New Tools for the Management of Fungal Pathogens in Extensive Cropping Systems for Friendly Environments

PÉREZ-PIZÁ, MARÍA CECILIA; SAUTUA, FRANCISCO JOSÉ; SZPARAGA, AGNIESZKA; BOHATA, ANDREA; KOCIRA, S?AWOMIR; CARMONA, MARCELO ANÍBAL

CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES

TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC

Año: 2023 p. 1 - 31

0735-2689

Crop production plays a critical role in global food security, with key commodities such ascorn, wheat, soybean, and rice ranking among the most widely cultivated crops. Thesemajor crops are predominantly grown within extensive cropping systems. However, thesesystems are threatened by fungal diseases, which may cause substantial yield reductions.The most widely adopted strategy to manage fungal pathogens in extensively grown cropsworldwide is chemical control. Nevertheless, this strategy has multiple drawbacks andpotential hazards, including pathogen resistance, environmental contamination, and negativeeffects on human health and other organisms. As a logical result, over the last decades,conventional agricultural systems have been questioned and a transition toward more sustainableproduction methods has emerged. The new productive paradigm emphasizes theadoption of eco-friendly approaches to disease management, with biofungicides and biostimulantsamong the new tools gaining popularity. However, establishing a regulatory frameworkfor these tools in different countries has proven challenging due to the lack of globalharmonization. The primary objective of this review is to gather dispersed information onnew tools and technologies (either available in the market or being studied) applicable toextensively grown crops generated by the latest scientific advances. Additionally, the reviewseeks to contribute to clarifying the categorization of these new tools (biostimulants, biofungicides,plant defense inducers, and technologies such as gene editing, RNAi, nanotechnology,and physical treatment) to enhance their understanding and to critically assess theirpotentials, challenges, and future perspectives. Furthermore, the review aims to identifytools successfully implemented in horticulture or other intensive production systems butnot yet practically applied in extensively grown crops, to pave the way for future advancesand potential adaptations of these tools to suit extensive agricultural practices. Finally, thisreview presents a practical disease management model that incorporates new tools toaddress a key disease in wheat.