In this article, we focused on an alternative approach of plant protection against the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), which is considered the most important pest of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in the world and also here in Slovenia. We decided to present the use of different inert dusts as a way of controlling the aforementioned pest. We focused on the categorization of powders, the presentation of individual groups of inert dusts and the description of one or more substances belonging to a specific group. In addition to a general presentation and the mode of action of specific inert dusts, we also provided practical examples that show whether the agent/substance has already been used against the Colorado potato beetle. With the aforementioned, we also tried to summarize whether the described substance has the potential to be used in practice or not. We would also like to point out that wood ash and diatomaceous earth are the most promising inert dusts against L. decemlineata. Wood ash is effective against larvae and to a lesser extent also against adults. Diatomaceous earth is also effective in reducing the number of pests on potato plants. Other inert dusts mentioned in scientific literature are probably less effective or have not even been tested or used against this pest yet. Further research, both under laboratory conditions and outdoors, are necessary to definitively determine the effectiveness of this selected inert dusts.

Global food production is forced to search for new approaches to protect plants from harmful organisms and environmental factors. One of the alternatives could be the use of salicylic acid (SA) and its derivatives. Overall, the effects of SA at the primary ecosystem level are encouraging, contributing to improved productivity and quality of many plants and improving tolerance to many stressors. The secondary level of effects of SA in the environment represents the effects on harmful organisms due to direct action and also the indirect effects of SA that occur due to morphological and physiological changes when the plant adapts to stressors. In many cases, SA has the effect of reducing infections, and it also acts as a deterrent to some pests. After being attacked by a pest, plants release volatile compounds into the environment, mainly SA derivatives such as methylated SA (MeSA). This attracts the natural enemies of pests, which could be used to protect plants from pests, as MeSA has been found to act as an attractant in many species. Salicylates have a very wide spectrum of action, which trigger various effects in the environment, which intertwine with each other and consequently affect several levels in the exosystem. In this article, we divided the effects of salicylates according to different levels in the environment, which gave us a broader insight into the potential use of salicylates in agriculture.