Antifungal compounds from pseudomonads and the study of their molecular features for disease suppression against soil borne pathogens

Abstract

The identification and biological and molecular characterization of Pseudomonas, a very versatile microbe with biocontrol potential, is of great interest for the modern and eco-compatible agriculture. The mechanisms of biocontrol by Pseudomonas include antibiotic production, siderophore production, and production of fungal cell wall-lysing enzymes and induced systemic resistance. Current genome analyses of biocontrol traits will likely lead to the development of novel tools for effective management of indigenous and inoculated pseudomonads as biocontrol agents and a better exploitation of their properties for sustainable agriculture. The chapter summarizes and discusses various studies of pseudomonads from the plant rhizosphere and their use for exploring disease management in integrated disease management (IDM) and the study of genome sequences of Pseudomonas spp. for sustainable application.