ABSTRACT
Bacteria that are shown to have the potential for biocontrol of destructive diseases are distributed in many genera. Among them, fluorescent pseudomonads are currently considered as the most effective bacteria for biological control of soil and foliar diseases. Fluorescent pseudomonads enhance the plant growth parameters, and hence, they are called plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR is known to control a wide range of phytopathogens like fungi, bacteria, viruses, insect pests and nematodes, and they are known to control these pathogens by biocontrol mechanism which may be by competition, or antagonism, induction of systemic resistance by these bacteria in the host plant, thereby containing the invading pathogens. Application of PGPR formulations with strain mixtures performs better than individual strains for the management of pests and diseases of crop plants, in addition to plant growth promotion. Fluorescent pseudomonads showing various modes of action especially rhizosphere colonization, antibiotic production and induction of systemic resistance would certainly potential biocontrol agents for the management of pests and diseases of crop plants.
