Recent Advances in the Comprehension of Molecular and Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Yeast Biocontrol Efficacy Against Fungal Pathogens in Agriculture.

Recent advances in biotechnologies have enabled scientists to uncover biological processes across multiple research fields. Still, the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the biological control efficacy of yeast biocontrol agents (YBCAs) against fungal plant pathogens remain incompletely elucidated. This review focuses on recent insights into the regulatory bases and molecular interplay underlying successful disease control by YBCAs. It provides a detailed description of core antagonistic molecular mechanisms-nutrient and iron competition, mycoparasitism via cell wall degradation, antifungal compounds production, oxidative stress resistance, biofilm formation and colonization, and induction of the host defense responses-and integrates genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic evidence to elucidate each mechanism. Further, how genetic engineering-based approaches that leverage omics data and functional genetics can help overcoming obstacles to translate YBCAs efficacy from laboratory conditions to the field are also discussed. Finally, the use of the CRISPR-Cas technology is recommended to better exploit how master transcription factors coordinate multiple mechanisms simultaneously; these factors are crucial for the synergistic antifungal effect, which is critical for developing highly effective YBCAs. Ultimately, the mechanism-based perspective provides a unified conceptual framework for understanding YBCAs efficacy and can guide the rational design of next-generation biocontrol agents for sustainable agriculture.