Beyond Fungitoxicity: Recent Achievements in Targeted Fungicide Discovery

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Pathology
• Mycology

Background:

• Phytopathogenic fungi threaten global agriculture, exacerbated by fungicide resistance and environmental concerns.
• Precision disease control is crucial for enhancing selectivity, durability, and sustainability in crop protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in targeted fungicide discovery for phytopathogenic fungi.
• To categorize and compare novel fungicide strategies based on their mechanisms, selectivity, and deployment challenges.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of fungicide strategies into three groups: targeting essential fungal processes, disarming pathogen virulence, and activating host defenses.
• Comparative analysis of strategies regarding mechanistic rationale, selectivity, resistance risk, and field challenges.
• Discussion of enabling technologies like compound repurposing, structural biology, and AI-assisted design.

Main Results:

• Emerging strategies facilitate the discovery of fungicides with improved specificity and disease-control potential.
• Targeted approaches offer promise for more selective and potentially durable solutions against fungal pathogens.
• Integrated application of novel strategies and technologies accelerates target identification and lead optimization.

Conclusions:

• Precision fungicide discovery is essential for sustainable agriculture.
• Novel strategies targeting fungal biology, virulence, or host defense show significant potential.
• Emerging technologies are key to developing next-generation, selective, and durable antifungal agents.