Harnessing halophyte phytochemicals and biostimulants to enhance crop resilience under climate stress: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Global food security is increasingly compromised by the synergistic pressures of soil salinization and the climate-mediated proliferation of resilient agricultural pests and weeds. Halophytes, extremophile plants naturally adapted to high-salinity niches, represent an underexploited reservoir of bioactive compounds and microbial consortia with significant bioeconomic potential. This review synthesizes the multi-functional utility of halophyte-derived bioactive compounds in mitigating contemporary environmental stressors through two primary lenses. First, we discuss the biochemical efficacy of halophyte-derived secondary metabolites and essential oils (EOs) as sustainable biopesticides, highlighting their potency against taxa that exhibit increasing resistance to conventional synthetic inputs. Second, we evaluate the mechanistic role of halophyte-associated rhizobiomes and biostimulants in enhancing the physiological plasticity of glycophytic crops. Specifically, we detail their capacity to modulate antioxidant defense systems, maintain ion homeostasis, and alleviate osmotic stress under saline environments. Lastly, we delineate the phytochemical stability and non-target safety of halophyte plant extracts and essential oils. By synthesizing current ecotoxicological data, we illustrate how these biogenic inputs offer superior selectivity, safeguarding beneficial entomofauna and soil microbiota while maintaining high efficacy against target insect pests. By bridging the traditionally disparate domains of phytochemical pest control and rhizosphere engineering, this review proposes a holistic biotechnological paradigm. We conclude that the transition toward halophyte-based solutions offers a strategic, circular-economy pathway to stabilize food systems and safeguard public health, providing a robust bio-based alternative to synthetic agrochemicals in increasingly marginalized landscapes.