Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture

1st Edition - February 17, 2024
Editors: Ajay Kumar, Muhammad Bilal, Gustavo Santoyo, Joginder Singh Panwar
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 5 1 9 9 - 6
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 1 5 3 0 3 - 7

Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents both an advanced and current description of the important role of plant an… Read more

Purchase options

LIMITED OFFER

Save 50% on book bundles

Immediately download your ebook while waiting for your print delivery. No promo code is needed.

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Request a sales quote

Biocontrol Agents for Improved Agriculture, a volume in the Plant and Soil Microbiome series, presents both an advanced and current description of the important role of plant and soil microbiome in plant disease management. Including the latest biotechnological interventions for harnessing plant and soil microbiome and their potential in controlling plant pathogen/ disease, as well as the commercialization of biocontrol products and exploration of microbial derived bioactive compounds, this book provides an important reference on the challenges of biocontrol products. Sections explore the bacterial and fungal species successfully applied as plant and soil inoculant for the effective management of plant diseases.

As these microbial biocontrol agents not only suppress the plant disease, but also enhance the growth or agricultural production in sustainable ways, the book focuses on the molecular aspect of plant- pathogen interactions and their biocontrol strategies via the use of plant and soil microbiome. This book is an important reference for those seeking sustainable, safe options for protecting against microbial agricultural loss and environmental damage.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Chapter 1. The expediency of fungi as biocontrol agents for the enhancement of food security
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Challenges to food security
1.3 Integrated pest and disease management strategies
1.4 Different approaches to mitigating pests and diseases
1.5 Detrimental effects of pesticide application on farm produce
1.6 Paradigm shift to biological approach for pest and disease management
1.7 Biological control
1.8 Benefits of biological controls
1.9 Advantages of biocontrol
1.10 The use of fungi as a biocontrol strategy
1.11 Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi in managing pest invasion
1.12 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms from native plants: an untapped resource of biocontrol and biofertilizer agents
Abstract
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Microbial-mediated adaptations of native plants to adverse environmental conditions
2.3 Forest trees as reservoirs of BCAs
2.4 Plant growth-promoting microorganisms from native medicinal plants
2.5 BCAs from wild relatives of Solanaceae
2.6 PGPR from root nodules of native plants
2.7 Microorganisms isolated from the phyllosphere of native plants as potential BCAs
2.8 BCAs from native plants growing in arid areas
2.9 Plant growth-promoting microorganisms from plants colonizing contaminated sites
2.10 Endophytic fungi from native plants as a source of BCAs
2.11 Final considerations
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 3. Biological control of Plasmopara viticola: where are we now?
Abstract
3.1 Agricultural relevance of Plasmopara viticola
3.2 Life cycle of Plasmopara viticola
3.3 Grapevine downy mildew management
3.4 Occurrence of fungicide resistance in Plasmopara viticola
3.5 New frontiers in the biological control of Plasmopara viticola
3.6 Lysobacter capsici AZ78, a promising candidate for the biocontrol of Plasmopara viticola
3.7 Conclusions and future perspectives
References
Chapter 4. Biological control of diseases in Theobroma cacao
Abstract
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Moniliasis (frosty pod)
4.3 Black pod rot
4.4 Witches’ broom
4.5 Ceratocystis wilt
4.6 Anthracnose
4.7 Vascular streak dieback
4.8 Bacterial pathogens
4.9 Cacao swollen shoot
4.10 Control methods for cacao pathogens
4.11 Mechanisms in biological control
4.12 Biocontrol agents used for cacao diseases
4.13 Mycorrhiza
4.14 Actinobacteria
4.15 Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Funding
References
Chapter 5. Synergistic mechanisms between plant growth-promoting bacteria and Trichoderma to control plant diseases
Abstract
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Pant growth-promoting bacteria and biocontrol traits of plant pathogens
5.3 What is Trichoderma and what are its mechanisms of biocontrol?
5.4 Cooperation between PGPR and Trichoderma to control plant diseases
5.5 Conclusions and perspectives
References
Chapter 6. Genomic mining for the identification of promising mechanisms of bioactivity in biological control agents
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Metabolites produced by biological control agents and their mechanisms of bioactivity
6.3 DNA sequencing tools
6.4 Bioinformatic tools for gene annotation
6.5 Mining genes encoding secondary metabolites
6.6 Examples of gene mining encoding biocontrol secondary metabolites
6.7 Conclusions and perspectives
References
Chapter 7. Production and commercialization of biocontrol products
Abstract
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Development of biological control agents
7.3 Commercialization of biological control agents
7.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 8. Study of Trichoderma microbial ecology and biotechnology
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 What is Trichoderma?
8.3 What role does Trichoderma play in agriculture?
8.4 When to apply Trichoderma in a crop?
8.5 Why is Trichoderma used against the development of diseases?
8.6 What is the structure and function of the secondary metabolites of Trichoderma?
8.7 What other benefits involve the use of Trichoderma in crops?
8.8 Conclusions
References
Chapter 9. Formulation of microbial biocontrol agents—an industrial perspective
Abstract
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Principles of Formulation
9.3 Conclusion and future aspect
References
Chapter 10. Endophytic microbiota in plant disease management
Abstract
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Endophytes as biocontrol agents
10.3 Mechanism of disease suppression by endophytes
10.4 Conclusion
References
Further reading
Chapter 11. Endophytic microorganisms as a source of bioactive compounds
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Endophytes
11.3 Establishment of endophytic bacteria inside the host plant
11.4 Methods of analysis of microbial endophytes
11.5 Endophytes as reservoir of bioactive compounds
11.6 Biological properties of endophytic bioactive compounds
11.7 Recent developments and challenges
11.8 Conclusion
References
Chapter 12. Plant growth-promoting bacteria in food security and plant disease management
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Food security
12.3 Plant growth-promoting bacteria
12.4 Plant growth-promoting bacteria’s role in plant growth improvement
12.5 Nitrogen fixation
12.6 Phosphate solubilization
12.7 Iron sequestration
12.8 Plant growth-promoting bacteria as biocontrol agents
12.9 Conclusion
References
Chapter 13. Bacterial strains used in postharvest management of fruits
Abstract
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Major postharvest diseases
13.3 Postharvest technologies to keep disease-free commodities: conventional to modern approaches
13.4 Microbial antagonists for combating postharvest diseases
13.5 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Chapter 14. Application of bacterial volatiles in plant disease management
Abstract
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Factors that influence volatile composition and procedures to extract the volatile organic compounds
14.3 Types of volatiles
14.4 Bacterial volatile organic compounds involved in promoting plant growth
14.5 Bacterial volatile organic compounds involved in regulating plant diseases
14.6 Conclusion
14.7 Future perspectives
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 15. CRISPR/Cas techniques used in plant disease management
Abstract
15.1 Introduction
15.2 CRISPR/Cas system of genome editing
15.3 Strategies towards engineering plant resistance
15.4 Genome editing in plant disease resistance
15.5 Limitations of using CRISPR/Cas in plant disease management
15.6 Conclusion
Acknowledgment
References
Chapter 16. The impact of climate change on plant diseases and food security
Abstract
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Impact of climate change on plant disease
16.3 Impacts of climate change on food security
16.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 17. Insect-plant-pathogens: toxicity, dependence, and defense dynamics
Abstract
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Host plant defenses against herbivores
17.3 Direct defense of plants against herbivores
17.4 Indirect defenses against herbivores
17.5 Role of phytohormones in plant survival against microbial and insect attack
17.6 Adaptation of insects and pathogens against plant defense mechanisms
17.7 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Further reading
Chapter 18. MicroRNAs in plant-insect interaction and insect pest control
Abstract
18.1 Introduction
18.2 miRNA biogenesis
18.3 Mechanism of miRNA-mediated gene regulation
18.4 Plant miRNAs in response to entomophagy
18.5 Insect miRNAs targeting plant defence responses
18.6 Plant miRNAs targeting phytophagous insects
18.7 miRNAS in insect oral secretion affect plant induced defenses
18.8 Interactions of plant miRNAs with beneficial insects
18.9 miRNAs regulate phytohormone signaling during plant defense
18.10 Interaction between phytohormones and their fate in plant-insect interaction
18.11 miRNAs in insect pest control
18.12 Conclusion
References
Further reading
Chapter 19. Ladybirds: biocontrol agents
Abstract
19.1 Introduction
19.2 Color polymorphism in ladybirds
19.3 History of biocontrol
19.4 Life cycle of ladybirds
19.5 Feeding habits
19.6 Ladybird’s potential as biocontrol agent
19.7 Ladybirds in a predatory guild
19.8 Effect of abiotic factors
19.9 Use of ladybirds in classical biological control
19.10 Use of ladybirds in augmentative biological control
19.11 Impact of ladybirds on prey
19.12 Conclusions
References
Chapter 20. Endophytes: the treasure house of bioactive compounds with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and other sectors
Abstract
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Endophytes—colonization and interactions with host plants
20.3 Natural bioactive compounds—chemical composition and classes
20.4 Potential applications of bioactive compounds
20.5 Challenges in the use of natural bioactive compounds and possible solution
20.6 Conclusion
References
Index

Ajay Kumar

Dr. Ajay Kumar is currently working as an assistant professor at Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, India. Dr. Kumar recently completed his tenure as a visiting scientist from Agriculture Research Organization, Volcani Center, Israel. He has published more than 175 research, review articles, and book chapters in international and national journals. He serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and as guest editor for various journals such as Plants, Microorganisms, and Sustainability. Dr. Kumar has also edited more than 32 books with the leading publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. Dr. Kumar’s research experience is in the field of plant–microbe interactions, postharvest management, cyanobacterial biology, and so on.

Affiliations and expertise

Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, India

Muhammad Bilal

Muhammad Bilal is an associate professor at the Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland. He has published more than 350 research papers in leading international journals and also serves as an Associate Editor for several of these journals.

Affiliations and expertise

Associate Professor, Department of Sanitary Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland

Gustavo Santoyo

Dr. Gustavo Santoyo obtained his Doctor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 2005 and did postdoctoral studies during 2005-2007 at the Center for Cancer Research, NIH, USA, as well as a sabbatical year (2014-2015) at the Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. He is currently a full-time research professor at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Research of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, in Morelia, Mexico. His research interest is led towards plant-microbe interactions, biocontrol of fungal pathogens, development of bioinoculants for agricultural crops, and basic research on microbial diversity of extreme environments. In these research areas has published 80 scientific publications with more than 4000 citations and a h-factor 29. In the Academy, He has supervised more than 30 doctoral, master and undergrad thesis. Dr. Santoyo is a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and the National Research System (SNI) of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) in Mexico.

Affiliations and expertise

Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo

Joginder Singh Panwar

Prof. Joginder Singh is a Professor in the Department of Botany at Nagaland University in India. Previously, he has worked as Young Scientist at Microbial Biotechnology and Biofertilizer Laboratory, Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University in Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. He is an active member of various scientific societies and organizations including, Association of Microbiologists of India, Indian Society of Salinity Research Scientists, Indian Society for Radiation Biology, and European Federation of Biotechnology. He has published extensively, including both journal papers and book chapters. He serves as a reviewer for many prestigious journals, including Current Research in Engineering, Science and Technology, Journal of Cleaner Production, Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Pedosphere, Soil and Sediment Contamination, Symbiosis, International Journal of Phytoremediation, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Annals of Agricultural Sciences, Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and many more.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Nagaland, India