Biological and Molecular Control Tools in Plant Defense

In nature, plants are continuously challenged by biotic stressors such as pathogenic microorganisms and herbivorous pests that often cause important yield reductions in crops. To address global food security issues but also consumer demands for healthier food production, a series of environmentally friendly crop protection strategies need to be employed in modern agriculture. In this chapter, we explore promising opportunities for controlling pests and pathogens of crops on the basis of our current knowledge on molecular, chemical and ecological parameters that determine plant defense. We present evidence about the feasibility of RNA-based molecular tools against a diversity of plant enemies. Moreover, a brief overview of current knowledge on applied aspects of plant defense priming in crop protection is provided in light of our fundamental understanding on mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. We specifically refer to beneficial organisms such as soil microbes and zoophytophagous predators and propose their use as plant vaccination agents, alongside chemicals that could be used to prime plants against future attackers. Endophytic fungi that not only mediate systemic plant resistance against pests or pathogens, but also impact entomopathogenic and plant growth promoting capabilities, are specifically addressed. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps and present future considerations about the use of the proposed biological and molecular control tools in sustainable crop production.