Antibacterial activity of plant essential oils and possibilities of application as biopesticides in plant production

Pathogenic microorganisms, primarily bacteria and fungi, cause plant diseases, which lead to a significant loss of plant yields. For a long time, efforts have been made to reduce the loss of plant yields, primarily with the use of chemical agents for plant protection, but also with the selection of strains resistant to phytopathogens and other pests. However, the intensive use of chemical agents in crop production leads to environmental pollution and threats to food safety. For the above reasons, the application of biological preparations (biopesticides) is recommended as an environmentally acceptable way of managing plant diseases and the environment. The aim of this paper is to describe the antibacterial activity of the essential oils (EOs) of plants and the possibilities of their application as natural biopesticides in crop production, by reviewing the scientific literature and research. The applicable literature was analysed in this review paper. The results of numerous in vitro and in vivo scientific studies indicate that the essential oils of plants exhibit strong antibacterial effects on phytopathogenic bacteria, the causative agents of plant diseases, as well as that they can be successfully used in plant production.