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Abstract

Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools †

by
Giorgia Fedele
1,
Federica Bove
2,
Elisa González-Domínguez
2 and
Vittorio Rossi
1,*
1
Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
2
Horta srl, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Presented at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science, 1–15 December 2020; Available online: https://iecps2020.sciforum.net/.
Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2021, 4(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECPS2020-08631
Published: 1 December 2020
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Plant Science)

Abstract

:
In recent years, researchers have increasingly explored sustainable tools for plant protection against pathogens, including the use of biological control agents (BCAs), which have the potential to complement or replace chemical fungicides. However, global reliance on their use remains relatively insignificant and the factors influencing their efficacy remain unclear. The complex interactions among a target pathogen, a host plant, and the BCA population in a changing environment can be studied by process-based, weather-driven mathematical models, able to interpret the combined effects on BCA efficacy of: (i) BCA mechanism of action, (ii) timing of BCA application with respect to timing of pathogen infection (preventative vs. curative), (iii) temperature and moisture requirements for both pathogen and BCA growth, and (iv) BCA survival capability. When the model was used under three contrasting weather conditions for the control of Botrytis bunch rot in grapevine, BCA efficacy was mostly influenced by environmental conditions, accounting for > 90% of the variance in simulated biocontrol efficacy. These findings indicate that the environmental responses of BCAs should be considered during their selection, BCA survival capability should be considered during both selection and formulation, and weather conditions and forecasts should be considered at the time of BCA application in the field. Different commercial BCAs for the control of Botrytis cinerea showed different environmental requirements and adaptation capabilities; therefore, the most suitable BCA to be used for a specific field application may consider weather conditions and forecasts at the time of intervention.

Supplementary Materials

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
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Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Fedele, G.; Bove, F.; González-Domínguez, E.; Rossi, V. Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools. Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2021, 4, 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECPS2020-08631

AMA Style

Fedele G, Bove F, González-Domínguez E, Rossi V. Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools. Biology and Life Sciences Forum. 2021; 4(1):75. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECPS2020-08631

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fedele, Giorgia, Federica Bove, Elisa González-Domínguez, and Vittorio Rossi. 2021. "Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools" Biology and Life Sciences Forum 4, no. 1: 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECPS2020-08631

APA Style

Fedele, G., Bove, F., González-Domínguez, E., & Rossi, V. (2021). Modelling Biocontrol Agents as Plant Protection Tools. Biology and Life Sciences Forum, 4(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECPS2020-08631

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