analysis revealed a reduction in elastic modulus only at the highest concentration. The antifungal mechanism was elucidated using scanning electron microscopy, fatty acid profiling, absorbance at 260 nm, and conductivity measurements. The results indicate that the released citronella essential oil induced membrane disruption and morphological damage in fungal hyphae, with species-specific responses. Overall, PLA-citronella essential oil films represent a promising biodegradable packaging solution to control postharvest blueberry losses.
Microbial fermentation is a key biotechnological tool for producing bioactive metabo-lites such as alkaloids, carotenoids, essential oils, and phenolic compounds, among others, with applications in human health, agriculture, and food industries. This re-view comprehensively reviews recent information on the synthesis of valuable com-pounds and enzymes through fermentation processes. Here, we discuss the advantages of the different types of fermentation, such as submerged and solid-state fermentation, in optimizing metabolite production by bacteria, fungi, and yeast. The role of microbial metabolism, enzymatic activity, and fermentation conditions in enhancing the bioa-vailability and functionality of these compounds is discussed. Integrating fermentation with emerging biotechnologies, including metabolic engineering, further enhances yields and specificity. The potential of microbial-derived bioactive compounds in de-veloping functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and eco-friendly agricultural solutions positions fermentation as a pivotal strategy for future biotechnological advancements. Therefore, microbial fermentation is a sustainable tool to obtain high-quality metabo-lites from different sources that can be used in agriculture, animal, and human health.
Macrophomina phaseolina is a plant-pathogenic fungus that causes charcoal rot in sesame crops, which is the most significant disease affecting this crop worldwide. In Mexico, the interaction between M. phaseolina and sesame has been poorly studied. Therefore, this research aimed to characterize Macrophomina spp. isolates from diseased sesame roots in northern Sinaloa, Mexico, using morphological, molecular, and pathogenic methods. It also assessed the in vitro effectiveness of biocontrol agents and chemical fungicides. Six isolates of Macrophomina were identified through morphology, species-specific tef1-α primers, and phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences (ITS + tef1-α), confirming their identity as M. phaseolina; all isolates proved to be pathogenic. Antagonism assays with Trichoderma spp. showed statistically significant differences. Trichoderma isolates inhibited mycelial growth by up to 63% against M. phaseolina. In fungicide sensitivity tests, M. phaseolina isolates showed EC50 values ranging from 0.002–0.123, 0.049 to 1.397 and 0.029 to 0.539 mg L−1 for thiophanate-methyl, tebuconazole, and pyraclostrobin, respectively. In summary, Trichoderma spp. isolates and the tested fungicides warrant further research as potential strategies to manage M. phaseolina in sesame fields.
