Improving the efficacy of biocontrol agents against soilborne pathogens

By D. Spadaro, Maria Lodovica Gullino. 2005

321 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Abstract Technical, economical and environmental factors are forcing to adopt new sustainable methods, such as the use of microbial antagonists, for the control of soilborne pathogens. Research has mainly focused on antagonistic fungi and bacteria, often not providing consistent or satisfying results. Biocontrol agents can be combined with other chemical products, with physical methods (solarization or steam sterilization) or agronomical practices, such as enhancement of suppressive soils, use of amendments or microbial optimization in the case of soilless systems. Different biocontrol strategies should be developed for different pathogens. The use of microorganisms can play an important role in a more complex vision of crop protection, as a key element of IPM programs. Mixtures of antagonists with complementary activities could be developed, but the need for multiple registration is critical. Genetic manipulation could result in new biocontrol strains with increased production of toxic compounds or lytic enzymes, improved space or nutrient competence, wider host range or enhanced tolerance to abiotic stresses. The potential risks related to the environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms must be carefully assessed. Genes and enzymes involved in the biocontrol mechanism could be applied directly or transferred to crops. Finally, the production system, formulation and methods of application (soil and seed treatment or microbial colonization of the hydroponic nutrient solution) are crucial to maintain and improve the efficacy of microbial antagonists.

Subfields: Insect Science, Plant Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/27ae5ceefcafff87992e2b240d581c4f2f862aca

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Citations in the corpus

Use and understanding of organic amendments in Australian agriculture: a review (2011, methodology): “Solarisation is a technique that involves covering soil infected by plant pathogens with a transparent film, usually plastic, during the warmer months of the year, to raise the temperature and increase the level of toxic gases (Spadaro and Gullino 2005).”
Integrated control of cotton root rot disease by mixing fungal biocontrol agents and resistance inducers (2009, background): “Combining different biocontrol agents can contribute to better control of pathogens (Spadaro and Gullino, 2005).”
Biological Control of Soilborne Plant Pathogens with Rhizosphere Bacteria (2009, background): “Several rhizosphere bacteria have the potential to control various root, foliage and post harvest diseases of agricultural crops and these rhizobacteria are ideal for use as biocontrol agents (Glick and Bashan 1997; Spadro and Cullino 2005).”
Purification and characterization of a novel laccase from the ascomycete Trichoderma atroviride: Application on bioremediation of phenolic compounds (2010, background): “Fungi of the genus Trichoderma have been studied mainly as biological control agents against a number of soilborn pathogens [1,2].”
Endophytic fungi as biocontrol agents: elucidating mechanisms in disease suppression (2018, background): “Many biocontrol studies are carried out under controlled laboratory conditions, thereby circumventing complications associated with environmental influences, largescale production and formulation (Spadaro and Gullino 2005).”
Biological Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles by Bacteria, Fungi andPlants (2014, background): “Aspergillus flavus Ag Extracellular Reduction [68] Jatropha curcas latex Ag Extracellular Latex Mediated Reduction [52] Acalypha indica leaf extract Ag Extracellular Reduction [11] Medicago sativa seed exudate Ag Extracellular Reduction [53] Cymbopogon flexuosus extract Au Extracellular Reduction [5”