Table 1.
Examples of case studies of tri-trophic interactions between microorganisms, herbivores and their natural enemies pointing out an indirect biocontrol effect of microbes.
| Soilborne Microbes | Pests | Beneficials | Effects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r | Myzus persicae Sultzer | Diaeretiella rapae M’Intosh | Increasing parasitoid attraction to plant | [112] |
| Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r | Mamestra brassicae L. | Microplitis mediator Haliday | Plant growth and parasitoid attraction | [38] |
| Enterobacter aerogenes | Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval | Cotesia marginiventris Cresson | Increasing parasitoid attraction to plant | [113] |
| Pseudononas syringae | Myzus persicae | Coccinella septempunctata L. | Plant pest resistance and parasitoid attraction | [114] |
| Endophytes and plant symbionts | ||||
| Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium brunneum | Myzus persicae | Aphidius colemani Vierick | Reduction of pest development and parasitoid biology | [24] |
| Aspergillus flavus, A. niger | S. littoralis | Bracon hebetor Say | Pest resistance and beneficial attraction | [115] |
| Neotyphodium lolii | Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) | Copidosoma bakeri (Howard) | Negative development of parasitoid | [116] |
| Beauveria bassiana | Aphis gossypii Glover | Chrysoperla carnea, A. colemani | Reductiion of pest and beneficial performances | [117] |
| Nectar and honeydew microbes | ||||
| Metschnikowia gruessii, M. reukaufii | Not studied | Aphidius ervi | Attraction and dispersal of parasitoids | [90] |
| Bacillus strains | Not studied | Aphidius colemani | Attraction of parasitoids | [103] |
| Staphylococcus sciuri | Acyrthosiphon pisum | Episyrphus balteatus Degeer | Attraction and longevity of parasitoids | [102] |
| Insect microbes | ||||
| Still no evidence on both trophic levels | ||||