# Carvone-Rich Essential Oils and Their Agrobiological Interactions: A Review

## TL;DR

Carvone-rich essential oils show promise as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals for managing agricultural pests, pathogens, and weeds.

## Contribution

This review highlights the agrobiological potential of carvone-rich essential oils and their formulation advancements for sustainable agriculture.

## Key findings

- Carvone-rich EOs effectively inhibit phytopathogenic fungi and show insecticidal and acaricidal activity.
- These oils suppress weed germination and nematode activity, acting as natural herbicides.
- Formulation technologies like nanoemulsification improve the stability and delivery of these volatile oils.

## Abstract

Carvone-rich essential oils (EOs), and carvone specifically, exhibit a broad spectrum of protective effects against major agricultural threats. They display strong antifungal and moderate antibacterial effects, effectively inhibiting numerous phytopathogenic fungi. EOs exhibit significant insecticidal, acaricidal, and repellent activity against various insects and mites, and some EOs are highly effective against agricultural nematodes, suppressing mobility and egg hatching. Crucially, the EOs demonstrate a strong capacity to suppress the germination and initial growth of different weed species, highlighting their viability as natural herbicides. This review analyzes the chemical composition, biological effects, and potential agricultural applications of carvone and carvone-rich essential oils, primarily sourced from Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae), Carum carvi (Apiaceae), and Anethum graveolens (Apiaceae). The biological activity of these EOs is significantly influenced by their specific composition, which varies among plant species and chemotypes. While EOs’ inherent volatility limits direct field application, this challenge is being successfully addressed by innovative formulation technologies, such as nanoemulsification and encapsulation, which enhance stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. In conclusion, carvone-rich EOs offer effective, environmentally low-risk agents for the integrated management of pathogens, pests, and weeds in sustainable agriculture. They help reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and minimize the potential for resistance development.