{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T03:19:44Z","timestamp":1791947984230,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]],"date-time":"2026-01-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768867200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This review explores the innovative approaches in the development of next-generation biopesticides, focusing on molecular and microbial strategies for effective control of fungal plant pathogens. As agricultural practices increasingly seek sustainable solutions to combat plant diseases, biopesticides have emerged as a promising alternative to chemical pesticides, offering reduced environmental impact and enhanced safety for non-target organisms. The review begins by outlining the critical role of fungal pathogens in global agriculture, emphasizing the need for novel control methods that can mitigate their detrimental effects on crop yields. Key molecular strategies discussed include the use of genetic engineering to enhance the efficacy of biopesticides, the application of RNA interference (RNAi) techniques to target specific fungal genes, and the development of bioactive compounds derived from natural sources. Additionally, this review highlights the potential of microbial agents, such as beneficial bacteria and fungi, in establishing biocontrol mechanisms that promote plant health and resilience. Through a comprehensive review of recent studies and advancements in the field, this manuscript illustrates how integrating molecular and microbial strategies can lead to the development of effective biopesticides tailored to combat specific fungal threats. The implications of these strategies for sustainable agriculture are discussed, alongside the challenges and future directions for research and implementation. Ultimately, this review aims to provide a thorough understanding of the transformative potential of next-generation biopesticides in the fight against fungal plant pathogens, contributing to the broader goal of sustainable food production.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants15020312","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]],"date-time":"2026-01-20T17:20:42Z","timestamp":1768929642000},"page":"312","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Next-Generation Biopesticides for the Control of Fungal Plant Pathogens"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1060-0264","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Younes","family":"Rezaee Danesh","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Van Y\u00fcz\u00fcnc\u00fc Y\u0131l University, 65090 Van, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2332-1459","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nurhan","family":"Keskin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Van Y\u00fcz\u00fcnc\u00fc Y\u0131l University, 65090 Van, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1011-7184","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Solmaz","family":"Najafi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Van Y\u00fcz\u00fcnc\u00fc Y\u0131l University, 65090 Van, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8416-4800","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Harlene","family":"Hatterman-Valenti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1679-6125","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ozkan","family":"Kaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102, USA"},{"name":"Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, Republic of T\u00fcrkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 24060 Erzincan, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.1038\/s41559-018-0793-y","article-title":"The global burden of pathogens and pests on major food crops","volume":"3","author":"Savary","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nat. 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