Além da liberação de compostos no solo, mecanismos complementares como o fornecimento de matéria orgânica, nutrientes e melhoria da estrutura do solo, também desempenham papel complementar na biofumigação. As espécies de brássicas mais utilizadas pertencem aos gêneros Brassica, Raphanus, Sinapis e Eruca. Em sua constituição, possuem os glucosinolatos que, após hidrólise enzimática, produzem compostos como os isotiocianatos com efeito biofungicida comprovado cientificamente. As espécies da família Brassicaceae são as plantas mais utilizadas na biofumigação. RESUMO: A biofumigação consiste na liberação de compostos biocidas voláteis no solo a partir da incorporação de determinadas plantas e de seus resíduos. Promising examples of the use of this technique are also presented, further detailing the advances in basic and applied knowledge on the subject. The objective of this article was to review these new developments, beginning with concepts related to biofumigation, and to discuss the mechanisms of action of compounds involving brassica species and the recommendations on usage. Usage of new biofumigation compounds has also been validated in recent years, including the development of patented technological products such as liquid formulations and pellets. In the past two decades, several studies on the use of brassica residues in biofumigation have been published, showing promising results in the management of soil pathogens (fungi and oomycetes, nematodes, bacteria, and protozoa), weed seeds, and insects. In addition to the release of compounds in the soil, complementary mechanisms, such as the supply of organic matter and nutrients, and improvement of the soil structure, also play a role in biofumigation. The most commonly used brassica species belong to the genera Brassica, Raphanus, Sinapis, and Eruca. These plants contain glucosinolates, which produce compounds, such as isothiocyanates, following enzymatic hydrolysis, with scientifically proven fungicidal effects.
Species of the Brassicaceae family are the most widely used plants for biofumigation. Under such circumstances, we identified the gaps and the potentials of ASD in tropical agricultural systems and proposed promising biodegradable materials.ĪBSTRACT: Biofumigation involves the release of volatile biocidal compounds in the soil through the incorporation of certain plants and their residues. Nevertheless, with soil quality depletion, reduction in arable lands, and exponential population growth, a drastic change to the current agricultural practices should be adapted since yield gain has reached a plateau for major staple crops. However, it is interesting to note that, except for a few studies, ASD research in the developing world and in the tropical countries has lagged behind. Though the exact mechanism of ASD in pathogen control is unknown, promising results have been reported against a wide range of pathogens such as fungi, nematodes, protists, and oomycetes. Most of these studies were conducted in the USA and in the Netherlands. A literature search undertaken on ASD found that more than 50 comprehensive research projects have been conducted since its first discovery in 2000.
ASD involves the application of an easily liable carbon source followed by irrigation to field capacity and maintenance of an anaerobic condition for a certain period. Anaerobic soil disinfection (ASD) has been identified as an alternative soil-borne pathogen control strategy to chemical fumigation.