Microbial Biotechnology in Crop Protection

This edited volume is a comprehensive account of plant diseases and insect pests, plant protection and management for various crops using microbial and biotechnological approaches. The book elucidates the role of biotechnology for the enhancement of crop productivity and management of bacterial and fungal diseases via eco-friendly methods. It discusses crop–pest⁄ pathogen interaction and utilizing this interaction in a beneficial and sustainable way. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, plant scientists and plant pathologists. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. Preface Contents Editors and Contributors 1: Biocontrol: A Sustainable Agricultural Solution for Management of Plant Diseases 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Microbial Biocontrol Agents 1.2.1 Microorganisms as Microbial Biocontrol Agents 1.2.1.1 Bacteria as Biocontrol Agents 1.2.1.2 Fungi as Biocontrol Agents 1.2.1.3 Viruses as Biocontrol Agents 1.3 Biological Mechanisms of Pathogen Inhibition 1.3.1 Direct Antagonism 1.3.1.1 Parasitism 1.3.1.2 Commensalism 1.3.1.3 Induced Resistance 1.3.1.4 Inhibitory Compounds 1.3.1.5 Hyperparasites and Predation 1.3.1.6 Competition 1.3.2 Mixed-Path Antagonism 1.3.2.1 Siderophores 1.3.2.2 Antibiosis 1.3.2.3 Volatile Substances 1.3.2.4 Cell Wall Lysing Enzymes 1.3.2.5 Unregulated Waste Products 1.3.2.6 Detoxification and Degradation of Virulence Factor 1.3.3 Indirect Antagonism 1.3.3.1 Competitive Root Colonization 1.3.3.2 Plant Growth Promotion Through SAR and ISR 1.3.3.3 Combination of Modes of Action 1.4 Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens 1.4.1 Biocontrol of Bacterial Plant Pathogens 1.4.2 Biocontrol of Fungal Plant Pathogens 1.4.3 Biocontrol of Plant Parasitic Nematodes 1.4.4 Fungal Agents for Nematode Biocontrol 1.4.5 Bacterial Agents for Nematode Biocontrol 1.4.6 Biocontrol of Insects and Mites 1.4.7 Bacterial Agents for Insect and Mite Biocontrol 1.4.8 Fungal Agents for Insect and Mite Biocontrol 1.4.9 Viral Agents for Insect and Mite Biocontrol 1.5 Applications of Biocontrol Agents 1.6 Conclusion and Future Prospects References 2: Overview of Nutrient and Disease Management in Banana 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Integrated Nutrient Management 2.2.1 Basic Components of INM 2.2.1.1 Organic Sources 2.2.1.2 Biofertilizers 2.2.1.3 Chemical Fertilizers 2.2.2 Effect of INM Practices on Banana Production 2.2.2.1 Leaf Nutrient Status 2.2.2.2 Quality Parameters 2.2.2.3 Yield Attributes 2.3 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria 2.3.1 Nitrogen Fixation 2.3.2 Phosphorus Solubilization 2.3.3 Phytohormone Production 2.3.4 Siderophore Production 2.3.5 Hydrogen Cyanide Production 2.3.6 Biocontrol 2.3.6.1 Antibiosis 2.3.6.2 Parasitism 2.3.6.3 Competition 2.3.6.4 Cell-Wall Degrading Enzymes 2.3.6.5 Induction of Systemic Resistance 2.4 Conclusion References 3: Introduction of Potato Cyst Nematodes, Life Cycle and Their Management Through Biobased Amendments 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Origin and Distribution of Potato 3.3 Origin and Distribution of Potato Cyst Nematodes 3.3.1 Species 3.3.2 Pathotypes 3.3.3 Spread of Disease 3.3.4 Host Range 3.4 Symptoms 3.5 Biology 3.6 Yield Losses 3.7 Management 3.7.1 Cultural Control 3.7.1.1 Crop Rotation 3.7.1.2 Intercropping 3.7.1.3 Trap Cropping 3.7.1.4 Host Plant Resistance 3.7.2 Physical Control 3.7.3 Chemical Control 3.7.4 Bio-control Agents and Organic Amendments 3.7.5 Integrated Nematode Management 3.8 Future Strategies for PCN Management 3.9 Conclusion References 4: Integrated Nutrient and Disease Management Practices in Root and Tuber Crops 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Importance of Root and Tuber Crops in the Accomplishment of Sustainable Development Goals 4.3 Soil Fertility Management 4.4 Biocontrol 4.4.1 Biocontrol Mechanisms 4.4.1.1 Commensalism 4.4.1.2 Protocooperation 4.4.1.3 Competition for Nutrients and Space 4.4.1.4 Siderophore Production 4.4.1.5 Parasitism 4.4.1.6 Predation 4.4.1.7 Production of Cell-Wall Lytic Enzymes 4.4.1.8 Antibiosis/Allelochemicals 4.5 Conclusion References 5: Microbial Biopesticides Use in Insect-Pest Management: An Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Status of Biopesticide 5.2.1 Indian Status 5.2.2 Global Status 5.3 Biopesticide 5.3.1 Microbial Biopesticides 5.3.1.1 Bacteria 5.3.1.2 Fungi 5.3.1.3 Virus 5.3.1.4 Nematodes 5.3.1.5 Protozoans 5.4 Effects of Microbial Biopesticides 5.5 Constraints Related to Microbial Biopesticides Production and Use 5.5.1 Lack of Faith and Awareness Among People 5.5.2 Inconsistent Field Performance 5.5.3 Poor Quality and Shelf Life of Microbial Biopesticides 5.5.4 Imbalance Between Production and Agribusiness 5.5.5 Regulatory Framework and Registration 5.5.6 Health and Environmental Issues 5.5.7 Competition with Chemical Pesticides 5.6 Future Perspectives 5.7 Conclusion References 6: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) for Improved Plant Health and Production 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Types of Mycorrhizae 6.2.1 Ectomycorrhizae 6.2.2 Endomycorrhizae 6.2.3 Orchid Mycorrhizae 6.2.4 Arbuscular Mycorrhizae 6.2.5 Ericaceous Mycorrhizae 6.2.6 Arbutoid Mycorrhizae 6.2.7 Ectotrophic Mycorrhizae 6.3 Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as Plant Growth Stimulators 6.4 Mechanisms of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis 6.5 Signal Exchange and Recognition 6.6 Inoculation of AM Fungi in Contaminated Soil 6.7 Molecular Identification of AMF 6.8 Steps of AM Symbiosis 6.9 Mechanism of Nutrient Transport in AM Symbiosis 6.10 Requirement of Phosphorus for Plants 6.11 Phosphate Transporters 6.12 Conclusion and Future Prospects References 7: Plant-Soil-Microorganism Interaction Involved in Natural Suppression of Take-All Disease 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Pathogen Causing of Take-All Disease 7.2.1 Control Methods 7.2.2 Biological Control 7.3 Soil Suppression Against Take-All Disease 7.3.1 Factors Required for Take-All Suppression 7.3.2 Abiotic Factors Involved in Take-All Suppression 7.3.2.1 Soil Chemical Parameters 7.3.2.2 Rainfall 7.4 Plant-Microbe-Soil Interactions Involved in Take-All Suppression 7.4.1 Microbial Rhizosphere Effect on Soil Suppression 7.4.2 Antibiosis Influence on Soil Suppression 7.4.3 Plant Defense Against Take-All Disease 7.4.4 Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) as the Mechanism of Disease Suppression 7.5 Conclusions References 8: Improved Practices Through Biological Means for Sustainable Potato Production 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Factors Constraining Potato Production 8.3 Agronomic Management Practices 8.3.1 Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) 8.3.1.1 Chemical Fertilizers Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Calcium Foliar Fertilizers 8.3.1.2 Organic Manures 8.3.1.3 Legumes 8.3.1.4 Crop Residues 8.3.1.5 Bio-Fertilizers 8.3.2 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 8.3.3 Conservation Farming 8.3.4 Soil Conservation 8.4 Cultural Practices 8.5 Management Methods 8.5.1 Seed Quality and Certification 8.5.2 Biological Control 8.5.3 Resistant Cultivars 8.5.4 Chemical Control with Pesticides 8.6 Conclusion References 9: Bacterial Plant Diseases and Their Management: Conventional Versus Modern Approaches 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Bacterial Diseases of Cereal Plants 9.2.1 Bacterial Leaf Blight of Rice 9.2.2 Bacterial Leaf Blight of Wheat 9.2.3 Bacterial Stalk Rot of Maize 9.2.4 Kernel Blight of Barley 9.2.5 Bacterial Top and Stalk Rot of Sorghum 9.3 Bacterial Diseases of Fruits 9.3.1 Fire Blight of Apple 9.3.2 Bacterial Black Spot of Mango 9.3.3 Bacterial Citrus Canker 9.3.4 Citrus Greening 9.3.5 Bacterial Canker of Apricot Trees 9.4 Bacterial Diseases of Vegetables 9.4.1 Bacterial Wilt of Tomatoes 9.4.2 Bacterial Blackleg and Soft Rot of Potato 9.4.3 Bacterial Blight of Peas 9.4.4 Angular Leaf Spot of Cucurbits 9.4.5 Black Rot of Brassica campestris 9.5 Plant Bacterial Pathogens Management; Conventional Vs Modern Approaches 9.5.1 Use of Chemicals and Antibiotics 9.5.2 Crop Rotation 9.5.3 Biological Control 9.5.4 Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) 9.5.5 Plant Host Resistance 9.6 Modern Approaches 9.6.1 Type III Secretion System Targeting (T3SS) 9.6.2 Biofilm Targeting 9.6.3 Nanoparticles 9.7 Conclusion and Future Perspectives References 10: A Glimpse of Tuber Crop, Their Diseases and Control Mechanisms 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Major Soilborne Pathogen Groups 10.3 Survival and Distribution of Soilborne Pathogens 10.4 Soilborne Diseases of Tubers 10.4.1 Potato 10.4.2 Jerusalem Artichoke 10.4.3 Yams 10.4.4 Sweet Potato 10.4.5 Colocasia esculenta 10.4.6 Arrowroot 10.5 Control of Soilborne Pathogens 10.5.1 Physical Methods and Cultural Control Practices 10.5.1.1 Crop Rotation 10.5.1.2 Soil Amendments 10.5.1.3 Soil Solarization 10.5.1.4 Fertilizer Application 10.5.1.5 Soil Drainage 10.5.1.6 Tillage Practices 10.5.2 Chemical Control 10.5.3 Biological Control 10.6 Suppressive Soils 10.7 Conclusion References 11: Soil Borne Fungal Diseases and Their Control in Below Ground Crops 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Fungal Diseases of Major Tuber Crops 11.2.1 Potato 11.2.1.1 Late Blight 11.2.1.2 Causal Organism 11.2.1.3 Symptoms 11.2.1.4 Disease Cycle 11.2.1.5 Management of Lateblight 11.2.2 Sweet Potato 11.2.2.1 Black Rot of Sweet Potato 11.2.2.2 Symptoms 11.2.2.3 Management Strategies 11.2.3 Taro 11.2.3.1 Pythium Rot 11.2.3.2 Symptoms 11.2.3.3 Disease Cycle 11.2.3.4 Management Strategies 11.2.4 Cassava 11.2.4.1 Cassava Anthracnose Disease (CAD) 11.2.4.2 Symptoms 11.2.4.3 Management Strategies 11.2.5 Yam 11.2.5.1 Collar Rot of Yam 11.2.5.2 Symptoms 11.2.5.3 Disease Cycle 11.2.5.4 Management Practices 11.3 General Management Practices to Control Soil Borne Fungal Pathogens 11.3.1 Cultural Strategies 11.3.2 Physical Control 11.3.3 Chemical Control 11.3.4 Biological Control 11.4 Strategies for Development of Fungal Resistant Crops 11.5 Approaches for Fungal Resistant Transgenic Plant Production 11.6 Conclusions References 12: Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria for Crop Health in Wheat-Maize Cropping Systems in Northwest Himalayas 12.1 Introduction 12.2 PGPR as Root Colonizers 12.2.1 Epiphytic Region 12.2.2 Endophytic Region 12.3 PGPR as Biofertilizers 12.3.1 PGPR as Nitrogen Fixer 12.3.2 PGPR as P-Solubilizers 12.3.3 PGPR as Biostimulater 12.4 PGPR as Biocontrol Agents 12.4.1 Antibiotics and Lytic Enzymes 12.4.2 Siderophores 12.4.3 Competition for Niche and Nutrients 12.4.4 Induced Systemic Resistance 12.5 PGPR as Modulator of Abiotic Stress 12.6 PGPR and Chemical Fertilizers for Enhancing Crop Yield, Quantity, Soil Health and Microbiological Properties 12.7 Conclusion References 13: Plant-Microbe Interactions: Promoting Biocontrol of Phytopathogens of Cereal Grains 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Root Exudates-Chemical Mediators of Plant-Microbe Interactions 13.3 Diseases of Cereal Crops and Interactions Involved in Biological Disease Control 13.4 Interactions Between Biocontrol Agents and Fungal Pathogens 13.4.1 Interactions Between Biocontrol Fungi and Mycophytopathogens 13.4.1.1 Competition 13.4.1.2 Parasitism 13.4.1.3 Antibiosis 13.4.1.4 Induced Resistance 13.4.2 Interactions Between Biocontrol Bacteria and Mycophtyopathogens 13.4.2.1 Production of Inhibitory Allelochemicals 13.4.2.2 Induced Resistance 13.5 Interactions Between Biocontrol Agents and Bacterial Pathogens 13.6 Interactions Between Biocontrol Agents and Nematodes 13.7 Mycorrhizae as Biocontrol Agent 13.8 Genetically Modified Cereals 13.8.1 Pest Resistant Varieties of GM Cereals 13.8.2 Disease Resistant Varieties of GM Cereals 13.9 Conclusions and Future Prospects References 14: Role of Indigenous Microbes for the Control of Major Fungal Pathogens of Turmeric 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Nutritional Composition of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Its Antimicrobial Properties 14.3 Health Benefits and Medicinal Use of Turmeric 14.4 Culinary Uses 14.5 Major Fungal Pathogens and Deficiencies Symptoms of Turmeric 14.5.1 Rhizome Rot 14.5.1.1 Disease Symptoms 14.5.1.2 Survival and Spread 14.5.1.3 Favorable Conditions for Proliferation of Fungus 14.5.2 Leaf Spot 14.5.2.1 Disease Symptoms 14.5.2.2 Survival and Spread 14.5.2.3 Favorable Conditions 14.5.3 Leaf Blotch 14.5.3.1 Disease Symptoms 14.5.3.2 Survival and Spread 14.5.3.3 Favorable Conditions 14.6 Major Bacterial Diseases in Turmeric 14.6.1 Bacterial Wilt 14.6.1.1 Disease Symptoms 14.6.1.2 Favorable Conditions 14.7 Management of Diseases by Biocontrol Agents 14.7.1 Definitions 14.8 Mechanism of Action of Biological Control 14.8.1 Mutualism 14.8.2 Protocooperation 14.8.3 Commensalism 14.8.4 Neutralism 14.8.5 Competition 14.8.6 Parasitism 14.9 Antibiotic-Mediated Suppression 14.10 Lytic Enzymes and Other Byproducts of Microbial Life 14.10.1 HCN Production 14.11 Commercial Biocontrol Agents 14.12 Induction of Host Resistance 14.13 PGPR as Biocontrol Agent in Turmeric 14.14 Management of Turmeric Disease Using Eco-Friendly Biocontrol Consortia 14.14.1 Biofertilizers as Biocontrol in Turmeric 14.14.2 Disease Management by Organic Inputs 14.15 Conclusion References 15: Microbiome Role in Control of Sustenance of Rice Health and Production 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Major Rice Diseases 15.2.1 Sheath Rot 15.2.2 Brown Spot 15.2.3 Blast 15.2.4 False Smut 15.2.5 Kernel Smut 15.2.6 Sheath Blight 15.2.7 Sheath Spot 15.2.8 Stem Rot 15.2.9 Bacterial Blight 15.3 Rice Pathogen Interaction 15.3.1 Attack 15.3.2 Early Response and Defense 15.3.3 Effect of Environment and Co-Infection on Host-Pathogen Interaction 15.3.4 Plant Defense Response 15.4 Urge and Approaches for Disease Management 15.4.1 Soil Solarisation 15.4.2 Nutrients Management 15.4.2.1 Nitrogen (N) 15.4.2.2 Phosphorous (P) 15.4.2.3 Potassium (K) 15.4.3 Biological Approaches 15.4.3.1 Bio-Control Agents and their Importance in Plant Disease Management 15.4.3.2 Mechanisms of Action 15.4.3.3 Production of Antibiotics, Lytic Enzymes and By-Products of Microbial Life 15.4.3.4 Competition for Space and Nutrients 15.4.3.5 Hyper-Parasitism 15.4.3.6 Induced Systemic Resistance 15.4.3.7 Constrains in Application of Bio-Control Agents 15.4.4 Biochemical Pesticides 15.4.4.1 Plant-Based Products (Botanicals) 15.4.4.2 Microbe and Animal-Based Products 15.4.5 Nano-Pesticides 15.4.6 Antimicrobial Nano-Particles (NPs) 15.4.7 Silver Nano-Particles 15.4.8 Copper Nano-Particles 15.4.9 Carbon Nano-Materials 15.4.10 Green Nanotechnology in Plant Disease Management 15.5 Plant-Incorporated Protectants (Genetically Modified Plants) 15.5.1 Transgenic Approaches 15.5.2 Genome Editing 15.5.3 Gene Silencing 15.6 Biopesticides: A Feasible Alternative 15.7 Conclusion and Future Perspective References 16: Host Plant Resistance: An Eco-Friendly Approach for Crop Disease Management 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Defense Mechanisms in Plants Against Diseases 16.3 Host Plant Resistance and Resistance Hypothesis 16.4 Conventional Breeding Approaches for Exploiting Host Plant Resistance 16.4.1 Introduction of Disease Resistant Varieties 16.4.2 Selection 16.4.3 Hybridization for Exploiting Host Plant Resistance 16.4.3.1 Combination Breeding 16.4.3.2 Back Cross Breeding for Introgression of Disease Resistance Genes 16.4.4 Multiline Breeding 16.4.5 Resistance Gene Pyramiding 16.4.6 Gene Rotation 16.5 Innovative Approaches for Exploiting Host Plant Resistance 16.5.1 Mutagenesis 16.5.2 Somaclonal Variations in Disease Resistance Breeding 16.5.3 Somatic Hybridization 16.5.4 Polyploidy Breeding 16.5.5 Molecular Breeding Approach 16.5.5.1 Marker Assisted Selection 16.5.5.2 Marker Assisted Back Crossing 16.5.5.3 Molecular Markers Assisted Pyramiding of Resistance Gene 16.5.5.4 Marker Assisted Recurrent Selection (MARS) 16.5.6 Genomic Selection (GS) 16.5.7 Association Mapping in Disease Resistance Breeding 16.5.8 Genetic Engineering in Resistant Breeding 16.5.8.1 Pathogenesis-Related Proteins (PR Proteins) 16.5.8.2 Hydrolytic Enzymes in Host 16.5.8.3 Inhibition of Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes in Pathogens 16.5.8.4 Phytoalexins 16.5.8.5 R-Genes Mediated Resistance 16.5.8.6 S-Gene Mediated Resistance/Concept of Loss of Susceptibility Leading to Resistance 16.5.8.7 Manipulation of Interactions Between Defense-Related Signalling Molecules 16.5.8.8 RNAi Technology 16.5.9 Genome Editing Technologies 16.6 Conclusion and Future Prospects References This edited volume is a comprehensive account of plant diseases and insect pests, plant protection and management for various crops using microbial and biotechnological approaches. The book elucidates the role of biotechnology for the enhancement of crop productivity and management of bacterial and fungal diseases via eco-friendly methods. It discusses crop pest pathogen interaction and utilizing this interaction in a beneficial and sustainable way. This book is of interest to teachers, researchers, plant scientists and plant pathologists. Also the book serves as additional reading material for undergraduate and graduate students of agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences