Biocontrol of Soilborne Root Pathogens: An Overview

Abstract

Antagonism is a natural phenomenon of negative interactions among organisms; one of its beneficial applications in agricultural sector is biocontrol method. Under biocontrol methods, antagonistic properties of certain organisms especially microbes, called biocontrol agents (BAs), are harnessed against plant pathogens to control or at least reduce the severity of plant diseases. Biocontrol methods are environment-friendly and do not affect nontarget organisms including human beings. Further, the chances of resistance of pathogen against these methods are little as BAs employed often possess multitarget action-mechanisms such as antibiosis, competition, parasitism, and induction of host defense system. A large number of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, have shown biocontrol potentials against various root pathogens. Despite a number of added benefits of biocontrol methods over synthetic chemical pesticides, the popularity of these methods among farmers is still very limited.