Transgenic approaches for plant disease control: Status and prospects 2021

Abstract

Plant diseases are responsible for major crop losses and postharvest spoilage; though losses are difficult to calculate, educated estimates suggest they are responsible for 20% to 40% of losses from plough to plate for major crops (Oerke, 2006;Savary et al., 2019). Hypothetically, with current estimated population growth, we could solve the challenge of feeding the world by 2050 were we able to control all disease (Collinge et al., 2010). Plant disease can be managed primarily by farmer skill, pesticides, disease resistance, and biological control, in roughly that order of importance. Disease resistance is effective when it works because no specific input is required by the grower after sowing or planting. However, despite major effort by plant pathologists and breeders over a century, no effective disease-resistant cultivars are available for many diseases, and, for many important diseases, the pathogen overcomes natural

Biological control of plant diseases – What has been achieved and what is the direction?

“…Both can be achieved by reducing inputs per unit of production (e.g., watering, spraying pesticides and applying inorganic fertilizers) and reducing food and fodder spoilage after harvest. Disease resistance is also an important means of disease management but effective resistance is often not available, whether introduced by conventional means (plant breeding) or biotechnologically by genetic engineering including new genomic technologies (Collinge & Sarrocco, 2022).…”

Minimal impacts on the wheat microbiome when Trichoderma gamsii T6085 is applied as a biocontrol agent to manage fusarium head blight disease

“…Within the strategies available to manage FHB and reduce the risk of mycotoxins entering the food chain, biological control by beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, is receiving increasing attention due to pressure to reduce the use of pesticides and as an alternative to transgenic plants in those countries where their use is not allowed (Collinge and Sarrocco, 2022). Furthermore, other currently available tools for FHB management, such as agronomic practices, fungicides, and resistant wheat varieties, do not assure complete control of the disease (Sarrocco and Vannacci, 2018).…”

Expression of a sphingomyelinase‐coding gene from Trichoderma harzianum conferred bacterial tolerance in tobacco

“…Plant disease management employs several strategies involving chemical and biological control of pathogens; it may also involve the use of resistant or tolerant genotypes manipulated by both conventional and molecular breeding. Although several strategies using genetic engineering have been developed to obtain plant disease resistance (Collinge & Sarrocco, 2021), only a few studies have demonstrated the effective control of bacterial diseases (Sundin et al, 2016). Most disease‐resistant transgenic crops commercially available so far are resistant to viruses (ISAAA, 2021).…”

“…using genetic engineering have been developed to obtain plant disease resistance (Collinge & Sarrocco, 2021), only a few studies have demonstrated the effective control of bacterial diseases (Sundin et al, 2016). Most disease-resistant transgenic crops commercially available so far are resistant to viruses (ISAAA, 2021).…”