Researchers found that L-ornithine, a naturally occurring amino acid, can help common bean plants defend themselves against white mold disease caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. When applied to bean plants, ornithine boosted their antioxidant defenses and interfered with the fungus’s ability to produce oxalic acid, a toxic compound it uses to infect plants. This discovery offers farmers a potential eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides for protecting bean crops.