Arboreal Fungi in Biological Control against Soil Fungi

Abstract

Fungi are important components of every ecosystem. In nature, they play a significant role as decomposers, decomposing organic matter into simple compounds available for plants. They are a curious group of organisms that attracts more and more interest not only among mycologists and phytopathologists, but also geneticists, biochemists and physiologists. Metabolic products of arboreal fungi show multidirectional action, including in the field of biological protection against harmful phytopathogens. Particularly invasive and difficult to control are soil fungi, phytobacteria and phytoviruses, which are widely spread in the rhizosphere. Moreover, the variety of pathogens is constantly increasing, and new forms are rapidly emerging, often more resistant to the biological control agents used so far.