An anecdote of mechanics for Fusarium biocontrol by plant growth promoting microbes

Abstract

Fusarium is a phytopathogenic mold that belongs to ascomycetes group which are frequently associated with a range of plant diseases such as root and stem rots, blights, and wilts. The mycotoxins produced by Fusarium sp. are responsible for its invasion into fresh fruits and vegetables during storage, causing various rots and spoilage. Conventional approaches for control of Fusarium include the use of fungicides which leads to disruption of indigenous rhizospheric microflora. Therefore, the need of the hour is to design a strategy that selectively targets the phytopathogens without interfering with the natural functioning of the plant and its rhizosphere. Genome mining has enabled the prediction, prioritization, and identification of effector genes (foa, foc, avr and lys) in Fusarium which has extended the existing understanding of host-pathogen interaction that could pave a path towards sustainable genetic immunization of plant against related phytopathogens. Gene clusters in plant growth promoting microbes such as, ituDABC (Bacillus sp.) and phlACBD (Pseudomonas sp.) are identified to be involved in production of iturin and 2,4 –diacetylphloroglucinol, respectively, to control the proliferation of Fusarium. This review describes the microbiological understanding of Fusarium for phytopathogens along with recent developments in its biocontrol by incorporating molecular and computational biology approaches.