An overview of fungal and bacterial biopesticides to control plant pathogens/diseases

Abstract

Chemical agents are extensively used in all countries of the world in1960s, for controlling the agricultural pest and pathogens, it became apparent that agricultural chemicals were responsible for causing environmental pollution, they were present in the food chain, they were capable of inducing pest resistance, development of disease resistance, toxic hazards to man, plants, domestic animals and wild life, as a result they are regarded as ecologically unacceptable. Therefore, from the last two decades, scientists are looking for environmentally and toxicologically safe and more effective methods to control plant pathogens /pests and they increased social pressure to replace them gradually with biopesticides which are safe to humans and non-target to other beneficial organisms and cheaper than the chemicals. The isolates of the biocontrol agents are formulated by using different organic and inorganic carriers either through solid or liquid fermentation. They are applied as a seed treatment, bio-priming, seedling dip, soil application, foliar spray, fruit spray, sucker treatment and sett treatment. Key words: Biopesticides, eco-friendly, management, pathogen/disease.