Microbial inoculants active under arid desert farming conditions in Egypt

Description

Most plant diseases are caused by fungi and oomycetes. Presently, the major method for controlling plant diseases is the use of agrochemicals. However, this practice raises health and environmental concerns among consumers and politicians. An alternative for chemicals is the application of products based on natural enemies of the pathogen. Several of such BCAs (Biological Control Agents) with bacteria or fungi as the active ingredient are already on the market. In this review we describe the discovery of such microbes as well as methods for their isolation. Using microscopy, we visualized biocontrol at the cellular level. Furthermore, we describe the role of root colonization by the BCA in biocontrol. Finally, mechanisms of biocontrol at the molecular level are described and the risk of resistance towards BCAs is discussed.

Period	16 Dec 2012 → 19 Dec 2012
Event title	BIODESERT International Conference
Event type	Conference
Location	Hammamet, TunisiaShow on map