Chapter 10 - Use of microbial inoculants against biotic stress in vegetable crops: physiological and molecular aspect

Abstract

Today, alternative control methods less harmful than chemical control methods are sought against diseases that cause serious yield losses in crops. Biological disease control agents are in the spotlight of many researchers as a promising approach in this regard. These agents, which are increasingly used as biological fertilizers, are widely used in the field of vegetable cultivation. The biological control activity of these microorganisms depends on the functioning of their complex physiological and molecular mechanisms in harmony. This harmony between plants and microorganisms appears as the ultimate result of millions of years of improvement and has started an invisible but endless belowground warfare. The purpose of this chapter is to reveal the details of the symbiotic agreements between the microorganisms involved in this warfare and the plants and to bring together in detail the combat tools and equipment used by the microorganisms against the pathogens. In this chapter, information about current microorganisms applied to vegetables was presented by bringing together detailed physiological and molecular explanations about the action mechanism of their symbiosis and pathogen biocontrol activity. It is a recent update that starts with explaining communication between microorganisms, plants, and pathogens, continues explaining the regulation of related gene expression, includes explaining physiological responses, and also includes current practices on vegetables based on families.