Insecticidal Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites

Dear Colleagues, Plant secondary metabolites display a plethora of biological functions, among which the biochemical defense against insects and other organisms is one of the most important ones. For this purpose, they synthesize alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics which act as allelochemicals through highly diverse modes of action leading to major changes on the arthropods’ physiology and behavior. Thus, they represent a complementary and alternative strategy to manage populations of pests and vectors. In this framework, the present Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews shedding light on recent advancements about the use of plant secondary metabolites and related formulations against arthropod targets of health and agricultural importance. This Special Issue welcomes contributions on the following topics: - Phytochemical analysis and biological evaluation of plant-borne secondary metabolites; - Lethal and sub-lethal effects of plant-borne insecticides and acaricides; - Repellent effects of plant-borne secondary metabolites on insects and mites; - Modes of action of green insecticides, acaricides, and repellents; - Toxicity of green insecticides and acaricides on non-target species, including aquatic organisms; - Structure–activity relationships characterizing green insecticides and acaricides; - Synergistic and antagonistic studies focusing on green insecticides and acaricides; - Development of insecticidal and acaricidal formulations with extended shelf-life and prolonged bioactivity in the field. Prof. Dr. Filippo Maggi Dr. Giovanni Benelli Guest Editors