Why are there no widely successful microbial bioherbicides for weed management in crops?

Microbial biopesticides to control plant pathogens and insects in crops have had significant success. However, there have been relatively few successes for microbial bioherbicides in crops, despite considerable numbers of publications and commercial product introductions in this area. Marketed microbial bioherbicide products for use in agriculture have been largely unsuccessful. This article covers the potential advantages of successful microbial bioherbicides, as well as the biological and technical issues that have limited their success. Technologies to overcome the problems that have limited the success of these products are discussed. The many advantages of using killed microbial products (e.g. cell-free filtrates) over living microbial products as bioherbicides are detailed. A commercialized mycoherbicide that has been selected for in the laboratory for control of the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica is being used with some success in Africa, indicating that non-transgenic modification of the genetics of bioherbicide microbes for improved efficacy is acceptable to some regulatory authorities. Genetic modifications to improve efficacy and host range, as well as improved application technology to greatly reduce the amount of product needed are two technologies that are likely to expand the use of microbial bioherbicides in the future. (c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

Microbial biopesticides have been successful in controlling plant pathogens and insects in crops, but there have been fewer successes for microbial bioherbicides. Despite numerous publications and commercial introductions, marketed microbial bioherbicide products for use in agriculture have largely been unsuccessful. This article discusses the potential advantages and limitations of microbial bioherbicides, as well as technologies to overcome these limitations. The use of killed microbial products and genetic modifications are likely to expand the future use of microbial bioherbicides.