New applications for phytochemical pest-control agents

Natural products from plants continue to be the subject of novel and straightforward applications as pest control agents. It is noteworthy that these agents are perhaps most often isolated from plants or associated microorganisms that grow in the humid tropics where the competition to survive and even thrive is intense. Therefore, there is the expectation that those compounds may be especially fit to compete. This chapter surveys and highlights presentations given at the December 1995 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies held in Honolulu, which have now been compiled as a book consisting of sections on identification and utilization of biologically active natural products, novel natural products with applications for pest management, structure-activity studies of natural products pest control agents, and biologically active proteins and peptides affecting insects. As the development of diverse uses of these and succeeding agents continue to evolve, populations, animals, and crops will increasingly be protected from a broad spectrum of pests by more selective technologies. These agents may also serve as lead compounds for the development of economically superior agents against pests.