Abstract
Bacterial biological control agents (BCAs) have been increasingly used against plant diseases. The traditional approach to manufacturing such commercial products was based on the selection of bacterial species able to produce secondary metabolites that inhibit mainly fungal growth in optimal media. Such species are required to be massively produced and sustain long-term self-storage. The endpoint of this pipeline is large-scale field tests in which BCAs are handled as any other pesticide. Despite recent knowledge of the importance of BCA-host-microbiome interactions to trigger plant defenses and allow colonization, holistic approaches to maximize their potential are still in their infancy. There is a gap in scientific knowledge between experiments in controlled conditions for optimal BCA and pathogen growth and the nutrient-limited field conditions in which they face niche microbiota competition. Moreover, BCAs are considered to be safe by competent authorities and the public, with no side effects to the environment; the OneHealth impact of their application is understudied. This review summarizes the state of the art in BCA research and how current knowledge and new biotechnological tools have impacted BCA development and application. Future challenges, such as their combinational use and ability to ameliorate plant stress are also discussed. Addressing such challenges would establish their long-term use as centerfold agricultural pesticides and plant growth promoters.
Highlights
Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens create major limitations on crop production with severe annual losses worldwide [1,2]
Pseudomonas chlororaphis (Cedomon) was registered 10 years after its file submission for suppression of soil-borne pathogens of barley and wheat [22]. This is the reason why many plant growth-promoting bacteria which may have biocontrol effects are registered in the EU: Reg. (EU) as biofertilizers than biopesticides [23]
Antibiotics are low-molecular-mass products of secondary metabolism, secreted by bacterial biological control agents (BCAs) to compete with other bacteria for nutrients and space in an environmental niche (Figure 1)
Summary
Plant diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens create major limitations on crop production with severe annual losses worldwide [1,2]. Microbial BCAs are microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses that attack specific plant pests. They affect pathogens with multiple modes of action which can be direct and/or indirect. The direct action is considered to result from competition for nutrients and environmental niches, antibiosis through secretion of harmful metabolites, and inhibition of pathogen colonization of the host plant. The scope of this article is to introduce BCAs to readers and highlight state-of-the-art research that has changed perspectives and their use. A sum of 196 publications was selected to follow the progress in the field across the globe over the past two decades
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