Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant protection using dual biological control and plant growth-promoting agents: Current scenarios and future prospects

Various microorganisms live in association with different parts of plants and can be harmful, neutral, or beneficial to plant health. Some microbial inhabitants of plants can control plant diseases by contesting with, predating on, or antagonizing plant pathogens and by inducing systems for plant defense. A range of methods, including plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) as biological control agents (BCAs) (BCA-PGPMs) are used for the biological management and control of plant pathogens. Some BCAs interact with plants by inducing resistance or priming plants without direct interaction with the pathogen. Other BCAs operate via nutrient competition or other mechanisms to modulate the growth conditions for the pathogen. Generally, PGPMs can be applied alone or together with other chemicals or carriers to control various crop diseases. This review highlights the effective types of BCA-PGPMs and their applications, roles, carrier based-formulations, and responses to rice (Oryza sativa L.) pathogens. Future plant disease management prospects are promising, and growers’ increasing demand for BCA-PGPM products can be exploited as an effective approach to the management of plant diseases, as well as to improve yield, environmental protection, biological resources, and agricultural system sustainability.