Potential of biological control organisms as a source of antifungal compounds for agrochemical and pharmaceutical product development

In many cases, the mode of action of micro‐organisms with biological control activity has been found to be the production of metabolites with biocidal activity. Thus, such organisms offer great potential as a source of novel lead compounds for agrochemical and pharmaceutical product development. A range of biological control agents is being developed and out of this research has come several natural products which have been considered for further development. Two examples discussed in some detail are a novel pyridone with fungicidal activity produced by Trichoderma harzianum and a novel metabolite of Bacillus subtilis which has a high level of broad‐spectrum fungicidal activity.