Antimicrobial aromatic polyketides: a review of their antimicrobial properties and potential use in plant disease control

Aromatic polyketides are secondary metabolites widely found in bacteria, fungi, and plants, which are well-known for their diverse chemical structures and biological functions. The structural diversity of aromatic polyketides arises from a series of enzymatic modifications of the linear poly-β-ketone intermediates during biosynthesis. Their versatile bioactivities are exemplified by reports of their use as antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics. Despite many reports on the antimicrobial nature of aromatic polyketides, their potential use as plant disease control agents has still not been systematically explored and discussed. This review highlights examples of the use of aromatic polyketides as plant disease control agents and discusses their function and merits as agrochemicals.