Sustainable management of fungal diseases by new biological control agents and natural compounds for healthy 1 and safe wheat production in Southern Italy

Wheat cultivation in Apulia, Southern Italy, plays a crucial role in Italian agriculture. Over the last few years, wheat crops have suffered a decrease due to problems related to climate change, such as lack of rainfalls, prolonged periods of drought, and increasing average temperatures. These factors have significantly affected the production and quality of cereals. The use of fungicides and synthetic fertilizers has impoverished the fertility and natural repressiveness of soils. For these reasons, farmers are required by the European Community to preserve soil health through conservation practices such as no-tillage and eco-friendly control means. This study aims to highlight the high presence of mycotoxin-producing fungi on both wheat kernels for human consumption and on tilled and un-tilled soil. The experiments carried out in laboratory, greenhouse and field proved that the microbiomes inside tilled and un-tilled soil are significantly rich in mycotoxin-producing fungi ( Alternaria , Aspergillus , and Fusarium species). A Streptomyces albidoflavus strain (CARA17), two plant waste products (bergamot and pomegranate), a resistance inducer, and four fungicides were able to reduce the fungal pathogens on plant tissues and kernels of wheat plants produced in greenhouse. The experiment performed in open field, by the resistance inducer, allowed us to demonstrate that the mycotoxin-producing fungi were significantly controlled in both un-tilled and tilled crops, and the yields and the quality of kernels were enhanced. This approach mitigates mycotoxicological risks for humans and livestock, in line with the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals requesting all European Countries to transition towards a sustainable development model.