Plant production is increasingly challenged by global population growth and climate change, which intensify the need for sustainable disease management. Biological control has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional chemical pesticides under many circumstances. However, the field efficacy of biological control agents (BCAs) often remains inconsistent due to environmental variability and complex ecological interactions within agroecosystems. Improving the stability and reliability of biological control under field conditions is a critical development priority. This review provides an overview of strategies based on combined BCAs, an approach aimed at enhancing efficacy and stabilizing disease suppression. These strategies encompass the combination of BCAs with other biological agents, as well as cultural practices, disease resistance chemical and mechanical approaches. We propose a stepwise framework to guide the selection and application of combined-use strategies, considering the nature of the components involved, their compatibility, and their temporal and spatial organization. Quantitative approaches, including Bliss Independence and Loewe Additivity models, are discussed to evaluate the effects of combined treatments. The review also addresses major technical and regulatory challenges, including compatibility, formulation and storage, environmental variability, and the regulatory complexity associated with multi-agent products. Finally, emerging approaches based on multi-omics analyses, epigenetic regulation, high-throughput phenotyping and resistant cultivars are highlighted as opportunities to improve BCA selection, optimize combinations, and improve prediction of performance under realistic agricultural conditions. Overall, advancing combined biological control will require a shift from empirical mixtures towards purpose-driven strategies designed around the biology of the selected agents, the targeted pathosystem, and the environmental context.
Combining biological control agents for sustainable agriculture: concepts, applications and perspectives
Petrucci, Arianna;Mencarini, Diego;Sarrocco, Sabrina
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2026-01-01
Abstract
Plant production is increasingly challenged by global population growth and climate change, which intensify the need for sustainable disease management. Biological control has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional chemical pesticides under many circumstances. However, the field efficacy of biological control agents (BCAs) often remains inconsistent due to environmental variability and complex ecological interactions within agroecosystems. Improving the stability and reliability of biological control under field conditions is a critical development priority. This review provides an overview of strategies based on combined BCAs, an approach aimed at enhancing efficacy and stabilizing disease suppression. These strategies encompass the combination of BCAs with other biological agents, as well as cultural practices, disease resistance chemical and mechanical approaches. We propose a stepwise framework to guide the selection and application of combined-use strategies, considering the nature of the components involved, their compatibility, and their temporal and spatial organization. Quantitative approaches, including Bliss Independence and Loewe Additivity models, are discussed to evaluate the effects of combined treatments. The review also addresses major technical and regulatory challenges, including compatibility, formulation and storage, environmental variability, and the regulatory complexity associated with multi-agent products. Finally, emerging approaches based on multi-omics analyses, epigenetic regulation, high-throughput phenotyping and resistant cultivars are highlighted as opportunities to improve BCA selection, optimize combinations, and improve prediction of performance under realistic agricultural conditions. Overall, advancing combined biological control will require a shift from empirical mixtures towards purpose-driven strategies designed around the biology of the selected agents, the targeted pathosystem, and the environmental context.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
