Prospects for the use of plant-derived extracts as inducers of productivity and sustainability of agricultural crops

Abstract

Nowadays, modern agriculture, faced with declining economic output and deteriorating environmental conditions, requires sustainable productivity growth. One promising direction is to find alternatives to traditional agrochemicals. Plant extracts are a promising solution offering multifunctional benefits due to the diversity of secondary metabolites. This review discusses the chemistry of extracts and production methods, including traditional maceration/percolation and more rapid methods for heat-sensitive compounds. Particular attention is paid to the phytostimulatory and biostimulatory effects of extracts, such as stimulation of cell division, modulation of stress-related genes, improvement of mineral nutrition by stimulating rhizosphere microbiota, increasing photosynthetic efficiency, and activation of salicylic and jasmonic acid pathways. Antimicrobial and allelopathic properties are also discussed. Key challenges such as biochemical instability, dosing issues, and lack of standardized protocols are highlighted. Solutions are proposed, including the development of formulated products, the use of omics analysis, and the creation of databases. Ultimately, it is emphasized that extracts are versatile tools for sustainable farming systems that require further standardization and integration with digital technologies to unlock their full potential.