Plant protection is mainly based on the application of synthetic pesticides to limit yield losses resulting from diseases. However, the use of more eco-friendly strategies for sustainable plant protection has become a necessity that could contribute to controlling pathogens through a direct antimicrobial effect and/or an induction of plant resistance. Three different families of natural or bioinspired compounds originated from bacterial or fungal strains have been evaluated to protect wheat against powdery mildew, caused by the biotrophic Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici (Bgt). Thus, three bio-inspired mono-rhamnolipids (smRLs), three cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs, mycosubtilin (M), fengycin (F), surfactin (S)) applied individually and in mixtures (M + F and M + F + S), as well as a chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) BioA187 were tested against Bgt, in planta and in vitro. Only the three smRLs (Rh-Eth-C12, Rh-Est-C12 and Rh-Succ-C12), the two CLP mixtures and the BioA187 led to a partial protection of wheat against Bgt. The higher inhibitor effects on the germination of Bgt spores in vitro were observed from smRLs Rh-Eth-C12 and Rh-Succ-C12, mycosubtilin and the two CLP mixtures. Taking together, these results revealed that such molecules could constitute promising tools for a more eco-friendly agriculture.
Keywords: Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici; biocontrol; chitosan; cyclic lipopeptides; fungal disease; powdery mildew; rhamnolipids; wheat.