This book examines various mechanisms of biological activities of biotic and abiotic biocontrol agents, highlighting the similarities in their mechanisms and indicating the possibilities of selecting compatible ones.

Biological management of diseases of crops is influenced by the nature of interactions between the pathogens and other organisms and the plants. Due to development of resistance in pathogens to fungicides and bactericides, determination of compatibility of biotic biocontrol agents with chemicals is essential for selecting strains of biocontrol agents (BCAs) showing resistance to chemicals to effectively restrict use of the chemicals. Microbial plant pathogens and the antagonists present in the soil and on the plant surfaces are influenced by various cultural practices. It is possible to reduce disease incidence and intensity by crop sanitation and using appropriate rotational crops. Application of physical techniques involving the use of heat, solarization and irradiation has potential to reduce the pathogen population or weaken the potential of pathogens present in the seed, planting materials and soil.

Discussion on the biological activities of both biotic and abiotic bioagents under natural field conditions is presented with several illustrations only in this book, providing a significant benefit and opportunity to the audience to have complete information from a single source Information on the biological management of postharvest diseases, weeds and vectors of diseases that form additional sources of inoculum and various procedures followed for formulation and commercialization of bioproducts is included in this book to provide additional advantage to the audience Presentation of case studies of integrating different biological control strategies compatible with crop production systems for the effective management of diseases caused by microbial pathogens is yet another attempt to make the book to be more useful to the readers who cannot find this aspect in any other book

Klappentext

Effectiveness of biological management of diseases may depend on the nature of interactions between the pathogens and other organisms and the plants. Because of development of resistance in pathogens to fungicides and bactericides, selection of strains of biocontrol agents (BCAs) showing resistance to synthetic chemicals is essential to to restrict use of the chemicals. Microbial plant pathogens and the antagonists present in the soil and on the plant surfaces are influenced by the cultural practices such as ploughing, nutrients applied, date of planting and harvesting, plant spacing, irrigation and harvest operations. Crop sanitation is a simple and important practice to eliminate or reduce the pathogen inoculum. It is possible to reduce disease incidence and intensity by including appropriate rotational crops which are resistant/immune to the target pathogen. Intercropping has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of virus diseases. Application of physical and chemical techniques involving the use of heat, solarization and irradiation may reduce the pathogen population or weaken potential of pathogens present in seeds, plants and soil. Irradiation with UV-C has favorable effect on fruits and vegetables which exhibit resistance to postharvest pathogens. Seed treatment with UV-C reduces infection by seedborne pathogens too. Some of the fungal pathogens have been identified as mycoherbicides. Entomopathogenic fungi effective against important groups of insects functioning as vectors of viruses have been identified. Two types of formulations are made from microbial antagonists. Liquid formulations as flowable or aqueous suspensions in water, oils or emulsions are prepared. Dry formulation products are available as wettable powders, dusts or granules. The bioproducts are applied to soil, seeds, propagative plant materials, whole plants and harvested produce as protective or curativetreatments. Biological disease management systems for agricultural and horticultural crops have been developed by integrating strategies with synergistic effects on each other. Efforts to develop integrated systems of disease management have been scarce. Methods of integrating management strategies for diseases affecting agricultural and horticultural crops and the achievement of high levels of disease control are discussed. Protocols for isolation/ identification and assessing the biocontrol activities of biotic and abiotic biocontrol agents provided in relevant chapters will be useful for researchers and teachers.

Inhalt

Preface.- Acknowledgement.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Cultural practices influencing biological management of crop diseases.- 3. Physical techniques for biological crop disease management.- 4. Biological control of microbial plant pathogens in alternative sources of infection.- 5. Development of formulations and commercialization of biological products.- 6. Biological disease management systems for agricultural crops.- 7. Biological disease management systems for horticultural crops.