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@article{184387,
        author = {DR PADALA THIRUPATHI and DR TIRUKOVELA SRINIVAS and ROUTHU RADHAKRISHNA and DR.MD.THAHER HUSSAIN and DR.KIRANMAI KAMADRI},
        title = {Biocontrol Agents and Molecular Tools: Integrated Biotechnological Approaches for Plant Health – A Review},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {4},
        pages = {1350-1355},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=184387},
        abstract = {The increasing burden of microbial diseases in crops poses a significant threat to global food security, agricultural sustainability, and ecosystem health. Traditional methods of disease control, including chemical pesticides and conventional breeding, often fall short due to their limitations such as environmental toxicity, emergence of resistant pathogen strains, and lengthy breeding cycles. In this context, integrated biotechnological approaches that combine biocontrol agents (BCAs) and molecular tools offer promising and sustainable alternatives for enhancing plant health and managing microbial diseases. Biocontrol agents—including beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microbial consortia—play a crucial role in suppressing plant pathogens through mechanisms like competition, antibiosis, parasitism, and induction of systemic resistance. These natural antagonists can be optimized and applied through advanced biotechnological techniques to increase their efficacy, stability, and target specificity. Simultaneously, molecular tools such as CRISPR-Cas gene editing, RNA interference (RNAi), marker-assisted selection, transgenic approaches, and omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) have revolutionized our ability to decode plant-pathogen interactions, identify disease-resistance genes, and engineer pathogen-resistant crops. The integration of BCAs with molecular tools enables the development of robust, multi-layered defense systems in plants—offering both prophylactic and therapeutic protection. This paper explores the synergy between biocontrol strategies and molecular interventions, highlighting recent advances, case studies, and future prospects. The adoption of such integrated biotechnological solutions not only minimizes chemical dependency but also enhances crop productivity and resilience in the face of emerging pathogens and climate challenges. Emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and precision, this approach paves the way for next-generation plant protection strategies aligned with the goals of sustainable agriculture and global food security.},
        keywords = {Food Security, RNAi, CRISPR-Cas gene editing, Biocontrol agents, Agriculture Sustainability, Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, Biotechnolgical Solutions.},
        month = {September},
        }