Abstract
With the impending increase of the world population by 2050, more activities have been directed toward the improvement of crop yield and a safe environment. The need for chemical-free agricultural practices is becoming eminent due to the effects of these chemicals on the environment and human health. Actinomycetes constitute a significant percentage of the soil microbial community. The Streptomyces genus, which is the most abundant and arguably the most important actinomycetes, is a good source of bioactive compounds, antibiotics, and extracellular enzymes. These genera have shown over time great potential in improving the future of agriculture. This review highlights and buttresses the agricultural importance of Streptomyces through its biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities. These activities are highlighted and discussed in this review. Some biocontrol products from this genus are already being marketed while work is still ongoing on this productive genus. Compared to more focus on its biocontrol ability, less work has been done on it as a biofertilizer until recently. This genus is as efficient as a biofertilizer as it is as a biocontrol.
Highlights
Actinomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a genome with high G + C ratio
Two thirds of natural antibiotics have been isolated from actinomycetes, and about 75% of them are from the Streptomyces genus (Franco-Correa et al 2010)
The global attempts to discovering natural products as biocontrol agents for plant protection have notably been on the rise and actinomycetes, Streptomyces being the most proactive, appear to be a readily available natural choice in finding new ways to combat plant pathogens
Summary
Actinomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a genome with high G + C ratio. The global attempts to discovering natural products as biocontrol agents for plant protection have notably been on the rise and actinomycetes, Streptomyces being the most proactive, appear to be a readily available natural choice in finding new ways to combat plant pathogens. Their abilities to control plant pathogens stem from the following traits:.
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