Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia Render Biological Control of Plant Pathogens: A Review

Plant disease management via biocontrol of phytopathogens is one of the major approaches to the imagination of sustainable agriculture. Besides agrochemicals, using inoculants of beneficial bacteria is a common tool to control fungal and bacterial phytopathogens; they are known as biological control agents (BCAs) or biopesticides. This chapter focuses on using PGPB (plant growth-promoting bacteria) in consortia to control bacterial and fungal pathogens. The most relevant publications on biocontrol brought by PGPB in consortia are reviewed, casting insight into the core mechanisms used to achieve effective biocontrol and disease management. In this review, the compatibility and diversity of beneficial PGPB strains, their stability in bioformulations, environmental safety, and association with various plants have been covered with special emphasis on the mechanisms of biocontrol. There is an urgent requirement for optimization and adjustment of effective PGPB in consortia that can help to improve the biocontrol of phytopathogens in the rhizosphere and increase crop productivity while safeguarding human health and environmental integrity.