About this Research Topic
Crops are attacked by several and various pathogens every year which induce diseases. These diseases were in the past managed especially by chemical products but since the last decade, biocontrol strategies are more and more studied, developed and improved. In this special issue, we will focus on the use of either bio-control agents, meaning the whole organism or secondary metabolites or enzymes they produce, or natural compounds. A special attention will be given to the combination of strategies, such as the use of at least two beneficial microorganisms for their synergistic effects, dual of natural compounds or the combination of both. Under this scope and to ensure food security and to contribute to general human health, evaluation of emerging pathogenesis or cytotoxic effects of natural compounds should be also a concern.
In this issue, the innovative strategies will be highlighted, especially the combination of different tools available, such the combination of biological strategies with or without association to the "traditional" protection methods to reduce the amount of the traditional compounds. The main objective is to exclude chemical products or use them in a lower concentration in agreement with the environmental guidelines and biocontrol agents or natural molecules. Experiments could be done in controlled or in natural conditions. The human heath impact of these new strategies to apply to crops aiming for the biological control of plant pathogens should be addressed, predominance of biocontrol over chemicals.
In this Special Issue of Frontiers in Microbiology, entitled “Innovative biocontrol strategies to manage crop and pest diseases”, we encourage researchers to send their research papers or reviews dealing with these areas.
Some of the potential topics include:
• Microbial diversity: native microbial strains as a source of natural compounds to be use as BCA;
• Phenotypical, physiological, and multi-omics approaches to evaluate microbial traits useful in biocontrol of plant diseases;
• Microbial and/or natural compounds, with or without chemical modification: strengths and weaknesses.
• Health risk assessment of microbial strains and natural compounds to be used as control plant pests.
In this issue, the innovative strategies will be highlighted, especially the combination of different tools available, such the combination of biological strategies with or without association to the "traditional" protection methods to reduce the amount of the traditional compounds. The main objective is to exclude chemical products or use them in a lower concentration in agreement with the environmental guidelines and biocontrol agents or natural molecules. Experiments could be done in controlled or in natural conditions. The human heath impact of these new strategies to apply to crops aiming for the biological control of plant pathogens should be addressed, predominance of biocontrol over chemicals.
In this Special Issue of Frontiers in Microbiology, entitled “Innovative biocontrol strategies to manage crop and pest diseases”, we encourage researchers to send their research papers or reviews dealing with these areas.
Some of the potential topics include:
• Microbial diversity: native microbial strains as a source of natural compounds to be use as BCA;
• Phenotypical, physiological, and multi-omics approaches to evaluate microbial traits useful in biocontrol of plant diseases;
• Microbial and/or natural compounds, with or without chemical modification: strengths and weaknesses.
• Health risk assessment of microbial strains and natural compounds to be used as control plant pests.
Keywords: bio-control agents (BCA), natural compounds, biomolecules, plant diseases, microorganisms, crop protection
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
