Uses and challenges of novel compounds for plant disease control

Fungicide research has produced a diverse range of products with novel mode s of action during the last few years. These new classes of fungicides whic h include anilinopyrimidines, phenoxyquinolines, oxazolidinediones, spiroke talamines, scytalone dehydratase inhibitors, phenylpyrroles, strobilurins, and activators of systemic acquired resistance are expected to have a signi ficant impact on disease control in the next decade. The most recent result s in fungicide discovery originated from different approaches: traditional empirical screening of synthetic chemicals; traditional screening of natura l products; biochemically directed screening of chemicals to discover; non- conventional agents stimulating plant defense. This review considers the di fferent classes of recently developed fungicides, particularly focusing on their mode of action, resistance risk and impact on disease control. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.