Challenges facing the biological control strategies for the management of Fusarium Head Blight of cereals caused by F. graminearum

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases in the world, threatening both crop productions by affecting kernel development, and human and animal health by contaminating heads and seeds with mycotoxins. FHB is caused mainly by a Fusarium graminearum species complex, with F. graminearum sensu stricto (lineage 7) being the most prevalently isolated species from disease kernels. Recently it has been designated as the fourth fungal plant pathogen based on its economic impacts. To face the lack of effective strategies for management of FHB and the rising concerns of mycotoxin contamination, new control strategies must be developed, evaluated and applied. The use of biocontrol agents to mitigate or control plant diseases, such as FHB, has received an increase in interest. Even with a proven efficacy of many biocontrol agents, however, few are available on the market as developed products. Regulatory complexity further compounds the improvement of biocontrol strategies. This review offers an insight of the current biocontrol strategies against F. graminearum, from selection to field-testing. The steps needed to ensure the effectiveness of the candidates, as well as the assessing and monitoring of their efficacy and environmental innocuousness are also discussed.