Control of Fusarium spp. is recognized as a global phytosanitary challenge due to its broad host range and persistence in soil. This work is aimed at analyzing the biological and technological foundations that support the use of RNA interference as an alternative to conventional fungicides, particularly spray-based RNA delivery. Molecular mechanisms of infection and gene silencing were reviewed, and RNA design criteria with interference potential were considered on the basis of structural accessibility, nucleotide bias, and thermodynamic asymmetry. The methodology consisted of a review of scientific literature, with emphasis on molecular mechanisms of infection, gene silencing, and RNA design criteria with interference potential, complemented by the analysis of reported experimental spraybased application. Gene silencing strategies are presented as offering advantages over traditional methods because of their specificity and lower environmental impact, although limitations associated with genetic variability, environmental conditions, and regulatory frameworks were acknowledged. It is concluded that integrating molecular design criteria with ecological knowledge of the pathogen will enable progress toward more robust and sustainable control strategies.

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) has gained attention as a danger signal between organisms because of the ecological implications of this mechanism and its great potential as a biological modulator in agriculture. Self-DNA and non-self DNA have been evaluated earlier, both as plant immune system elicitors. Here we show the effect of eDNA extracted from the bacterial phytopathogen Clavibacter michiganensis applied to tomato plants in different concentrations (50, 100 and 150 µg mL⁻¹). Monitoring morphology of the plants, spectrophotometric determinations and RT-qPCR assays showed a dose-dependent effect on plant growth and root development, activation of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids, and differential expression of genes related to plant stress response, such as chalcone synthase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Lower concentration treatments showed an increment in the variables as beneficial responses for agricultural practices, and the higher concentration (150 µg mL⁻¹) showed reduced or no effects on the evaluated variables. This work represents a step forward in the development of effective and more sustainable agricultural technology in crop production.

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) has gained attention as a danger signal between organisms because of the ecological implications of this mechanism and its great potential as a biological modulator in agriculture. Self-DNA has been evaluated earlier as a DAMP and non-self-DNA as a PAMP, both as plant elicitors. Here we show the biostimulant effect of eDNA extracted from the bacterial phytopathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Michiganensis foliarly applied one onto tomato plants in different concentra-tions (50, 100 and 150 µg mL-1). Monitoring morphology of the plants, spectrophoto-metric determinations and RT-qPCR assays showed that plant growth, immune system and secondary metabolism activation as well as differential expression of defense genes, showed a positive response to some of the eDNA treatments in a dose-dependent manner. This work represents a step forward in the development of effective and more sustainable agricultural technology in crop production.