A bioeffector is a viable

microorganism A microorganism, or microbe, is an organism of microscopic scale, microscopic size, which may exist in its unicellular organism, single-celled form or as a Colony (biology)#Microbial colonies, colony of cells. The possible existence of unseen ...

or active natural compound which directly or indirectly affects plant performance (

biofertilizer A biofertilizer is a substance containing living micro-organisms which, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary n ...

), and thus has the potential to reduce

fertilizer A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments. Man ...

and

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all p ...

use in crop production.

Types

Bioeffectors directly or indirectly affect plant performance by influencing the functional implementation or activation of biological mechanisms, particularly those interfering with soil-plant-microbe interactions. In contrast to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, the effectiveness of bioeffectors is not based on a substantial direct input of mineral plant nutrients, either in inorganic or organic forms. *Products in use are: ** Microbial residues, ** Composting and fermentation products, ** Plant and algae extracts *Bioeffector-preparations (''bio-agents'') as ready-formulated products are applied: ** to stimulate plant growth (bio-stimulants), ** to improve plant nutrient acquisition (bio-fertilizers), ** to protect plants from

pathogens In biology, a pathogen (, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of"), in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ. The term ...

and

pests PESTS was an anonymous American activist group formed in 1986 to critique racism, tokenism, and exclusion in the art world. PESTS produced newsletters, posters, and other print material highlighting examples of discrimination in gallery represent ...

( bio-control agents) ** or generally to advance cropping efficiency; they can contain one or more bio-effectors along with other substances” *Well-established bioeffectors with documented positive results at the field level are: **

Rhizobia Rhizobia are diazotrophic bacteria that fix nitrogen after becoming established inside the root nodules of legumes (Fabaceae). To express genes for nitrogen fixation, rhizobia require a plant host; they cannot independently fix nitrogen. I ...

strains for soil or seed inoculation as a prerequisite for symbiotic N2-fixation when establishing new legume species or varieties. ** positive effects of

mycorrhiza A mycorrhiza (; , mycorrhiza, or mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant. The term mycorrhiza refers to the role of the fungus in the plant's rhizosphere, the plant root system and its surroundings. Mycorrhizae play ...

inoculation for soils with a (temporarily) low potential for natural root mycorrhization. ** sufficient mycorrhization enhances nutrient (P) and water uptake and increases resistance to pathogenic fungi. *Further mechanisms for the positive impact of bioeffectors on plant growth have postulated, promising a high potential for resource preservation due to reduction of fertiliser and pesticide use: ** Active nutrient mobilisation by exudation of acids and carboxylates (e.g. P-mobilisation), ** exudation of micro-nutrient mobilising siderophores/chelates (e.g. Fe³⁺), ** reduction of trace elements from less soluble oxidised to highly soluble reduced forms (e.g., Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, Mn⁴⁺ to Mn²⁺), ** associative/non-symbiotic N₂-fixation, protective antagonism to plant pathogens, ** enhancement of mycorrhizal infection and growth, and stimulating hormonal effects.

Research and Public Dissemination

Under the Acronym ''Biofector'' the European Union supports the Research of Bioeffectors under the leadership of the

University of Hohenheim A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

. Coordinator Guenter Neumann, Projectmembers: Jiří Balík, Borbala Biro, Karl Fritz Lauer, Uwe Ludewig, Torsten Müller, Alessandro Piccolo, Manfred G. Raupp, Kornelia Smalla, Pavel Tlustoš, Markus Weinmann. The results of the project will be evaluated by the members of the Association Biostimulants in Agriculture (ABISTA) and provided agriculture for use and EU institutions for the legislative and registration procedures. Other Biostimulants Organisations are European Biostimulant Industry Council, International Biocontrol Manufacturers' Association and Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting.

External links

Webpage Biofector

Webpage Association Biostimulants in Agriculture

Webpage Biofector CULS Prague

Webpage Madora Bioeffectors

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bioeffector Agroecology Agronomy Botany . Biology and pharmacology of chemical elements . Crop protection chemicals Ecology Ecological economics Edaphology Fertilizers Organic fertilizers Organic food Recycling Soil Soil improvers Sustainable agriculture Sustainable gardening Sustainable technologies Systems ecology Waste management