Potential Use of Terpenoids in Weed Management

Abstract

Invasive plants represent a source of economic damage to the agricultural system, and their management has become indispensable from an agronomic point of view, as such plants are known for their competitiveness for resources such as water, light, nutrients, and space. Their control is performed in some cases, such as in Brazil, through the use of pesticides, which can be harmful to human health and other animals. With the change of habits and the search for a better quality of life, the use of these chemicals in management areas is increasingly less encouraged. A possible ecological alternative would be the use of natural products, as secondary metabolites have been shown as potential promoters of phytotoxic activity. Among the allelochemicals produced naturally, terpenoids can be highlighted because their chemical variability can help in the sustainable management of invasive plants.