The potential of bacterial volatiles for crop protection against phytophathogenic fungi

The production of antifungal substances by bacteria has long been recognized and this knowledge is entering practical life through the use of bacterial antagonists to protect crops against their fungal enemies. Recently, it has become clear that in addition to diffusible substances, bacteria emit a wide range of volatile compounds into the atmosphere. Over the last ten years, evidence has accumulated that these volatiles are not only able to promote plant growth, but also to strongly inhibit fungal growth. As the demand for organic products and the need to render agriculture more sustainable are rising, finding new environmentally friendly crop protection strategies is essential. In this perspective, the newly discovered capacity of bacterial volatiles to efficiently repel phytopathogenic fungi in laboratory experiments holds great promise. In this section, recent knowledge on the inhibiting potential of bacterial volatiles against fungi causing major crop diseases is summarized, future research questions are highlighted and putative applications for environmentally friendly crop protection are discussed.