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 basis and molecular interplay underlying successful disease control of YBCAs. It provides a detailed description of core antagonistic molecular mechanisms-nutrient and iron competition, mycoparasitism via cell wall degradation, antifungal compound production, oxidative stress resistance, biofilm formation and colonization, and induction of the host defense response-and integrates genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic evidence to elucidate each mechanism. Further, how engineering-based approaches that leverage omics data and functional genetics can overcome obstacles to effectively transferring YBCA effectiveness from laboratory conditions to the field was also discussed. Finally, greater use of CRISPR-Cas technology is recommended to understand better 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 YBCA efficacy and guides the rational design of next-generation biocontrol agents for sustainable agriculture.