Abstract
Biological control is an environmentally friendly alternative to using fungicides for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, and it is likely to gain wider use in the future. The use of aerobic endospore-forming bacteria as biocontrol agents for fungal plant diseases is increasing throughout the world, as this control strategy gradually gains acceptance. Various free-living and endophytic Bacillus species have been described that have the ability to colonize roots and stimulate plant growth, thereby enhancing crop yield. More importantly, some of these species are also known to inhibit the growth of soil and airborne fungal pathogens directly, and to promote resistance to several fungal diseases in various crops. Effective commercial formulations of Bacillus spp. for the biocontrol of plant diseases are currently available. In this chapter, we provide an overview of current knowledge regarding the use of aerobic endospore-formers as biofungicides, and we discuss the potentials of these organisms for promoting plant health in twenty-first century agriculture.
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