Enhancing Plant Disease Resistance: Insights from Biocontrol Agent Strategies

Abstract

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to agricultural production due to their ability to cause diseases with substantial economic and environmental consequences. Effective management of plant pathogens is crucial for ensuring global food security and sustainability in agriculture. Biocontrol agents (BCAs) offer eco-friendly alternatives to conventional pesticides, harnessing the beneficial effects of symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes. BCAs operate through two primary mechanisms: biofertilization, where microorganisms enhance mineral availability, or by outcompeting the pathogens. The manipulation of plant microbiomes presents a promising avenue for achieving sustainable agriculture by improving nutrient uptake and disease resistance. This review comprehensively evaluates various strategies BCAs employ for plant pathogen management. These strategies encompass competition for resources and the production of antimicrobial compounds that inhibit pathogen growth. Additionally, BCAs modulate plant hormone levels, enhancing plant defence against pathogens and inducing systemic resistance mechanisms, priming plants for future pathogen attacks. Emerging techniques, such as the utilization of viruses and RNA interference, are explored for their potential to enhance BCA efficacy within integrated pest management frameworks. By leveraging viral pathogens and RNA molecules, BCAs can precisely target specific pathogens, reducing collateral damage to beneficial organisms. Implementing BCA-based pest management strategies diminishes the reliance on synthetic insecticides, mitigating ecological repercussions associated with chemical use. Integrated pest management practices fostered by BCAs promote long-term agricultural resilience, ensuring the robustness and efficiency of farming yields while minimizing environmental degradation.