Plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes as biocontrol agents of pre- and post-harvest diseases: Fundamentals, methods of application and future perspectives

Microbial Biocontrol as an Alternative to Synthetic Fungicides: Boundaries between Pre- and Postharvest Applications on Vegetables and Fruits

“…The infections due to microbial pathogens can occur both in the field and during product storage, leading to undesired spoilage phenomena. In various cases, undesired microbes in preharvest may pursue to impact on fruit/vegetable quality during postharvest (e.g., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum musae, Penicillium expansum, Alternata alternata) [48,49]. While it is generally recognised that the preharvest quality strongly influences postharvest outcomes, less attention has been devoted to the effects in postharvest of specific preharvest treatments.…”

“…What appears clear considering the number of crop fruits tested, the variability of microbial agents (species), the different timing/modality of application, and the target monitored to evaluate the postharvest effect (Table 2), it crucial to improve harmonisation in the research activities to steer and promote the innovation in this field. In other terms, Table 2 reports some works on a sort of crosstalk between biological control agents in preharvest, that have as a target soil/seed/plant protection, and postharvest biocontrol tools, that aims to protect fruits and vegetables during conservation [49]. In other terms, we are talking of a potential integrative goal of field applications, where the 'pre-' agent has an effect on the 'post-' target [49].…”

“…In other terms, Table 2 reports some works on a sort of crosstalk between biological control agents in preharvest, that have as a target soil/seed/plant protection, and postharvest biocontrol tools, that aims to protect fruits and vegetables during conservation [49]. In other terms, we are talking of a potential integrative goal of field applications, where the 'pre-' agent has an effect on the 'post-' target [49]. From this point of view, for those pathogens that are the same 'from farm to fork', often quiescent and latent in the field, the management could start in preharvest, taking advantage of the knowledge about the timing of colonisation and the epidemiology of each pathogen [5].…”

Medicinal Plants and Their Bacterial Microbiota: A Review on Antimicrobial Compounds Production for Plant and Human Health

“…This strategy can be referred to as "biocontrol," and microorganisms that suppress the causal agents of plant diseases are defined as "biological control agents" (BCA) [76], together with macroorganisms, chemical mediators, and natural substances [77]. Among microbial antagonists, endophytes-mainly fungal but also bacterial ones-play an important role in disease control [78][79][80][81]. Both of them contribute to biological control through different modes of action, from the competition at niche level (colonization) through the production of antimicrobial compounds (Figure 1A) to the induction of host defense response [79,81,82], thus promoting plant growth and health (Figure 1B).…”

“…Among microbial antagonists, endophytes-mainly fungal but also bacterial ones-play an important role in disease control [78][79][80][81]. Both of them contribute to biological control through different modes of action, from the competition at niche level (colonization) through the production of antimicrobial compounds (Figure 1A) to the induction of host defense response [79,81,82], thus promoting plant growth and health (Figure 1B). As reported before, a clear example of the microbiome importance to survive in environmentally adverse conditions is provided by results of Köberl et al [28], showing the capability of three MPs, M. chamomilla L., C. officinalis L., and S. distichum, to grow on desert soil rich in fungal phytopathogens thanks to the presence of endophytic bacterial communities (especially Bacillus strains) displaying antagonistic activity against soil-borne phytopathogens.…”