Application of molecular biotechnology to manage biotic stress affecting crop enhancement and sustainable agriculture

Abstract The application of biological control agents for the management of plant pathogens and pests requires sustainable methods that can increase the global rates of food production and food safety. This strategy has contributed to minimizing various detrimental effects of agrochemicals that not only contaminate our environment, but also present many potential health hazards as well as contributing to climate change. Recent advancement in biotechnology have led to the isolation of novel microorganisms, characterization of their gene products and subsequent cloning in plants with a view to increasing their tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition to improving intimate interactions between microbes and plants, these technological advancements have also allowed manipulation of modes of action of different biological control agents toward enhancing their biocontrol potentials. Therefore, this review emphasizes already existing and recent advancements in molecular techniques that have been adopted in the management of plant diseases and pests for enhanced food security and improved agricultural productivity for providing safe food and a healthy environment.