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This book examines various mechanisms of biological activities of biotic and abiotic biocontrol agents, highlighting the similarities in their mechanisms and indicating the possibilities of selecting compatible ones.

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Biological disease management tactics have emerged as potential alternative to chemical application for containing crop diseases. Biotic and abiotic biological control agents (BCAs) have been demonstrated to be effective against diseases caused by microbial plant pathogens. Combination of biotic and abiotic agents leads to synergism and consequent improvement in the effectiveness of disease control. It is essential to assay the biocontrol potential of all isolates/species of fungal, bacterial and viral biocontrol agents by different techniques in vitro and under greenhouse and field conditions and to precisely identify and differentiate the most effective isolates from less effective ones by employing biological, immunological and nucleic acid-based assays.

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Preface

Acknowldegement

1. Introduction
1.1 Concepts and aims of biological management of crop diseases
1.2 Landmarks in the development of biological disease management systems
1.3 Nature and characteristics of biological control agents

2. Detection and identification of fungal biological control agents
2.1Methods of detection and identification
2.2 Assessment of biocontrol potential of fungi
2.3 Identification and differentiation of mycorrhizal biological control agents

3. Mechanisms of action of fungal biological control agents
3.1 Types of antagonism

4. Detection and identification of bacterial biological control agents
4.1 Methods of detection and identification
4.2 Assessment of biocontrol potential of bacteria

5. Mechanisms of action of bacterial biological control agents
5.1 Types of antagonism

6. Detection and identification of viral biological control agents
6.1 Viruses pathogenic to fungal plant pathogens
6.2 Viruses pathogenic to bacterial plant pathogens
6.3 Mild strains of plant viruses as biocontrol agents
6.4 Subviral agents as biological disease management

7. Genetic engineering for improving the performance of biotic biological control agents
7.1 Fungal biocontrol agents
7.2 Bacterial biological control agents
7.3 Genetically modified strains of plant viruses
7.4 Protection by antibody expression

8. Abiotic biological control agents for crop disease management
8.1 Natural products of plant and animal origin
8.2 Synthetic organic compounds as biological control agents
8.3 Inorganic compounds as biological control agents

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From the reviews:

"Narayanasamy provides a comprehensive discussion of the importance of biological management of plant pathogens in order to feed an ever-expanding population. Volume 1, Characteristics of Biological Control Agents, contains eight chapters with numerous appendixes with each. ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners." (R. Frederiksen, Choice, Vol. 51 (7), March, 2014)

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