Role of fungi as biocontrol agents for the control of plant diseases in sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Biological control is the process which decreases the inoculum density of the pathogenic microbes, present in dormant state by the other microbes. Generally, it involves either the naïve or genetically modified microbes which reduce the effect of pests, pathogen, and diseases. The plant disease is controlled by the pesticides, which are now extensively used. Due to excessive use of pesticides, socioeconomic and environmental pollution issues have been resulted, which demand the alternative method to reduce content of chemical pesticides. Biological control is an eco-friendly method employed to control the plant diseases, with the aim of developing a sustainable system in agriculture. Biological control mechanism involves the interaction among the antagonists and pathogens, which aid in selection and manipulation to develop an effective control system. Currently, this approach is employed when no other alternative is available. Emergent of fungal antagonistic has made it a promising biological control strategy to control the plant diseases. The major factors which hinder the efficiency of the biocontrol agents to control the plant diseases need to be considered during the formulation of biocontrol procedure, biocontrol agent, and its application time.