ABSTRACT. Synthetic pesticides have a positive impact on food production. However, there are concerns due to the outbreak of resistance along with negative side effects on human health and the environment. New active compounds and control strategies are needed for the management of phytopathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionarily conserved components of the innate immune response in almost all organisms that constitute an interesting source of potential molecules for use as pesticides.