Transcriptome Dynamics Underlying Planticine-Induced Defense Responses of Tomato ( L.) to Biotic Stresses.

The induction of natural defense mechanisms in plants is considered to be one of the most important strategies used in integrated pest management (IPM). Plant immune inducers could reduce the use of chemicals for plant protection and their harmful impacts on the environment. Planticine is a natural plant defense biostimulant based on oligomers of α(1→4)-linked D-galacturonic acids, which are biodegradable and nontoxic.

Microbial-Based Products to Control Soil-Borne Pathogens: Methods to Improve Efficacy and to Assess Impacts on Microbiome.

Microbial-based products (either as biopesticide or biofertilizers) have a long history of application, though their use is still limited, mainly due to a perceived low and inconsistent efficacy under field conditions. However, their efficacy has always been compared to chemical products, which have a completely different mechanism of action and production process, following the chemical paradigm of agricultural production. This paradigm has also been applied to regulatory processes, particularly for biopesticides, making the marketing of microbial-based formulations difficult.