Strategies and Techniques for Improving Biocontrol of Soilborne Plant Pathogens

For successful biocontrol, timing and placement of inoculum of biocontrol agents can be more important than the population size of the biocontrol agent. Delivery of the biocontrol agent is often timed so that it coincides with a period of low biological diversity and maximum pathogen accessibility. Control strategies include: 1) protection of the root or seed; 2) impeding the progress of the pathogen; and 3) destruction of pathogen inoculum. In addition to being in the right place at the right time, the biocontrol agent must also express specific traits at the appropriate time. Traits associated with biocontrol agents include competition for nutrients and production of antibiotics and enzymes.