Lipopeptides; Powerful antifungal weapons produced by Bacillus species

Being environmentally safe and promisingly antagonistic Bacillus species have gained huge attention for biological control of plant diseases. The antimicrobial nature of Bacillus spp. is largely attributed to the lipopeptides produced by them. The most important lipopeptides produced by them include iturins, surfactin, fengycin, bacillomycin and plipastatin that have exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against numerous phytopathogens. Lipopeptides are safer and compatible to the environment, less toxic, biodegradable. Lipopeptides are extensively tested with remarkable results such as enhanced biocontrol potential at intense conditions of temperature, pH and salinity. In this review, the role of different lipopeptides in biocontrol and their mode of action has been discussed. Salient scientific contributions have been elucidated to unveil the excellent role of lipopeptides that make Bacillus species potential biocontrol agents.