Toward Effective Biocontrol of Oomycete Plant Pathogens: Traits and Modes of Action of Biocontrol Agents, and Their Screening Approaches

Abstract

Oomycete plant pathogens often cause severe diseases in forest trees and agricultural crops, posing threats to natural ecosystems and reducing crop yields. The use of biocontrol agents (BCAs) in agrosystems has proven to be an excellent and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting plants from oomycete pathogens. However, the range of commercially available biopesticides that growers need is still limited, and in many cases, their practical application cannot yet compete with conventional chemicals. To accelerate the development of effective biocontrol products, it is crucial to efficiently identify BCAs that exhibit robust and consistent biocontrol efficacy against oomycete diseases. In this paper, we conduct a thoughtful review of prior biocontrol studies, report the characteristics of BCAs commonly linked with their suppressive effect against oomycete diseases, discuss their mode of action concerning pathogen ecology, and offer recommendations for the development of high-throughput screening procedures.