Terpenes from coniferous trees as non-toxic alternative to synthetic pesticides against agricultural pathogens

A need for a new biological solutions to improve plant health is greatly increasing due to restrictions in utilization of biocides in EU and simultaneous spreading of new invasive plant diseases. An ideal compound for crop protection should be nontoxic, hypoallergenic and able to provide long-term efficacy. The law of utilization of integrated pest management (IPM) practices, implemented in 2014 in Finland, challenges the effectiveness of the prevailing measures in plant protection in EU countries. Indeed, more studies are needed to find potential bioactive agents against plant pathogens and pests. These biocides should origin from related ecosystem and should be targeted to most common pathogens to avoid side-effects. Compounds derived from plants (e.g. terpenes) are attracting increasing attention as an economically important strategy to manage pest populations such as plant pathogens and insects while posing less risk to a human being and the environment.

This project will provide crucial information for understanding the role of terpenes (plant secondary metabolites abundant in coniferous trees) as potential biocides against agricultural pathogenic fungi and insects. The use of terpenes against pathogens and pests would be an effective, environmental-friendly and human health safety strategy to protect agricultural yield. The long-term applications of synthetic pesticides have resulted in residues accumulating in different environmental components. They have adverse effects on non-target organisms, ecosystems and human health. Therefore, bio-pesticides have posted as an alternative to synthetic pesticides in agriculture. As far aim, results of this project can lead to novel bio-pesticides.