Interaction of chemical pesticides and their formulation ingredients with microbes associated with plants and plant pests

Authors: Duke, Stephen

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/5/2018
Publication Date: 7/5/2018
Citation: Duke, S.O. 2018. Interaction of chemical pesticides and their formulation ingredients with microbes associated with plants and plant pests. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 66:7753-7561. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b02316.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b02316

Interpretive Summary: Chemical pesticides and their formulation ingredients can have unintended effects on agriculturally important microbes. These effects can be due to direct effects on the microbes or to direct or indirect effects on crops or weeds that subsequently impart changes to the microbial community. In addition to fungicides, some insecticides, herbicides, and formulation compounds are toxic to plant pathogenic microbes, as well as to potentially beneficial microbes. These chemicals, especially herbicides, can also indirectly affect microbes through their effects on crops and weeds. For example, glyphosate strongly impairs shikimic acid pathway-based plant defenses to microbial diseases in glyphosate-susceptible plants, significantly increasing its efficacy as a herbicide. Some herbicides induce plant defenses against plant pathogens. For a complete understanding of integrated pest management and overall cost/benefit of pesticide use, much more information is needed on microbial/pesticide interactions.

Technical Abstract: Chemical pesticides and their formulation ingredients can have unintended effects on agriculturally important microbes. These effects can be due to direct effects on the microbes or to direct or indirect effects on crops or weeds that subsequently impart changes to the microbial community. In addition to fungicides, some insecticides, herbicides, and formulation compounds are toxic to plant pathogenic microbes, as well as to potentially beneficial microbes. These chemicals, especially herbicides, can also indirectly affect microbes through their effects on crops and weeds. For example, glyphosate strongly impairs shikimic acid pathway-based plant defenses to microbial diseases in glyphosate-susceptible plants, significantly increasing its efficacy as a herbicide. Some herbicides induce plant defenses against plant pathogens. For a complete understanding of integrated pest management and overall cost/benefit of pesticide use, much more information is needed on microbial/pesticide interactions.