Research on Natural Bioactive Products-Based Pesticidal Agents

Nowadays, chemical pesticides remain an effective means to control and manage pests. However, their use continues to give rise to problems of pest resistance and resurgence, with serious repercussions, such as chemical pesticide residues, which affect food safety, human health, and the ecological environment. Since botanical pesticides originate from plant secondary metabolites, which are produced under the selective forces driving coevolution between plants and the environment (life and non-life), they tend to exhibit less or slower resistance development and are more eco-friendly. Therefore, the research and application of natural plant-derived products, which represent a priceless source of botanical pesticides, have received increasing attention. In comparison with chemical pesticides, the use of natural plant-derived products as lead compounds for structural optimization is highly desirable to improve their agricultural properties. Bioactive natural plant-derived products, as an invaluable source of structural diversity and biological activity, can either directly or indirectly promote the discovery of new green pesticide candidates. In particular, the study of their mechanisms of action against pests is also important for the development of new pesticidal agents.

Consequently, in this Topic, entitled 'Research on Natural-Bioactive-Product-Based Pesticidal Agents', we present ten original research and review articles focused on natural bioactive product-based pesticidal agents.