IMR Press / FBL / Volume 30 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.31083/FBL23223
Open Access Review
Plant Colonization by Biocontrol Bacteria and Improved Plant Health: A Review
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Affiliation
1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, 7718897111 Rafsanjan, Iran
2 UFZ—Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Soil Ecology, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
3 German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), 04103 Leipzig, Germany
*Correspondence: r.saberi@vru.ac.ir (Roohallah Saberi Riseh)
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2025, 30(1), 23223; https://doi.org/10.31083/FBL23223
Submitted: 11 April 2024 | Revised: 29 July 2024 | Accepted: 7 August 2024 | Published: 14 January 2025
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

The use of biological control agents is one of the best strategies available to combat the plant diseases in an ecofriendly manner. Biocontrol bacteria capable of providing beneficial effect in crop plant growth and health, have been developed for several decades. It highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the colonization mechanisms employed by biocontrol bacteria to enhance their efficacy in plant pathogen control. The present review deals with the in-depth understanding of steps involved in host colonization by biocontrol bacteria. The colonization process starts from the root zone, where biocontrol bacteria establish initial interactions with the plant’s root system. Moving beyond the roots, biocontrol bacteria migrate and colonize other plant organs, including stems, leaves, and even flowers. Also, the present review attempts to explore the mechanisms facilitating bacterial movement within the plant such as migrating through interconnected spaces such as vessels or in the apoplast, and applying quorum sensing or extracellular enzymes during colonization and what is needed to establish a long-term association within a plant. The impacts on microbial community dynamics, nutrient cycling, and overall plant health are discussed, emphasizing the intricate relationships between biocontrol bacteria and the plant’s microbiome and the benefits to the plant’s above-ground parts, the biocontrol 40 bacteria confer. By unraveling these mechanisms, researchers can develop targeted strategies for enhancing the colonization efficiency and overall effectiveness of biocontrol bacteria, leading to more sustainability and resilience.

Keywords
biocontrol bacteria
colonization
competition
induced systemic resistance
rhizosphere
Figures
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