Molecular Mechanisms Shaping Biological Plant Protection

The field of plant protection is facing urgent challenges arising from the global demand for sustainable agricultural practices and the mounting drawbacks of chemical pesticides. Biological plant protection refers to the use of living organisms—such as beneficial microorganisms, natural predators, or ecological processes—to safeguard plants from diseases and pests. Unlike chemical protection, which typically relies on the application of synthetic or naturally derived compounds to control plant pathogens, biological plant protection emphasizes harnessing or enhancing natural biological interactions to provide effective and environmentally friendly crop defense. This distinction is crucial, as the efficacy and specificity of biological approaches hinge on complex molecular and ecological mechanisms distinct from those of chemical control agents.The current landscape of research highlights significant advances in unraveling the molecular bases by which beneficial microorganisms operate—suppressing pathogens, interfering with pathogen signaling pathways, and stimulating intrinsic plant immune responses. Recent studies have revealed molecular strategies such as disruption of quorum sensing, secretion of antimicrobial compounds, and modulation of plant metabolic and signaling pathways. However, challenges remain in translating these insights into consistent, reliable biocontrol applications due to the diversity of crops, pathogens, and environmental conditions. There are ongoing debates regarding the compatibility of different microbial strains, the stability of introduced consortia, and the predictability of plant responses. Addressing these gaps requires a deepened molecular perspective to identify new targets, overcome biological constraints, and optimize the selection and combination of biocontrol agents.This Research Topic aims to advance the molecular understanding of biological plant protection by collecting research on the mechanisms that underlie the activity of beneficial organisms, identifying molecular targets in pathogens, and uncovering constraints that limit the application and reliability of biocontrol strategies. The objective is to support the development of more precise, effective, and ecologically sound tools for plant protection by gaining insights into the complex molecular dialogues between plants, pathogens, and beneficial microbes.To gather further insights in the boundaries of molecular aspects of biological plant protection, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Molecular mechanisms of beneficial microorganisms in disease control- Direct suppression of pathogens by biocontrol agents- Inhibition of disease development at the molecular level- Enhancement of plant resistance to pathogen invasion- Identification of molecular targets in plant pathogens for biocontrol- Characterization of virulence factors critical for disease- Regulatory mechanisms controlling pathogenicity and virulence- Molecular strategies used by pathogens for plant invasion- Molecular interactions between biocontrol agents and host plants- Plant molecular responses to microbial stimulation- Mechanisms of microbe–host communication- Host metabolic changes induced by beneficial or pathogenic microorganismsWe invite original research, reviews, perspectives, and methods articles that contribute to the molecular-level understanding of biological plant protection and foster the development of sustainable crop defense strategies. Topic editors: Tomasz Mikołaj Maciąg, Monika Kałużna, Ahmed Abdelkhalek Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77511/molecular-mechanisms-shaping-biological-plant-protection