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Biological control of tree and woody plant diseases: an impossible task?

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Abstract

The social demand for novel, sustainable and environment friendly approaches, while ensuring the health and productivity of our crops, is increasingly growing. Research on biological control of tree/woody crop diseases is scarce compared to that conducted on herbaceous, annual plants. In addition to their large biomass, complicated anatomy, longevity and perennial nature, peculiarities in the management of tree crops and forestry also contribute to the complexity of the processes of developing effective biological control measures in these agro-ecosystems. Although biological control in woody species poses challenges, difficulties and limitations, its implementation either alone or in combination with other disease management strategies is feasible. As a result, examples of successful application of biocontrol measures based on the use of bacteria, fungi or hypovirulent mycoviruses against tree/woody plant diseases are available. The aim of this special issue is to provide interested readers with an overview and updates on the active research field of biological control of tree and woody plant diseases. Such effort includes updates ranging from the generation of fundamental knowledge to examples of successful application of biological control strategies.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions to improve an earlier version of the manuscript. Research on Verticillium wilt of olive in Jesús Mercado-Blanco’s lab supported by grants P07-CVI-02624 and P12-AGR-667 (Junta de Andalucía, Spain), AGL2009-07275 (Spanish MICINN/MINECO), and RECUPERA 2020 (MINECO-CSIC agreement), all co-funded by ERDF from EU. Research on bacterial biocontrol of avocado white root rot was supported by Grant AGL2014-52518-C2-1-R (Spanish MINECO).

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  1. Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea ‘La Mayora’, IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Universidad de Málaga, Campus Universitario de Teatinos s/n, 29071, Málaga, Spain

    Francisco M. Cazorla

  2. Departmento de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto Agricultura Sostenible, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Menéndez Pidal s/n, Campus Alameda del Obispo s/n, 14004, Córdoba, Spain

    Jesús Mercado-Blanco

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Correspondence to Jesús Mercado-Blanco.

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Cazorla, F.M., Mercado-Blanco, J. Biological control of tree and woody plant diseases: an impossible task?. BioControl 61, 233–242 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-016-9737-0

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