Understanding pyrethrin biosynthesis: toward and beyond natural pesticide overproduction

Pyrethrins are natural insecticides biosynthesised by Asteraceae plants, such as Tanacetum cinerariifolium and have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Pyrethrins are often used as low-persistence and safe insecticides to control household, horticultural, and agricultural insect pests. Despite its long history of use, pyrethrin biosynthesis remains a mystery, presenting a significant opportunity to improve yields and meet the growing demand for organic agriculture. To achieve this, both genetic modification and non-genetic methods, such as chemical activation and priming, are indispensable. Plants use pyrethrins as a defence against herbivores, but pyrethrin biosynthesis pathways are shared with plant hormones and signal molecules. Hence, the insight that pyrethrins may play broader roles than those traditionally expected is invaluable to advance the basic and applied sciences of pyrethrins.