Microorganisms in biological control strategies to manage microbial plant pathogens: a review

Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are an integral part of modern agriculture and are often associated with numerous environmental problems. Biological agents such as microorganisms can largely replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The proper use of selected microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses have several benefits for agriculture. These include a healthy soil microbiota, biological production of important compounds that promote plant health, and to be used as biocontrol agents (BCAs) that provide protection from plant pathogenic microorganisms. Scientists have found that several bacterial genera including Bacillus and Pseudomonas have antimicrobial activity against numerous pathogenic bacterial and fungal plant pathogens. Trichoderma, Aspergillus, and Penicillium are among the most common fungal genera used as BCAs against both bacterial and fungal plant pathogens. Several bacteriophages and mycoviruses are also found effective as BCAs against selective plant pathogens. Fusarium oxysporum is a commonly found microbial plant pathogen causing wilts and rots in plants. Overall, it can be concluded that the use of microbial BCAs is an effective practice against microbial plant pathogens.