The negative impact of chemical pesticides on human wellbeing and the environment has encouraged the development of eco-friendly alternatives for the management of plant pathogens. However, only a small number of microbial biocontrol agents (mBCAs) have been developed, registered and used in the management of plant diseases. This book analyses the deployment of mBCAs for the development of novel microbial biopesticides, considering the main plant-beneficial traits, procedures needed for effective formulations and the processes used for their validation. To guide the readers through the world of microbial biopesticides, the book starts with a chapter dedicated to the regulations that need to be followed for the development of final products. Readers will understand the importance of formulation and mode of action of mBCAs in developing microbial biopesticides. They will become familiar with key mBCAs such as Ampelomyces quisqualis, Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp., and Pseudomonas spp., understanding the importance of formulation for their application in the field. This book explains the use of mBCAs to control post-harvest diseases and the potential of endophytic microorganisms as next-generation microbial biopesticides. A final chapter provides a useful workflow for the selection of new mBCAs and describes microbial species including promising mBCAs that might be developed as new microbial biopesticides. - Gives useful insights into the practicalities of regulation of mBCAs - Describes the underlying biology that it is critical to developing mBCAs - Provides case studies for key mBCA species - Indicates microbial species exploitable for the development of new microbial biopesticides For students and researchers involved in crop protection and biological control
Les mer
This book analyses microbial biocontrol agents for the development of novel biopesticides, considering the main plant-beneficial traits, procedures needed for effective formulations and the processes used for their validation.
Les mer
1: Registration or the sword of Damocles over the development of biopesticides 2: A step out of the lab: the importance of formulations in the development of biopesticides 3: Modes of action of microbial biocontrol agents against plant diseases 4: Application of Ampelomyces quisqualis in the integrated management of grapevine powdery mildew 5: Bacillus spp. in the warfare against plant pathogenic microorganisms 6: The Gram-negative side of microbial biocontrol agents: Pseudomonas spp. 7: Fate of formulated and non-formulated Trichoderma strains after application in the soil and side effect on non-target microorganisms 8: Microbial biocontrol agents for the control of postharvest brown rot on stone fruit 9: Hidden inside the plants: potential of endophytic microorganisms as next generation biopesticides 10: Underexplored microbial species in the pipeline for the development of biopesticides
Les mer
For students and researchers involved in crop protection and biological control

Biographical note

Gerado Puopolo is Associate Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Trento, Italy. He received his PhD from the University of Naples "Federico II", Italy and spent several years as Post-Doc at this university and FEM. The finding of novel sustainable strategies for the control of plant pathogens represents the main core of his research activity. In this field, attention was given to the characterisation of fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents belonging the genera Ampelomyces, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Trichoderma. A particular emphasis is placed on bacterial biocontrol agents belonging to the genus Lysobacter. He selected and characterised L. capsici AZ78, one of the few biocontrol agents effective agaist Phytophthora infestans and Plasmopara viticola, respectively causal agents of potato late blight and grapevine downy mildew, two devastating disease worldwide. His works contributed to finely dissect the mode of action of Lysobacter biocontrol agents and to the development of a new biospesticide with a Lysobacter strain as main active ingredient.