Rhizoctonia solani is the main pathogen that causes tomato root rot, which is a soilborne disease that seriously affects tomato production, leading to huge economic losses. Biocontrol is an excellent control method for suppressing plant disease, as it is environmentally friendly, safe, and sustainable. Currently, reviews of the biocontrol of tomato root rot caused by R. solani are scarce. In this review, biocontrol agents, including bacteria and fungi, that can control tomato root rot caused by R. solani are discussed in depth, as well as their control effects. Moreover, this review systematically analyzes the potential control mechanisms of biocontrol agents, including the production of cell-wall-degrading enzymes, the production of metabolites, mycoparasitism, the induction of plant systemic resistance, and competition. Considerations for the practical application of biocontrol agents, including their formulation, reproducibility under field conditions, environmental variability, regulatory considerations for some microbial agents, and limitations, are also highlighted and discussed. Finally, further research suggestions are made for the future control of tomato root rot caused by R. solani. This review provides a basis for the field application of biocontrol agents to control tomato root rot caused by R. solani.
Sun et al. (Fri,) studied this question.