Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the biological control of plant pathogens has been more and more emerged as a sustainable mean for disease management and it has been considered as a viable alternative for reducing the use of chemicals in agriculture. Actually, as a funding principle of IPM, it is promoted and encouraged by the EU Directive 128/2009 on Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The reasons for increasing restriction in the use of chemicals and for raising interest in biological control include the negative impacts of chemicals on human health and the environment, the pathogen-acquired resistance to commonly applied chemicals, and the lack of replacement products. The biological control involves the use of fungi, bacteria, yeasts, or viruses - usually known as biological control agents (BCAs) - that may suppress plant pathogens via multifaced modes of actions: from competition for nutrients and space to antibiosis, from parasitism to induced resistance in the host plant.

The aim of this Special Issue is to focus about the development, evaluation and use of these alternatives in order to increase the sustainability of disease management and to design novel approaches for disease control. We welcome contributions that present new products and microorganisms as well as innovative approaches able to prevent or suppress diseases. Increased knowledge and perspectives about how to optimize their use in sustainable and integrated strategies are also appreciated.

Dr. Tito Caffi
Guest Editor

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• BCA
• Biological control
• Integrated Pest Management
• Influence of environment
• Integrated strategies
• Organic Pest Management
• Sustainability