Induced Defenses by Nonpathogenic Fungi Against Fungal Plant Diseases

• It is important to select a cultivar with a higher level of innate resistance against pathogens• Non-pathogenic microbes can elevate innate resistance (hence called induced resistance) upregulating the expression of defense-related genes.• The susceptible cultivars can also be cultivated accompanied by resistance inducer applications.• Specific formulations of resistance inducers can be developed for keeping the nonpathogenic microbes viable for longer periods.• Non-pathogenic microbes produce bioactive metabolites, which can be purified and applied to the crop plants instead of intact microbes. • The effect of bioactive compounds of Penicillium oxalicum is synergistic to control the disease. • Bioactive compounds have the tendency to elevate molecular, enzymatic, biochemical, and physical defenses at the same time in all tomato cultivars.• There is always a very sophisticated balance among plant defense pathways which is reharmonized by the bioactive compound applications, and the transformation brings a new balance of defense pathways to keep the plants protected against pathogens.