title: Microbial metabolites as eco-friendly agrochemicals for the next millennium.
abstract: As a result of the increasing environmental and health-related problems caused by the synthetic agrochemicals currently used, suitable and non-hazardous innovative alternatives are being sought. Antagonism and allelopathy, both in nature and in agro-ecosystems, have attracted these researchers' attention, with the main goal of using these phenomena in the biological control of weeds. This article presents a review on the use and efficacy of microbial secondary metabolites which have potential as natural herbicides, either directly or as templates for bio-rational eco-friendly agrochemicals (allelochemicals). Their merits as alternatives to synthetic chemicals and biological control agents have been highlighted for an holistic approach in integrated pest/weed management.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology, Chemical, Energy & Environment Division, Thapar Center for Industrial Research & Development, Patiala, Punjab, India. sanjaibiotech@ yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000378:metabolism*; D000383:Agriculture; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005658:Fungi; D006540:Herbicides; D007218:Industrial Microbiology
chemical_list: D006540:Herbicides