Which potential of service plants for ‘multi-pest’ regulation in agroecosystems? An integrative conceptual framework highlighting complementarities in mechanisms and traits

International audience; Alternatives to synthetic pesticide use are required to increase the sustainability of crop protection strategies. Identifying technical options based on the biological regulation of pests (pathogens, animal pests and weeds) is a promising and complex challenge. Among the options to be developed are ‘service plants’, also called ‘cover plants’, ‘companion plants’ or ‘biocontrol plants’. The principle is to sow these plants, either in association or in rotation with cash crops, to provide different ecosystem services, among which pest regulation. Past studies demonstrated the usefulness of service plants for regulating one category of pest, i.e. either pathogens, anim…