Microbial bioherbicides: Integrating bioprocessing, mechanisms of action and protein engineering for sustainable weed management.
4 affiliations
- 1Chemical Engineering Department, Postgraduate Program in Chemical Engineering (PPGEQ), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
- 2Chemical Engineering Course, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Technology Institute (ITEC), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
- 3School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business (ESAN), Postgraduate Program in Food Science and Technology (PPGCTA), University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.
- 4School of Agricultural Sciences, Innovation and Business (ESAN), Postgraduate Program in Food Science and Technology (PPGCTA), University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. [email protected].
Abstract
The widespread use of synthetic herbicides in agriculture has intensified concerns regarding environmental sustainability and human health, while the evolution of herbicide resistance has outpaced the discovery of new modes of action. Bioherbicides have consequently emerged as a viable alternative, comprising biologically derived compounds capable of suppressing weed growth. This review adopts an integrated perspective on microbially derived bioherbicides, following the active biomolecules from the producing strain and its fermentation conditions to their physiological targets in the plant and to the molecular strategies available for their optimization. Unlike previous reviews, which address these dimensions separately and focus mainly on secondary metabolites, particular emphasis is placed here on enzymes with herbicidal activity and on protein engineering approaches. Based on a structured literature search, 39 original studies were analyzed. Phytopathogenic fungi, mainly Fusarium, Diaporthe, Phoma, Alternaria and Trichoderma, predominate as producing organisms, followed by bacteria of the genera Streptomyces, Pseudomonas and Bacillus, and submerged fermentation using low-cost agro-industrial substrates is the prevailing production strategy. Enzymatic classes such as cutinases, lipases, cellulases, pectinases and proteases act primarily by degrading the cuticle and the cell wall, whereas secondary metabolites frequently target the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly photosystem II; most of these compounds, however, still lack a defined mode of action within established herbicide classification systems. Molecular approaches, including heterologous expression, molecular docking and metabolic engineering, remain comparatively underexplored despite their potential to enhance activity, stability and specificity. Advances in formulation stability, bioprocess scalability, mechanistic characterization and regulatory harmonization are identified as the key requirements to translate these biomolecules into commercially viable products for sustainable weed management.
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BibTeX
@article{krein2026microbial,
title = {{Microbial bioherbicides: Integrating bioprocessing, mechanisms of action and protein engineering for sustainable weed management.}},
author = {Daniela Dal Castel Krein and Angelo Antonio Maraschin Conterato and Ricardo Plucinski and Guilherme Luiz Dotto and Aline Dettmer},
journal = {World journal of microbiology \& biotechnology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s11274-026-05366-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42955540},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Microbial bioherbicides: Integrating bioprocessing, mechanisms of action and protein engineering for sustainable weed management.
AU - Daniela Dal Castel Krein
AU - Angelo Antonio Maraschin Conterato
AU - Ricardo Plucinski
AU - Guilherme Luiz Dotto
AU - Aline Dettmer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - World journal of microbiology & biotechnology
DO - 10.1007/s11274-026-05366-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42955540
AB - The widespread use of synthetic herbicides in agriculture has intensified concerns regarding environmental sustainability and human health, while the evolution of herbicide resistance has outpaced the discovery of new modes of action. Bioherbicides have consequently emerged as a viable alternative, comprising biologically derived compounds capable of suppressing weed growth. This review adopts an integrated perspective on microbially derived bioherbicides, following the active biomolecules from the producing strain and its fermentation conditions to their physiological targets in the plant and to the molecular strategies available for their optimization. Unlike previous reviews, which address these dimensions separately and focus mainly on secondary metabolites, particular emphasis is placed here on enzymes with herbicidal activity and on protein engineering approaches. Based on a structured literature search, 39 original studies were analyzed. Phytopathogenic fungi, mainly Fusarium, Diaporthe, Phoma, Alternaria and Trichoderma, predominate as producing organisms, followed by bacteria of the genera Streptomyces, Pseudomonas and Bacillus, and submerged fermentation using low-cost agro-industrial substrates is the prevailing production strategy. Enzymatic classes such as cutinases, lipases, cellulases, pectinases and proteases act primarily by degrading the cuticle and the cell wall, whereas secondary metabolites frequently target the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly photosystem II; most of these compounds, however, still lack a defined mode of action within established herbicide classification systems. Molecular approaches, including heterologous expression, molecular docking and metabolic engineering, remain comparatively underexplored despite their potential to enhance activity, stability and specificity. Advances in formulation stability, bioprocess scalability, mechanistic characterization and regulatory harmonization are identified as the key requirements to translate these biomolecules into commercially viable products for sustainable weed management.
SN - 1573-0972
SN - 0959-3993
ER -