What are elicitors and how they strengthen plant defense

Agriculture is undergoing one of the greatest transitions of recent decades: the shift from models highly dependent on chemicals to systems that are more sustainable, resilient, and based on the natural physiology of plants. In this context, elicitors emerge as one of the most promising tools — not only as a complement, but as a central pillar of integrated protection programs and organic farming.

In this article, we show how elicitors can transform the way you protect your crops. You will understand what they are, how they work, what real benefits they bring to the field, and why they are becoming indispensable for growers. If you are looking for more effective, safe, and sustainable solutions, this content is for you.

What are elicitors?

Elicitors are natural, biological, botanical, mineral, or biotechnological substances capable of activating the plant’s defense mechanisms. Instead of acting directly on the disturbing agents, they function as internal signals that trigger physiological responses that make the plant more resilient to:

• fungal diseases
• pests
• abiotic stress (drought, heat, salinity, and waterlogging)
• mechanical damage
• adverse climatic conditions

After understanding what they are, it is essential to see how they act inside the plant.

How elicitors work in the plant

Unlike other products, elicitors do not act directly on the causal agent: they prepare the plant to react faster and more effectively. When applied via foliar spray or soil, they are recognized by the plant’s receptors, activating a sequence of internal metabolic defense responses such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET).

These activated hormonal pathways are responsible for physiological defense responses such as:

• Production of phytoalexins: antimicrobial compounds that hinder fungal development
• Thickening of cell walls: deposition of lignin and callose, creating physical barriers against pathogens
• Activation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR): the plant keeps its defenses activated for several days, increasing resilience
• Strengthening of overall structural integrity
• Increased tolerance to stress

This process generally occurs between 6 and 24 hours after application, with prolonged protection lasting 7 to 14 days, and is described as “vaccination or immune training,” an analogy that helps illustrate the profound impact elicitors have on plant physiology.

After understanding the mechanism, it is useful to look at the main technical indicators that help plan applications and optimize crop protection:

• Activation time: 6–24 hours
• Protection duration: 7–14 days
• Average severity reduction: 20–45%
• Compatibility: high with contact and systemic products (always consult the technical sheet)
• Maximum efficacy: when applied preventively

Elicitors are currently one of the most researched tools in sustainable crop protection, due to their ability to activate natural defenses and reduce treatments.

Types of elicitors

Once the main technical parameters are understood, the next step is to select the type of elicitor best suited to the crop’s objective. Each category acts through different pathways and offers specific advantages, allowing the protection strategy to be adjusted to the crop’s needs. Below are the main types of elicitors, their modes of action and some examples.

When choosing the type of elicitor, it is important to understand the benefits each approach can bring to the crop and to the protection program.

Benefits of elicitors

Before integrating elicitors into your program, it is worth understanding the benefits they offer and how they help improve crop performance.

• Reduction of control applications: 1 to 2 fewer treatments per cycle, keeping the crop more balanced
• Increased resilience: Less leaf drop, greater stress tolerance, and better recovery after extreme events
• Total safety: No residues, no MRLs, no negative impact on beneficial organisms
• Improved harvest quality: Greater uniformity, better physiological integrity, and lower incidence of damage
• Real sustainability: Fewer synthetic chemicals, reduced environmental impact, and greater protection of biodiversity

In practice, these benefits translate into concrete results in specific crops. Below, we present some examples of application in selected crops.

All of this shows that elicitors are not just a trend, but a structural shift in how we protect crops. By working with plant physiology, growers gain greater stability, resilience, and quality throughout the production cycle.

If you already work with integrated production programs or organic farming, elicitors can be the next step to strengthen results.

BIOSANI provides technical solutions tailored to each crop, combining elicitors and biofertilizers/biostimulants with elicitor activity to enhance resilience, reduce residues, and improve harvest quality. Explore our catalogue of elicitors and biofertilizers or contact us for personalized guidance.