Biocontrol Agents-Mediated Management of Air-Borne Plant Diseases
摘要
Worldwide, air-borne diseases cause significant challenges in terms of yield losses and the quality of food grains. Plant diseases may pose threats to ecology and sustainable agriculture and are most dangerous from the viewpoint of farmers. The issues are exacerbated by the steadily rising trade standards concerning exterior quality, which raises the significance of cosmetic damage from a commercial perspective. Various factors are responsible for the development of air-borne diseases, e.g., cultivar susceptibility, pathogen genotype, field size and geometry, climatic conditions, and planting patterns. Air-borne diseases have a significant place because the strategies used for their management are limited, and their control is difficult. Strategies such as cultural practices, resistant varieties and chemical applications have been used to manage air-borne diseases in greenhouse and field conditions. The application of synthetic chemicals for the management of air-borne diseases is a potent approach and gives quick results. However, continuous use of toxic agrochemicals may increase the population of resistant pathogens, has a rising negative impact on human and animal health, disturbs soil microbial community, and has a harmful effect on ecosystems. There is a vital need to search for novel, sustainable, and environment-friendly approaches to combat these obstacles. The application of agriculturally important biocontrol agents for air-borne disease management is a safer and more effective strategy because they offer an eco-friendly management solution. Biocontrol agents have the capability to produce antimicrobial compounds and secondary metabolites and employ various mechanisms to suppress air-borne pathogen ingression, which makes them potential candidates for their inclusion in plant disease management options. In this chapter, we will focus on the role of different bio-agents in managing various destructive air-borne plant diseases in both greenhouse and field conditions. Furthermore, we will elaborate in detail on the disease-control mechanisms used by biocontrol agents. This chapter could undoubtedly assist farmers in reducing their reliance on synthetic chemicals and creating a road map for the development of a greener and more sustainable corridor.