Groundbreaking Technologies and the Biocontrol of Fungal Vascular Plant Pathogens

Abstract

This review delves into innovative technologies to improve the control of vascular fungal plant pathogens. It also briefly summarizes traditional biocontrol approaches to manage them, addressing their limitations and emphasizing the need to develop more sustainable and precise solutions. Powerful tools such as next-generation sequencing, meta-omics, and microbiome engineering allow for the targeted manipulation of microbial communities to enhance pathogen suppression. Microbiome-based approaches include the design of synthetic microbial consortia and the transplant of entire or customized soil/plant microbiomes, potentially offering more resilient and adaptable biocontrol strategies. Nanotechnology has also advanced significantly, providing methods for the targeted delivery of biological control agents (BCAs) or compounds derived from them through different nanoparticles (NPs), including bacteriogenic, mycogenic, phytogenic, phycogenic, and debris-derived ones acting as carriers. The use of biodegradable polymeric and non-polymeric eco-friendly NPs, which enable the controlled release of antifungal agents while minimizing environmental impact, is also explored. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and machine learning can revolutionize crop protection through early disease detection, the prediction of disease outbreaks, and precision in BCA treatments. Other technologies such as genome editing, RNA interference (RNAi), and functional peptides can enhance BCA efficacy against pathogenic fungi. Altogether, these technologies provide a comprehensive framework for sustainable and precise management of fungal vascular diseases, redefining pathogen biocontrol in modern agriculture.

Keywords: Fusarium oxysporum; RNA interference; Verticillium dahliae; artificial intelligence (AI); biological control; functional peptides; genome editing; integrated disease management; microbiome engineering; nanotechnology.

Figure 1

Word cloud showing the most relevant terms extracted from the titles of the articles consulted to produce this review. The frequency each term appears in the titles is visually emphasized in the cloud by their size. The figure was generated using the free online ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/, accessed on 12 December 2024).

Figure 2

Two examples of fungal vascular diseases affecting highly relevant crops. (A) Banana orchard in Tenerife island affected by Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) (photo credit Javier López Cepero); (B) Olive trees in Southern Spain showing Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) symptoms (photo credit Jesús Mercado-Blanco).

Figure 3

A graphical overview of the cutting-edge technologies mentioned in this review and aimed at improving biocontrol strategies for vascular fungal diseases. The figure was created using icons and templates from the free online BioRender (https://www.biorender.com/, accessed on 12 December 2024), except for the digital twins and microbiome transplant images, which were generated with the free online version of ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/, accessed on 12 December 2024). The acronyms used are defined as follows: biological control agent (BCA), artificial intelligence (AI), and RNA interference (RNAi).