Commercial use of fungi as plant disease biological control agents: status and prospects.

Abstract

The current and future status of commercial fungal biological control agents (such as Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, Gliocladium virens and Coniothyrium minitans), particularly on their products, are reviewed. Examples of specific biological control agents and their products, as well as their target fungal pathogens, are provided. Factors involved in the long-term development of biological control agents are discussed. These include the determination, opportunities and constraints for the development of commercial disease biological control agents.