A systematic review about biological control of phytopathogenic Phytophthora cinnamomi

The oomycetes of the genus Phytophthora have the most aggressive species for agriculture and forestry, such as Phytophthora sojae which is responsible for soybean root rot, Phytophthora infestans responsible for the potato downy mildew that caused the diaspora in Ireland in the nineteenth-century, and Phytophthora cinnamomi that affects a wide variety of tree species, from avocado in America, trees in Oceania to European chestnut trees. P. cinnamomi reproduces either sexually or asexually and asexual zoospores can live as saprotrophs and subsist in the soil long after death and removal of host plants. Controlling this organism is very challenging for researchers due to the limited range of effective chemical inhibitors. In this work, we present a systematic review of alternatives for biocontrol of Phytophthora in general and P. cinnamomi in particular. Our literature review indicates that Trichoderma spp., mainly Trichoderma harzianum, T. virens, and T. asperellum are very promising fungal species in the control of different Phytophthora spp. The Bacillus genus is also very promising in the control and inhibition of several Phytophthoras spp.

Automated summary

In this study, a systematic review was conducted on alternative methods for the biocontrol of Phytophthora in general and P. cinnamomi in particular. The results suggested that fungal species of the Trichoderma genus, such as T. harzianum, T. virens, and T. asperellum, as well as bacterial species of the Bacillus genus, show promising potential for controlling various Phytophthora species.