Horticultural crops development: the importance of fine chemicals production from microbial enzymes

Economically important horticultural crops worldwide are being faced with the challenges of diseases, pests and the present changing climatic conditions. Research efforts to solve these problems are only focused on plant breeding and genetic engineering to create new hybrids, and pest management through the use of synthetic agrochemicals. Horticultural crops development using fine chemicals produced from microbial enzymes for production of non-toxic agrochemicals and other bioproducts need also to be considered as alternative option to synthetic agrochemicals. To this end, some of the microbial enzymes presently used for the production of fine chemicals that are very useful as building blocks for agroactive products are discussed here. Thus, this is to create awareness on the need to extend the application of these microbial fine chemicals to horticulture for a safe and environmentallyfriendly bioprocesses and crop development.