Search

Phytopathogenic fungi are responsible for diseases in commercially important crops and cause major supply problems in the global food chain. Plants were able to protect themselves from disease before humans played an active role in protecting plants. They are known to synthesize a variety of secondary metabolites (SMs), such as terpenes, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds, which can be extracted using conventional and unconventional techniques to formulate biofungicides; plant extracts have antifungal activity and various mechanisms of action against these organisms. In addition, they are considered non-phytotoxic and potentially effective in disease control. They are a sustainable and economically viable alternative for use in agriculture, which is why biofungicides are increasingly recognized as an attractive option to solve the problems caused by synthetic fungicides. Currently, organic farming continues to grow, highlighting the importance of developing environmentally friendly alternatives for crop production. This review provides a compilation of the literature on biosynthesis, mechanisms of action of secondary metabolites against phytopathogens, extraction techniques and formulation of biofungicides, biological activity of plant extracts on phytopathogenic fungi, regulation, advantages, disadvantages and an overview of the current use of biofungicides in agriculture.

The Festuca arundinacea Schreb. is one of the most used forage grasses due to its duration, productivity, great ecological breadth, and adaptability. Livestock has been criticized for its large production of greenhouse gases (GHG) due to forage. The advancement of science has led to an increase in the number of studies based on nanotechnologies; NPs supplementation in animal nutrition has found positive results in the fermentation of organic matter and the production of fatty acids and ruminal microorganisms. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the in vitro digestibility of forage containing selenium (Se) nanoparticles (NPs), and to identify the specific behavior of the ruminal fermentation parameters of F. arundinacea Schreb. and (2) quantify the production of greenhouse gases (total gas and methane) (3) as well as the release of bioactive compounds (phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and selenium) after fermentation. Three treatments of SeNPs were established (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 ppm). The effects of foliar fertilization with SeNPs son digestion parameters were registered, such as the in vitro digestion of dry matter (IVDM); total gas production (Atotal gas) and methane production (ACH4); pH; incubation time(to); the substrate digestion rate (S); tSmax and the lag phase (L); as well as the production of volatile fatty acids (VFA), total phenols, total flavonoids, and tannins in ruminal fluid. The best results were obtained in the treatment with the foliar application of 4.5 ppm of SeNPs; IVDMD (60.46, 59.2, and 59.42%), lower total gas production (148.37, 135.22, and 141.93 mL g DM−1), and CH4 (53.42, 52.65, and 53.73 mL g DM−1), as well as a higher concentration of total VFA (31.01, 31.26, and 31.24 mmol L−1). The best results were obtained in the treatment with the foliar application of 4.5 ppm of SeNPs in the three different harvests; concerning IVDMD (60.46, 59.2, and 59.42%), lower total gas production (148.37, 135.22, and 141.93 mL g DM−1), and CH4 (53.42, 52.65, and 53.73 mL g DM−1), as well as a higher concentration of total VFA (31.01, 31.26, and 31.24 mmol L−1). The F. arundinacea Schreb. plants fertilized with 4.5 ppm released—in the ruminal fluid during in vitro fermentation—the following contents: total phenols (98.77, 99.31, and 99.08 mgEAG/100 mL), flavonoids (34.96, 35.44, and 34.96 mgQE/100 g DM), tannins (27.22, 27.35, and 27.99 mgEC/100g mL), and selenium (0.0811, 0.0814, and 0.0812 ppm).

In the present study, the effects of ultrasound (10, 20, and 30 min) on the bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, enzymatic inhibition, and in vitro digestion of six honey extracts from the Oaxaca state, Mexico, were analyzed. Significant differences were found in each honey extract with respect to the ultrasonic treatment applied (p < 0.05). In the honey extract P-A1 treated with 20 min of ultrasound, the phenols reached a maximum concentration of 29.91 ± 1.56 mg EQ/100 g, and the flavonoids of 1.92 ± 0.01 mg EQ/100 g; in addition, an inhibition of α-amylase of 37.14 ± 0.09% was noted. There were also differences in the phases of intestinal and gastric digestion, presenting a decrease in phenols (3.92 ± 0.042 mg EQ/100 g), flavonoids (0.61 ± 0.17 mg EAG/100 mg), antioxidant capacity (8.89 ± 0.56 mg EAG/100 mg), and amylase inhibition (9.59 ± 1.38%). The results obtained from this study indicate that, in some honeys, the processing method could increase the concentration of bioactive compounds, the antioxidant capacity, and the enzymatic inhibition; however, when subjected to in vitro digestion, the properties of honey are modified. The results obtained could aid in the development of these compounds for use in traditional medicine as a natural source of bioactive compounds.

Festuca arundinacea Schreb. is a widely used type of forage due to its great ecological breadth and adaptability. An agricultural intervention that improves the selenium content in cultivated plants has been defined as bio-fortification, a complementary strategy to improve human and non-human animals’ nutrition. The advancement of science has led to an increased number of studies based on nanotechnologies, such as the development of nanoparticles (NPs) and their application in crop plants. Studies show that NPs have different physicochemical properties compared to bulk materials. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the behavior of F. arundinacea Schreb. plants cultivated with Se nanoparticles, (2) to identify the specific behavior of the agronomic and productive variables of the F. arundinacea Schreb. plants, and (3) to quantify the production and quality of the forage produced from the plant (the bioactive compounds’ concentrations, antioxidant activity, and the concentration of selenium). Three different treatments of SeNPs were established (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mg/mL). The effects of a foliar fertilization with SeNPs on the morphological parameters such as the root size, plant height, and biomass production were recorded, as well as the effects on the physicochemical parameters such as the crude protein (CP), lipids (L), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), carbohydrates (CH), the content of total phenols, total flavonoids, tannins, quantification of selenium and antioxidant activity 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between treatments in all the response variables. The best results were obtained with foliar application treatments with 3.0 and 4.5 mg/mL with respect to the root size (12.79 and 15.59 cm) and plant height (26.18 and 29.34 cm). The F. arundinacea Schreb. plants fertilized with 4.5 mg/L had selenium contents of 0.3215, 0.3191, and 0.3218 mg/Kg MS; total phenols of 249.56, 280.02, and 274 mg EAG/100 g DM; and total flavonoids of 63.56, 64.96, and 61.16 mg QE/100 g DM. The foliar biofortified treatment with a concentration of 4.5 mg/mL Se NPs had the highest antioxidant capacities (284.26, 278.35, and 289.96 mg/AAE/100 g).

Over the past decade, consumers have demanded natural, completely biodegradable active packaging serving as food containers. Bioactive plant compounds can be added to biopolymer-based films to improve their functionality, as they not only act as barriers against oxidation, microbiological, and physical damage, they also offer functionality to the food they contain. A water-in-oil (W/O) nanoemulsion was produced by applying ultrasound to xoconostle extract and orange oil, and was incorporated into gelatine films in different proportions 1:0 (control), 1:0.10, 1:0.25, 1:0.50, 1:0.75, and 1:1 (gelatine:nanoemulsion). The nanoemulsions had an average size of 118.80 ± 5.50 nm with a Z-potential of −69.9 ± 9.93 mV. The presence of bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, and betalains in the films was evaluated. The 1:1 treatment showed the highest presence of bioactive compounds, 41.31 ± 3.71 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g (GAE)/100g for phenols, 28.03 ± 3.25 mg of quercetin equivalent per 100 g (EQ)/100g flavonoids and 0.014 mg/g betalains. Radical inhibition reached 72.13% for 2,20-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and 82.23% for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The color of the films was influenced by the incorporation of nanoemulsions, showing that it was significantly different (p < 0.05) to the control. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and percentage elongation, were affected by the incorporation of nanoemulsified bioactive compounds into gelatine films. The obtained films presented changes in strength and flexibility. These characteristics could be favorable as packaging material.