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Biological control of fungal plant diseases

Lutte biologique contre les maladies de plantes

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Abstract

Research has demonstrated the agricultural potential of biological control. For airborne pathogens as well as for soilborne pathogens similar strategies based on different targets in the life cycle of the pathogen can be distinguished, viz. (1) microbial protection of the host against infection, (2) microbial reduction of pathogen sporulation and (3) microbial interference with pathogen survival.

Some successes and failures with respect to these targets will be discussed and include (1) biocontrol of seedling diseases, root pathogens, and post-harvest diseases (2) biocontrol of powdery mildew and Botrytis cinerea (3) biocontrol of sclerotial pathogens.

Despite of a lot of research on biological control of plant diseases, the number of products available is limited and their market size is marginal. The market for biological control products is not only determined by agricultural aspects such as the number of diseases controlled by one biocontrol product in different crops but also by economic aspects as cost-effective mass production, easy registration and the availability of competing means of control including fungicides. The future development of low-chemical input sustainable agriculture and organic farming will determine the eventual role of biological control in agriculture.

Résumé

Les avancées scientifiques démontrent tout le potentiel pratique de la lutte biologique. Des stratégies semblables, visant différents stades du cycle évolutif des agents concernés, peuvent dorénavant être envisagées pour lutter aussi bien contre les pathogènes aériens que contre les maladies présentes dans le sol. Il s’agira soit (1) de protéger microbiologiquement le végétal-hôte contre les infections, soit (2) d’inhiber la capacité de sporulation du pathogène, soit encore (3) de susciter des interférences microbiologiques fatales à la reproduction de l’agent infectieux.

Succès et échecs récents sont discutés par rapport aux trois domaines suivants : (a) maladies des semences, du système racinaire et des denrées entreposées ; (2) oïdiums et pourritures à Botrytis cinerea ; et (3) pathogènes développant des formes de survie particulières (sclérotes).

En dépit de tous les efforts déployés en matière de recherche en lutte biologique contre les maladies des végétaux, le nombre de produits commercialisés reste limité et leur part de marché minimale. Les ventes de biopesticides ne sont pas seulement déterminées par des critères agronomiques comme le nombre de maladies effectivement maîtrisées par une matière active sur différentes cultures, mais aussi par des aspects économiques, comme la compétitivité de leur coût de production en masse, leur facilité d’homologation et la disponibilité d’autres moyens de lutte efficaces. Du développement de l’agriculture biologique et d’une agriculture durable et à faible niveau d’intrants chimiques dépendront en dernière analyse le rôle et l’importance pratique de la lutte biologique

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DLO-Research Institute for Plant Protection (IPO-DLO), P.O. Box 9060, 6700 GW, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    N. J. Fokkema

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  1. N. J. Fokkema
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Fokkema, N.J. Biological control of fungal plant diseases. Entomophaga 41, 333–342 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02765788

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