Antibiosis, host plant resistance

If a plant deters feeding by an Insect, the mechanism of resistance may be classified as antlxenosls or antibiosis. The critical question is whether the Insect is completely prevented from feeding, thus starving to death (antibiosis), or would eventually feed on that plant when given no choice (antlxenosls). Since the answers to such questions are not always known, this discussion will deal with the factors affecting an insect s behavior in the selection of a host plant, with emphasis on behavior. 

Compost is rich in humic substances [25] and beneficial microorganisms [26]. The addition of compost to soil affects disease incidence by means of antagonistic mechanisms [27]. Biological control, based on competition, antibiosis, hyperparasitism and induced systemic resistance in the host plant, have been described for compost-amended substrates [28]. Compost improves the number and functions of nitrogen fixers and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae [29], which have positive effects on the physical properties of soil [30] and improves the organic matter content, contrasting soil desertification [31]. 

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