Biological Control of Oomycetes and Fungal Pathogens

Oomycetes and fungi are economically damaging plant pathogens whose presence and activities invoke the use of repeated fungicide applications to minimize losses in plant yield, quality, or aesthetics. Increasing environmental and human health concerns associated with widespread fungicide use has prompted scientists and plant producers to explore biological methods of disease control. Biological control strategies make use of microorganisms to mitigate disease losses. Such disease suppressive microorganisms are commonly found in many different habitats. Biological control strategies attempt to enhance the activities of these disease-suppressive microorganisms either by introducing high populations of specific microorganisms or by enhancing the conditions that enable microorganisms in their natural habitats to suppress diseases. Common strategies for manipulation of biological control microbes will be discussed along with the commercialization potential of biological disease control strategies in agriculture.