The use of Pythium oligandrum as a biocontrol agent

Publication date: 07/08/2025
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: Kun Yang, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China; Siqi Niu and Qing Yu, Nanjing Agricultural University, China; Xiaobo Li, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China; Maofeng Jing, Nanjing Agricultural University, China

Chapter synopsis:

The oomycete Pythium oligandrum is a soil-inhabiting mycoparasite of both fungi and oomycetes, and colonizes the root ecosystems of diverse plants to induce defense responses against pathogens. Based on the multiple advantages of P. oligandrum in plant disease control, which is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, and provides additional plant growth benefits. P. oligandrum has served as an important biological control agent (BCA) for plant disease control and has been widely and successfully used in agricultural production and ecosystem management. In this chapter, we primarily summarize the application of P. oligandrum as a BCA in controlling plant diseases caused by fungal, oomycete, and bacterial pathogens, and highlight approaches taken to identify and apply plant immunity-inducing proteins from P. oligandrum in inducing plant resistance against several plant diseases. We conclude with recommendations for the most urgent future research directions needed to address the efficient utilization of P. oligandrum and in disease control.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2024.0142.16