Valorization of Essential Oils: Multiple Applications for Enhancing Plant Growth and Stress Tolerance

Submission Deadline: 31 July 2026 View: 91 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Cecilia Brunetti

Email: cecilia.brunetti@cnr.it

Affiliation: Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy

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Research Interests: plant metabolomics, volatile organic compounds,  mediterranean forests

Dr. Cassandra Detti

Email: cassandra.detti@gmail.com

Affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy

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Research Interests: plant physiology, biochemistry, abiotic stress, nutraceutical, circular economy, biostimulant

Dr. Andrea C. Baptista

Email: andreacarolinabaptistaruiz@cnr.it

Affiliation: Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy, Via Madonna del Piano, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy

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Research Interests: plant physiology, phytochemistry, abiotic stress, nutraceutical, circular economy

Summary

In the natural environment, plants face abiotic and biotic stresses often causing reduced productivity and yield. To face these threats, plants have evolved several biochemical mechanisms, including the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites which perform various protective functions. Among them, terpenes are involved in tritrophic interactions and as defensive compounds against fungal and bacterial infections.

Terpenes are the main class of bioactive compounds of essential oils (EO), and monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the most abundant molecules. Their extraction involves traditional methods like hydrodistillation, cold pressing, and solvent extraction, as well as advanced, eco-friendly techniques such as supercritical CO₂ extraction, microwave-assisted distillation, and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). These processes enable the utilization of agricultural and agri-food by-products and waste materials for EO production, thereby contributing to supporting the development of innovative circular and sustainable economy models.

Essential oils have multiple applications as natural agrochemicals to substitute conventional pesticides against pests, including insects and weeds, due to their low ecological impact and short environmental persistence, which makes them less harmful. Therefore, essential oils can be considered not only as natural pesticides but also as valuable agents enhancing crop yield and stress tolerance, contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture.

In this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit research articles, scientific commentaries, and reviews on this topic, including but not limited to:
· Innovative extraction techniques and sustainable production for essential oils.
· Chemical characterization of essential oils
· Application of essential oils in agriculture.
· Development of innovative agro-industrial products from essential oils for use as pest control agents and plant protection.
· Impact of essential oil application on the physiological status of plants.

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