Microbial bioprotectants for plant disease management

"[The book]…provides a balanced picture of the possibilities and advantages, as well as the challenges, that use of biological crop protection entails… For anyone involved in the microbial bioprotectants space, this is a comprehensive resource you won’t want to miss out on. It includes practical yet academic-led discussion and examples that help establish the roadmap for this section of the bioag sector."(BioAgWorld)

"This book provides a plethora of knowledge on the biological fight against plant diseases. It’s a must have for everyone involved in plant science."(Arie Dwarswaard, Greenity)

"The authors provide an overview of beneficial microorganisms against plant pathogens, with a focus on product development, authorisation and application in practice. The book is a source of knowledge and inspiration for researchers, product developers, policy makers and growers."(Doriet Willemen, Gewasbescherming)

With growing concerns about the environmental impact of synthetic fungicides, increasing levels of fungicide resistance and increasing regulatory restrictions on fungicide use, the crop protection sector faces mounting pressure to replace synthetic fungicides with more environmentally-friendly biological alternatives for disease control.

Microbial bioprotectants for plant disease management provides a comprehensive coverage of the recent advances in the development of more ecologically balanced biological methods to control plant diseases. The collection offers a focussed review on the availability and use of bacterial, fungal and viral bioprotectants, as well as the issues that arise with their development and use.

Edited by two world-renowned figures in the field, Microbial bioprotectants for plant disease management will be a standard reference point for researchers in crop protection and agronomy; government and private sector agencies involved in sustainable agriculture; agrochemical companies manufacturing/selling crop protection products; agronomists and farmers wanting to broaden their knowledge on bioprotectants.

Part 1 Product development of microbials
1.Advances in understanding modes of action of microbial bioprotectants: Gabriele Berg, Graz University of Technology and Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Austria; Peter Kusstatscher, Franz Stocker and Ahmed Abdelfattah, Graz University of Technology, Austria; and Tomislav Cernava, Graz University of Technology and Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Austria;
2.Advances in screening approaches for the development of microbial bioprotectants to control plant diseases: Wagner Bettiol, Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Brazil; Flávio Henrique Vasconcelos de Medeiros, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil; Josiane Barros Chiaramonte, Vittia Fertilizantes e Biológicos SA, Brazil; and Rodrigo Mendes, Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Brazil;
3.Visualising plant colonisation by beneficial bacteria: a key step to improve the understanding of plant–microbe interactions: Stéphane Compant, Günter Brader and Angela Sessitsch, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Austria;
4.Durability of efficacy of microbial bioprotectants against plant diseases: Marc Bardin, Thomas Pressecq and Philippe C. Nicot, INRAE, Pathologie Végétale, Avignon, France; and Yousra Bouaoud, University of Bejaia, Algeria;
5.Advances in production and formulation of commercial microbial bioprotectant products: Jacob Eyal, Michael Dimock, and José João Carvalho, Certis USA LLC, USA;
6.Key issues in the regulation of microbial bioprotectants in the European Union: challenges and solutions to achieve more sustainable crop protection: Rüdiger Hauschild, APIS Applied Insect Science GmbH, Germany; and Willem J. Ravensberg, Koppert Biological Systems, The Netherlands;
7.Microbial bioprotectants and the marketplace: Mark C. Trimmer, DunhamTrimmer LLC, USA;

Part 2 Biological control agents
8.The use of Bacillus spp. as bacterial biocontrol agents to control plant diseases: Adrien Anckaert, Anthony Arguelles Arias and Grégory Hoff, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, ULiege (University of Liège), Belgium; Maryline Calonne-Salmon and Stéphane Declerck, UCLouvain (University of Louvain-la-Neuve), Belgium; and Marc Ongena, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, ULiege (University of Liège), Belgium;
9.The use of Pseudomonas spp. as bacterial biocontrol agents to control plant diseases: Monica Hӧfte, Ghent University, Belgium;
10.Are there bacterial bioprotectants besides Bacillus and Pseudomonas species?: Emilio Montesinos and Anna Bonaterra, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Spain;
11.The use of Trichoderma spp. to control plant diseases: Enrique Monte and Rosa Hermosa, Spanish-Portuguese Institute for Agricultural Research (CIALE) – University of Salamanca, Spain;
12.Clonostachys rosea to control plant diseases: Dan Funck Jensen and Mukesh Dubey, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden; Birgit Jensen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; and Magnus Karlsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden;
13.Bacteriophages to control plant diseases: Manoj Choudhary and Mathews Paret, University of Florida and North Florida Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, USA; Aleksa Obradović, University of Belgrade, Serbia; Katarina Gašić, Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Serbia; and Jeffrey B. Jones, University of Florida, USA;
14.The use of mild viruses for control of plant pathogenic viruses: Nelia Ortega-Parra, De Ceuster Meststoffen BV (DCM) and Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands; Zafeiro Zisi, Scientia Terrae Research Institute VZW and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium; and Inge M. Hanssen, De Ceuster Meststoffen NV (DCM), Belgium;
15.Biocontrol via mycoviruses, a neglected option for bioprotection?: Anne D. van Diepeningen, BU Biointeractions and Plant Health, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands;

Part 3 Examples of use of microbial bioprotectants
16.Development and scale-up of bioprotectants to keep staple foods safe from aflatoxin contamination in Africa: Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Alejandro Ortega-Beltran, Matieyedou Konlambigue, Lawrence Kaptoge and Titilayo D. O. Falade, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria; and Peter J. Cotty, Ocean University of China, China;
17.Using Verticillium albo-atrum WCS850 to control Dutch elm disease: Joeke Postma, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;

Part 4 Future outlook on microbial bioprotectants
18.The role of bioprotectants for disease control in integrated crop protection approaches: Jürgen Köhl, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
19.Future outlook on microbial bioprotectants in agriculture: Willem J. Ravensberg, Koppert Biological Systems, The Netherlands;