Genetic Basis Providing Crop Plants Resistance to Phytopathogens

Increasing human population demanding more food resulted in a major need to control plant pathogens. Sustainable management of most common plant diseased causing pathogens relies on biocontrol agents, genetic engineering and microbial volatilomes, which might be fungal or bacterial in origin. Approaches based on -omics tools are utilized by researchers for controlling plant pathogens under resistant breeding programme, which starts from the identification of desired genes in biocontrol agents such as Tricoderma virens, Ampelomyces quisqualis, Coniothyrium minitans etc. Genome sequencing, protoplast fusion and genetic transformation via biotechnological tools also help in controlling plant pathogens. Actual focus of research is on resistant breeding programmes which are currently most popular and represent cost effective measure for developing resistant cultivars/hybrids. This chapter critically reviews information on various genetic methods providing resistance to plants against their associated pathogens.