Beneficial microbes typically produce bioactive molecules that can affect the interactions of
plants with their pathogens. Many secondary metabolites may also have antibiotic
properties, which enable the producing microbe to inhibit and/or kill other microorganisms ie
competing for a nutritional niche. Indeed, some of these compounds have been found to
play an important role in the biocontrol of plant diseases by various beneficial microbes
used world-wide for crop protection and bio-fertilization. In addition to direct toxic activity …