title: Fluorescent pseudomonads as biocontrol agents for sustainable agricultural systems.
abstract: The highly diverse genus Pseudomonas contains very effective biocontrol agents that can increase plant growth and improve plant health. Biocontrol characteristics, however, are strain-dependent and cannot be clearly linked to phylogenetic variation. Isolate screening remains essential to find suitable strains, which can be done by testing large local collections for disease suppression and plant-growth promotion exemplified in a case study on forage legumes in Uruguay or by targeted screening for Pseudomonas spp. which produce desirable secondary metabolites, as demonstrated in a case study on cocoyam in Cameroon. In both case studies, access to reference strains from public and private collections was essential for identification, phylogenetic studies and metabolite characterization.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Phytopathology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, Belgium. monica.hofte@ugent.be
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höfte
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Altier
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D044822:Biodiversity; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002163:Cameroon; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D005453:Fluorescence; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011775:Pythium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014583:Uruguay; D031063:Xanthosoma / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents