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The scientific interest in using natural methods to control plant diseases and pests is significantly growing. Microorganisms and predators that feed on plant–parasitic nematodes are important in controlling these pests. Many studies show promising results in using these natural enemies to manage nematode populations. Our review identifies the most promising natural enemies for different types of nematodes. We highlight fungi such as Purpureocillium lilacinum, Metacordyceps chlamydosporia, Hirsutella rhossiliensis, Orbilia oligospora and Arthrobotrys spp., and bacteria such as Pasteuria penetrans, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. These species show strong potential against specific nematode genera such as Meloidogyne, Heterodera, Pratylenchus and Globodera. Despite their effectiveness, several challenges hinder their widespread use. These include a lack of awareness among farmers, difficulties in mass‐producing and applying bioagents and limited research on their effectiveness in various environmental conditions. Future research should focus on overcoming these challenges. This includes improving the production and application of bioagents, educating farmers and conducting more field studies to confirm their effectiveness. By addressing these concerns, biological control can become a reliable and sustainable method for managing nematode pests in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat, one of the top‐produced cereals worldwide, is affected by many abiotic and biotic stresses, such as the ascomycete fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch (STB). STB has historically been managed with fungicides, but the pathogen readily overcomes chemical control because of its rapid genetic evolution. In addition, many fungicides are now being banned or limited by governments aiming for more environment‐friendly methods for pest management. This scenario gave rise to thinking about alternative control means such as biological control agents (BCAs) and organism‐derived biomolecules (ODBs). In this work, we review microbial BCA candidates and ODBs currently studied for the control of STB. Key studies have identified successful candidates including bacterial strains of the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus, and fungal strains such as Trichoderma harzianum, Penicillium olsonii and Acremonium alternatum. In addition, lesser‐studied fungi, bacteria and compounds have been tested. Despite promising research, no BCA or ODB has been registered or commercially used against STB, and field trials are notably lacking, with existing studies being limited in scale. Further understanding of the interactions between Z. tritici and the wheat microbiome may uncover new potential candidates for STB biocontrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungicides in maize production under tropical conditions reduce losses from foliar diseases, but only a few reduce ear rot incidence or mycotoxin contamination in kernels. Biocontrol agents (BCAs) may reduce postharvest losses but their efficacy has not been demonstrated in field conditions. Here, we evaluated the use of bacterial isolates in tandem with fungicides on Fusarium verticillioides incidence and fumonisin content. After an early screening, Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces araujoniae isolates were used in field trials. Maize plants were sprayed twice: at the end of the vegetative stage (V9) and at the beginning of the reproductive stage (R1). Sprays were made by applying water, B. subtilis strain BIOUFLA2, S. araujoniae strain ASBV‐1T, or fungicide (cyproconazole + azoxystrobin) in different combinations, totalling nine treatments. Ten days later, all maize ears were inoculated with F. verticillioides. Plants were assessed for foliar diseases, grain yield, F. verticillioides incidence and fumonisin content in kernels. The treatment with two fungicide sprays reduced most of the foliar diseases but not F. verticillioides incidence in kernels. Twice‐sprayed B. subtilis and S. araujoniae reduced F. verticillioides, but did not protect leaves against other pathogens. All treatments encompassing a fungicide followed by one of the BCAs reduced F. verticillioides incidence compared to control. Twice‐sprayed fungicide increased fumonisin by 50% compared to water control, while fungicide followed by B. subtilis decreased the fumonisin content by 40%. Replacing the second chemical spray with S. araujoniae did not reduce the fumonisin content but provided a higher yield than a twice‐sprayed fungicide. Exclusive use of chemical fungicides may not ensure higher grain quality and yield, but the integration with B. subtilis BIOUFLA2 can accomplish both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pot trials were carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effectiveness against Fusarium wilt of rocket ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans) and basil ( F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici) of soil amendments based on a patented formulation of Brassica carinata defatted seed meal and compost, combined or not with a simulation of soil solarization. The soil solarization treatment was carried out in a growth chamber by heating the soil for 7 and 14 days at optimal (55-52°C for 6 h, 50-48°C for 8 h and 47-45°C for 10 h/day) and sub-optimal (50-48°C for 6 h, 45-43°C for 8 h and 40-38°C for 10 h/day) temperatures similar to those observed in summer in solarized soil in greenhouses in Northern Italy. Two subsequent cycles of plant cultivation were carried out in the same soil. Even at sub-optimal temperature regimes, 7 days of thermal treatment provided very valuable results in terms of disease control on both rocket and basil. In general, the thermal treatment was more effective against F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici than against F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans. Control of Fusarium wilt of rocket is improved with 14 days of thermal treatment. The combination of organic amendments with a short period of soil solarization (7 or 14 days), although not providing any improvement to the level of disease management, did significantly increase biomass and positively affected yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight trials were carried out in 2011 and 2012 in Northern Italy to evaluate the efficacy of grafting, compost and biofumigation with Brassica carinata against Colletotrichum coccodes on tomato. Four trials were carried out in commercial farms, and four trials were carried out in plastic tunnels at an experimental centre. The rootstocks ' Armstrong', ' Arnold', ' Beaufort', ' Big Power', ' Brigeor', ' Emperador', ' King Kong', ' Spirit' and ' Superpro V295' were tested. Host plants included several tomato F1 hybrids: ' Amantino', ' Arawak', ' CLX 37438', ' Cauralina', ' CU 8301', ' CU 8506', ' DRK 7021', 'E 34431', 'E 50070', ' EXP', ' Gotico', ' Ingrid', ' ISI 61401', ' ISI 61402', ' Profitto', ' Punente', ' Rugantino' and ' Tomahawk'. Tomato roots from the control plots were 34 to 87% diseased in both naturally and artificially infested soil. Among the nineteen commercial tomato hybrids tested, in the presence of a very high disease pressure in a naturally infested soil, ' Rugantino' was the least affected by C. coccodes, showing 32% infected roots. 'Tomahawk' grafted onto ' Arnold', ' Armstrong' and ' Superpro V295' was significantly less affected by C. coccodes, while ' Arawak' grafted onto ' Armstrong', ' Arnold', ' Emperador' and ' Beaufort' provided very good control of root rot in the different trials. Compost addition and biofumigation with Brassica pellets were also tested with and without grafting. Soil amendment with compost, in the case of the ' Arawak' and ' Tomahawk', resulted in a slightly improved disease control only on non-grafted plants. When grafting and biofumigation were combined in a soil naturally infested with C. coccodes and Meloidogyne arenaria, biofumigation did not improve C. coccodes control in comparison with grafting alone. In a naturally infested soil, compost alone and combined with biofumigation improved disease control only on non-grafted ' Tomahawk' plants. In general, grafting by itself provided very good results in terms of disease control, which were not significantly improved by combination with compost and/or biofumigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]