Applied Strategies to Enhance Biofungicide Field Performance: Mechanistic Insights, Formulation Interventions, and Design Considerations

Karl Christian orrejos Caracas, May Verallo Tampus, Francis Dave Comun Siacor

Abstract

The inconsistent field performance of biofungicides remains a major barrier to their widespread adoption despite their ecological advantages over chemical fungicides. This review synthesizes key strategies for improving biofungicide efficacy under field conditions, including antagonist optimization, microbial consortia, and supplementation interventions. These approaches are evaluated based on their mechanistic basis, compatibility constraints, and practical feasibility. Comparative synthesis shows that biofungicide performance emerges from interactions among the microbial antagonists, the target phytopathogen, and the application environment, explaining why no single strategy is universally effective. Based on these insights, an integrated design framework is proposed that emphasizes the cost-to-performance ratio as a guiding principle for biofungicide development. This framework links biological efficacy with environmental adaptability and economic feasibility, providing practical guidance for the development of robust and sustainable biofungicide technologies.

Keywords

References

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DOI: 10.14416/j.asep.2026.06.002

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