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Title: Changing paradigms of biocontrol in the developing and the developed world

Author
item HARMAN, GARY - CORNELL UNIV., GENEVA, NY
item OBREGON, MIGUEL - COSTA RICA
item Samuels, Gary
item LORITO, MATTEO - ITALY

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2010
Publication Date: 8/7/2010
Citation: Harman, G.E., Obregon, M.A., Samuels, G.J., Lorito, M. 2010. Changing paradigms of biocontrol in the developing and the developed world. Plant Disease. 94(8):928-938.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Microbially based biocontrol of plant diseases differs fundamentally from chemical control systems, but pesticide regulations for microbial and chemical pesticides remain similar. However, the nature and advantages of chemicals and microbials are almost totally different. Biocontrol production, distribution, and methods of use have evolved into some quite different paradigms, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. A number of microbial products are not registered pesticides. The focus of this paper will be on biocontrol based on Trichoderma strains, but other systems will be discussed as well. The rapidly developing understandings of mechanisms of activity of Trichoderma spp. will first be discussed. This is essential for comparison of the advantages of these and other microbial agents versus chemical control systems, and for a full understanding of the differences in paradigms of use. Finally, there are safety implications for the different systems that have evolved, but modern taxonomic studies provide insight into this aspect and also will be discussed.