ANTAGONISTIC FUNGI AND BACTERIA : AN ALTERNATIVE OR A NECESSARY COMPLEMENT TO SOIL DISINFESTATION

Quite a number of characteristics determines their success to control the pathogens below an economic threshold level : rapid colonisation, persistence, virulence, easy production, storage and application capacity, low cost, safety to the environment, compatibility with other agrochemicals and farm practice.

Living "with" instead of living "without" the pathogens underlines the necessity to integrate biocontrol in the global culture practice.

Biological plant protection of soil-borne parasites and pathogens is realistic in these cultures where a rest population can be tolerated and needs another approach than the "once for all" chemical treatment although biotechnology opens possibilities to use biological products as chemicals and so overcomes higher mentioned application desiderata.

The possibilities of antagonistic fungi and bacteria - either directly their defence capacity or indirectly their capacity to stimulate plant vitality - will be discussed.

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