Bacillus VOCs in the Context of Biological Control

Abstract

A contemporary agricultural production system relying on heavy usage of agrochemicals represents a questionable outlook for sustainable food supply in the future. The visible negative environmental impacts and unforeseen consequences to human and animal health have been requiring a shift towards the novel eco-friendly alternatives for chemical pesticides for a while now. Microbial-based biocontrol agents have shown a promising potential for plant disease management. The bacteria of the genus Bacillus have been among the most exploited microbial active components due to several highly efficient mechanisms of action against plant pathogens, as well as a palette of additional plant-beneficial mechanisms, together with their suitable properties for microbial biopesticide formulations. Among other bioactive metabolites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been investigated for their biocontrol applications, exhibiting the main advantage of long-distance effect without the necessity for direct contact with plants or pathogens. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the state-of-the-art in the field of Bacillus-based VOCs, especially in terms of their antibacterial, antifungal, and nematicidal action as the main segments determining their potential for biocontrol applications in sustainable agriculture.