Elahe Haji Mohammadi, Kamran Rahnama, Behzad Rahnama, Laya Zare, Volume 14, Issue 2 ((Spring and Summer) 2025)
Abstract
The increasing resistance of plant pathogens to chemical pesticides and concerns over the environmental consequences of their use have heightened the need to develop sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. Chitosan, as a natural and biodegradable biopolymer, has significant potential for sustainable management of plant diseases due to its antimicrobial activity and ability to stimulate plant defense systems. Various sources of chitosan production include crustacean shells, fungi, insect cuticles, as well as extraction methods and quality-determining factors, especially the degree of deacetylation and molecular weight. The multiple mechanisms of chitosan action, including direct antimicrobial activity by disrupting the structure and permeability of pathogen membranes, induction of systemic resistance through activation of defense and hormonal pathways, increased activity of defense enzymes like chitinase and glucanase, and strengthening structural barriers such as lignin and callose, and the role of chitosan in reducing certain abiotic stresses and improving plant growth and performance, are described in this article. The development of smart, nanostructured formulations, the optimization of chitosan production from sustainable sources, and its strategic integration with other disease management methods could strengthen the role of this biopolymer in sustainable agriculture and enhance plants productivity.
