Saprophytes as Biocontrol Agents

Quick answer: Saprophytes live on dead organic matter, but many are now used as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens. Certain Trichoderma and Bacillus species compete for nutrients, produce antifungal metabolites, trigger plant defence signalling, and directly parasitize pathogen structures, giving a living alternative to chemical fungicides with fewer residue and resistance concerns.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn about Saprophytes as Biocontrol Agents

Saprophytes

Saprophytes are organisms that develop on the dead and rotting natural issue and do not make any infections plants or creatures. Fungi are an ideal case of saprophytes. The expansion of saprophytes is a deep-rooted act of controlling plant pathogens. This procedure is a proficient biological control, rehearsed since days of yore. Expansion of these saprophytes to the yields likewise upgrades the harvest generation by giving numerous supplements and by counteracting plant pathogens. In contrast to synthetic compounds, used to control pathogens, these saprophytes have pulled in the consideration due to the accompanying elements:

•        As they do not bring on any ailment

•        Also, increment the creation of the yield

•        Prevents numerous maladies which cause devastation

•        Increases the capacity of the plants to oppose the sicknesses

•        Less natural dangers

Saprophytes as Biocontrol Agents Methods

• Antagonism
  • Competition
  • Use of predative microbes
  • Parasitic fungi on plant pathogens
    • Mycoparasitism
    • Mycophagy
    • Nematophagy
    • Mycoviruses

• Siderophores

Examples of siderophores produced by various bacteria and fungi:

Ferrichrome, a hydroxamate siderophore

Desferrioxamine B, a hydroxamate siderophore

Enterobactin, a catecholate siderophore

Azotobactin, a mixed-ligand siderophore

Pyoverdine, a mixed-ligand siderophore

Yersiniabactin, a mixed-ligand siderophore

• Seed Inoculation
• Green Manuring
• Crop Rotation

• Irrigation

• Alteration of Soil pH
• Organic amendments

• Organic manure
• Use of mycorrhiza
• Allelopathy

Official documentation

For the full reference behind this guide, read the reference article on biological control. It is the source the details above are drawn from, and the first place to check when an option or attribute name changes.

Frequently asked questions