Uses and challenges of novel compounds for plant disease control

Fungicide research has produced a diverse range of products with novel modes of action during the last few years. These new classes of fungicides which include anilinopyrimidines, phenoxyquinolines, oxazolidinediones, spiroketalamines, scytalone dehydratase inhibitors, phenylpyrroles, strobilurins, and activators of systemic acquired resistance are expected to have a significant impact on disease control in the next decade. The most recent results in fungicide discovery originated from different approaches: traditional empirical screening of synthetic chemicals; traditional screening of natural products; biochemically directed screening of chemicals to discover; non-conventional agents stimulating plant defense. This review considers the different classes of recently developed fungicides, particularly focusing on their mode of action, resistance risk and impact on disease control. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.