ABSTRACT
292Biological control of fungal diseases constitutes a very broad category of control, consisting of a wide variety of different organisms, mechanisms, interactions, and processes. It has enormous potential to supplement and complement existing disease control strategies. However, biological control also has different properties, requirements, and constraints than previous conventional controls and needs to be properly implemented and integrated with current production strategies. Biological control depends on the effective functioning of the appropriate antagonist strains within each particular plant-pathogen ecosystem. Identifying the appropriate antagonist strains is generally the first step in this process. Understanding how, where, when, and why the biocontrol works may also be crucial to successful development of the biological control system. Because of complexity of soil microbial communities and the role of the biocontrol organism within these communities, an ecological approach to the development of the biological control system is recommended. Evaluating the ecological interactions of the biocontrol organism with the pathogen, host plant, surrounding microbial community, and the environment will be useful in developing the best strategies for the implementation and management of the biological control system. For maximum effectiveness, biocontrol organisms that are locally adapted to the particular environments and patho-systems where they are suited may need to be developed.
