ABSTRACT
Intercropping can be practiced at the species, variety, and gene level with effects on pathogens, insect pests, and weeds. One of the most important considerations for the successful design of intercropping systems for pest control is the achievement of functional diversity, that is, diversity that limits pathogen and pest expansion and that is designed to make use of knowledge about host–pest/pathogen interactions to direct host–pathogen/insect pest co-evolution. Besides direct effects on the dispersal of insect pests and pathogens and competitive effects against weeds, interactive effects with the microbiome below- and above-ground play an important role as diverse microbial communities connect ecosystem health at the level of soil, plant, animal, and human health.
