Essential Oils as the New Frontier in Sustainable Pest Management: Bioactivity, Mechanisms, Formulation Strategies and Future Prospects

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Abstract
In search of sustainable alternatives and to safeguard beneficial microorganisms and human health from the use of chemical pesticides for controlling pests and diseases in agriculturally important crops, various natural products are being tested to manage plant pathogens. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of plant sources, chemical composition and biopotential of essential oils (EOs), with a focus on the critical evaluation of their efficacy against fungal, bacterial, insect, nematode and postharvest pathogens. Further, advanced formulation strategies, such as nanoencapsulation, microemulsions and chitosan‐based delivery systems, are discussed to overcome volatility and improve field efficacy. Also, considering challenges related to compositional variability and commercial scalability, EOs are a promising next‐generation green strategy for integrated crop protection.

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