Chitosan: An elicitor and antimicrobial Bio-resource in plant protection

Abstract

Pesticide resistance and environment threat due to injudicious use of chemical pesticides for disease management employs the alteration in management practices. Chitosan, a deacetylated chitin derivative, behaves like a general elicitor, inducing a non-host resistance, and prime the plants for systemic acquired resistance in addition to this Chitosan has high antimicrobial activity against a wide range of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria. The use of chitosan in agriculture and in food systems should be based on sufficient knowledge of the complex mechanisms of its elicitor and antimicrobial mode of action. In this article we a number of studies on the investigation of chitosan antimicrobial and resistance inducing properties and application of them in agriculture sector have been summarized.