Chapters authored
Antifungal Effect of Essential Oils
Essential oils are employed in agriculture, medicine and food industries among others, due to their antimicrobial, antiviral, insecticidal and antifungal properties. In this chapter, we will focus on the control of fungal plant pathogens with essential oils. Fungal diseases in agricultural crops and forestry alter the physiology of plants, disrupting their normal functioning, reducing their yield and sometimes causing their death. Recent studies show antifungal effects of many essential oils against plant pathogenic fungi, which make them candidates for the development of new fungicidal agents. This chapter presents a review of the most recent advances in this area, as well as the future trends in this field.
Part of the book: Potential of Essential Oils
Ectomycorrhizal Fungi as Biofertilizers in Forestry
Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi play a fundamental role in the nutrient cycle in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in forest systems. In this chapter, the value of ECM fungi is reviewed from a global framework, not only to increase the production of edible fruit bodies and biomass of plants but also for the regular practices of reforestation and restoration of ecosystems, with implicit applications in biofertilization, bioremediation, and control of soil pathogens. Ecological functions of the ECM fungi are briefly reviewed. The direct implications of the ECM fungi in forestry are described. To do so, its role as a biotechnological tool in forest nursery production is briefly analyzed, as well as the role of mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB). Subsequently, the direct role as biofertilizers of the ECM fungi in forest management is discussed: reforestation, plantation management, and ecosystem restoration. The importance of ECM fungi to increase the tolerance of plants against biotic or abiotic stresses is analyzed.
Part of the book: Biostimulants in Plant Science