Editorial: Biocontrol of phytopathogens-recent progress for improvement in efficacy and understanding action mechanism

Abstract

The shift away from chemical pesticides in plant disease management is increasingly influenced by public concerns over their toxicity and environmental harm, increasing restrictions on existing pesticides, and the emergence of pesticide-resistant pathogens ( Rani et al., 2021). As a result, biocontrol of plant diseases has emerged as a widely recognized alternative to chemical pesticides, playing a crucial role in integrated pest approaches. This Research Topic aims to compile recent progress and achievements in the biocontrol of plant diseases and explore their action mechanisms. Among various action mechanisms, antibiotic production against plant pathogens has been reported for several biocontrol agents. For example, Maalik et al. have shown that the biocontrol bacterium Bacillus atrophaeus produces antimicrobial lipopeptides and, in combination with salicylic acid (SA), effectively controls blue mold disease caused by Penicillium italicum in lemons. The lipopeptides directly target the pathogen Penicillium italicum, while SA activates a defense response in the host plant, offering enhanced protection through the synergy of different mechanisms. Li et al. identified three resorcylic acid lactones, produced by the biocontrol fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia, effective against the plant parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita, including a new compound, monocillin-VI glycoside. Bellotti et al. revealed that Bacillus species can inhibit the growth and toxin production ability of Alternaria species. Plant disease management can also be achieved by manipulating plant rhizosphere microbes to suppress pathogenic ones, as shown by Zhang et al., who amended soil using ammonium bicarbonate to control clubroot disease in Chinese cabbage by targeting pathogenic fungus, Plasmodiophora brassicae.