The present study demonstrates that reduction in plant disease
is possible with biosurfactants produced by non-pathogenic strains
of fluorescent pseudomonads. The biosurfactant does not have to
be added as an extract, but can be supplied through amending the
plant cultivation system with biosurfactant-producing bacteria.
This reduces the need for labour and downstream processing and
increases the sustainability of biological control with biosurfactants
in both environmental and economic terms. It can be concluded
that biosurfactants are important for biological control in closed
hydroponic systems where oomycetes are major plant pathogens.
Further research should be directed towards formulation of the
biosurfactant-producing strains.