Molecular Microbiology Research, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 69-81 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 77 such as GhLAC15 or GhAMT2 are to be introduced into the main varieties, it is also necessary to achieve trait balance without affecting yield and fiber quality, which places higher demands on breeding strategies. 6 Synergistic Effect of Comprehensive Prevention and Control Measures 6.1 Complementary application of chemical and biological agents Although breeding disease-resistant varieties has always been the core strategy for controlling cotton fungal diseases, in actual field applications, due to the complex pathogen population and changeable climatic conditions, it is difficult to completely prevent disease outbreaks by relying solely on genetic resistance. In terms of chemical agents, broad-spectrum fungicides such as carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl and difenoconazole are still widely used in the prevention and control of fungal diseases such as Verticilliumwilt and anthracnose, especially in critical periods such as the seedling stage and the boll formation stage, showing a significant effect of rapid inhibition of bacteria and reduction of incidence (Lahlali et al., 2022). Seed dressing, fixed-point spraying, root irrigation and other methods are usually used to reduce the attachment and initial infection of pathogens in the rhizosphere or leaf surface of plants. However, the long-term and frequent use of chemical drugs has also caused many problems, such as increased resistance of pathogens, inhibitory effects on non-target microorganisms, pesticide residues and environmental pollution risks. In contrast, biological control, as a green alternative, has gradually shown its important value in cotton disease management in recent years. Studies have shown that microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum and Streptomyces spp. have become a beneficial supplement for field disease prevention because of their antagonistic activity and growth-promoting effects (Zhao et al., 2022; Liu et al., 2023). These biocontrol bacteria can effectively suppress the expansion of pathogens by competing for nutrient sites, secreting antifungal substances or stimulating the crop's own defense system. For example, a recent study demonstrated the inhibitory effect of Bacillus subtilis YBf-10 on Verticillium dahliae: the strain not only formed a clear inhibition zone in the culture medium, but also colonized in the roots of cotton, achieving a continuous protective effect in the plant. The disease index and proportion of diseased plants in the treatment group decreased significantly 20 days after inoculation of the pathogen, and the isolation rate of pathogens in the roots decreased, indicating that the strain has stable and continuous biocontrol potential (Figure 3) (Murmu et al., 2024). Figure 3 Different omics in plant defense research (Adopted from Murmu et al., 2024)
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