UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Plant diseases continue to pose significant threats to global agricultural productivity, food security, and ecosystem stability. The review aims to explore the application of plant extracts and natural compounds in plant disease control. The overreliance on synthetic chemical pesticides has led to severe environmental consequences, including soil and water contamination, non-target organism toxicity, and the emergence of resistant pathogen strains. Plant extracts and natural compounds have emerged as viable alternatives for plant disease management due to their biodegradability, low toxicity, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. These botanicals, derived from medicinal, aromatic, and agro-waste plants, contain bioactive constituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolics that exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and nematicidal effects. Various extraction and formulation techniques, ranging from crude preparations to nanoencapsulation, have enhanced the efficacy and stability of these compounds under field conditions. Mechanistically, they operate through multiple pathways, including disruption of microbial cell structures, inhibition of spore germination, and induction of plant immune responses such as systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR). Numerous laboratory and field studies have validated their effectiveness against pathogens such as Fusarium, Botrytis, Xanthomonas, and Pseudomonas, showing comparable performance to conventional pesticides. Despite their potential, limitations such as phytochemical variability, short shelf life, regulatory hurdles, and lack of standardisation restrict their widespread adoption. Recent advances in biotechnology, controlled-release systems, and integration with microbial biocontrol agents have opened new avenues for their application. Moreover, their compatibility with organic farming and precision agriculture systems supports their role in sustainable crop protection. This review highlights the current applications, mechanisms, innovations, and challenges associated with plant-based disease control, while emphasising future research directions and policy frameworks needed to enhance their adoption. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations, farmer training, and regulatory support can pave the way for the next generation of green pesticides that are both effective and environmentally responsible. With strategic implementation and innovation, plant-based disease control methods can play a transformative role in future agroecological systems and integrated pest management frameworks.