Smart Biologics For Crop Protection in Agricultural Systems

Crop losses caused by insects, pests and pathogens remain one of the major problems in sustainable agriculture. Environmental and health concerns on overuse of pesticides, and impacts of climate change on epidemics are immediate pressing issues. In addition, breakdown of plant resistance by pathogen populations brings limitations to the genetic control of diseases. Biologics can be effective in all types of agricultural systems including organic, sustainable and conventional. Beneficial microorganisms
including Bacillus and Trichoderma species have been employed as environmentally safe biopesticides. Molecular studies and proteomics on biopesticides revealed the
nature of antibiotics, secreted enzymes and inhibitory compounds. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding biological agents and their metabolites including
quorum-sensing molecules and volatile compounds, and how they can be used in pest and disease management programmes.