List of Reviewers – 2025

Editorial Office

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1)  

The cultural control of some important pests in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) using companion plantsReview

Monica Novljan, Tanja Bohinc, Stanislav Trdan

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):1-26 | DOI: 10.17221/161/2024-PPS  

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and onion (Allium cepa L.) are two of the most important vegetables in the world, and many insect pests are a problem in their production. Currently, especially in Europe, restrictions on the use of pesticides are increasingly being encouraged, so the need to find and use alternative methods is increasingly urgent. Cultural control of insect pests using companion plants, including cover crops, intercrops, and trap crops, has been proven to help manage these insect pests. Companion plants reduce plant insects primarily by disrupting host-seeking activity, disrupting oviposition, increasing...

Molecular characterisation and screening for сry genes of native Bacillus thuringiensis strains from KazakhstanOriginal Paper

Alnura Tursunova, Ainura Adilkhankyzy, Shyryn Turbekova, Ulzhalgas Abylayeva, Ainaz Balabek, Alibek Uspanov, Bakhytzhan Duisembekov

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):27-35 | DOI: 10.17221/116/2024-PPS  

The current study aimed to characterise indigenous Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains for their potential use in agricultural broad-spectrum pest control. Twenty-nine Bt strains were isolated from soil in southeastern Kazakhstan. All isolates were Gram-positive and formed endospores. Species identification was conducted by sequencing the gyrase B (gyrB) gene. The nucleotide sequences of the amplified gyrB gene regions were compared with those in the NCBI database, confirming that the isolates were native Bt strains with high homology to known Bt strains (99–100%). In addition, the strains were screened for the...

Characterisation of strawberry mild yellow edge virus isolates detected for the first time in PolandOriginal Paper

Mirosława Cieślińska, Ewa Hennig

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):36-46 | DOI: 10.17221/6/2025-PPS  

Strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV) was detected in 116 samples out of 423 collected from strawberry plants grown in commercial and experimental plantations in seven provinces of Poland. The number of samples infected with strawberry mottle virus (SMoV) accounted for 84.6% of the 26 SMYEV-positive samples selected for sequence analysis. The nucleotide sequence similarity of the coat protein (CP) gene of 26 selected SMYEV isolates ranged from 84.8% to 100%, and 81.4–99.5% identity was found between these isolates and 48 SMYEV strains from different countries. The CP region's phylogenetic analysis showed that most isolates from Poland...

Biological activity of Paenibacillus polymyxa GT2 isolate from soil in Japan against anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare in cucumberOriginal Paper

Abdul Wali Haqyar, Masatoshi Ino, Naoto Kimura, Takumi Okido, Junichi Kihara, Makoto Ueno

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):47-57 | DOI: 10.17221/104/2024-PPS  

Cucumber anthracnose is a destructive fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare. Common control strategies include chemical fungicides. However, this can lead to the development of pathogenic resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to identify natural compounds or microorganisms to develop new chemicals and the biological control of fungal pathogens. Isolate GT2, a bacterial isolate from soil samples collected in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, significantly inhibited in vitro mycelial growth and conidial germination of C. orbiculare, indicating a fungicidal effect against this pathogen. Furthermore, anthracnose lesion...

Isolation and characterisation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi associated with avocado plants showing dieback symptoms in IndonesiaOriginal Paper

Riska, Tri Budiyanti, Jumjunidang Jumjunidang, Sri Hadiati, Raden Heru Praptana, Mizu Istianto, Nurmansyah Nurmansyah, Herwita Idris

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):58-70 | DOI: 10.17221/139/2024-PPS  

The avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a high value fruit crop in Indonesia. This exotic commodity is affected by dieback disease, an unrecorded disease in the country that threatens the production. The objectives of the present study were to characterise the pathogen and culturable non-pathogenic fungi associated with the dieback disease of avocado plants. Fungal isolates were collected from branches of avocados showing dieback symptom in the Standard and Instrument Tropical Fruit Applied Institute (SITFAI) experimental orchards during 2022–2023. A total of 17 fungal isolates selected from 73 fungal isolates isolated from three location...

Occurrence of the white cochineal Parlatoria blanchardi in the fur of the black rat and potential risks for its spread to the date palm standsOriginal Paper

Randa Milk, Yasmina Kherbouche, Salim Meddour, Abdallah Aouadi, Makhlouf Sekour, Khawaja G. Rasool, Abdulrahman Saad Aldawood

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):71-78 | DOI: 10.17221/156/2024-PPS  

The current study presents the first documented interaction between the date palm scale insect (Parlatoria blanchardi) and the black rats (Rattus rattus). For a year, this study investigated whether R. rattus could serve as a means of phoresy for the survival of P. blanchardi and the potential risks associated with its spread to date palm stands. Our research revealed a prevalence rate of P. blanchardi on R. rattus of 5.79% during the year, while a higher rate of 9.33% was observed during a specific five-month period. The mean infestation intensity was 3.39 parasites/rat during these five months. Statistical...

Allelopathic potential of Turnera subulata leaf extract on choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) via untargeted metabolomicsOriginal Paper

Nor Atirah Mohd Aridi, Nornasuha Yusoff, Muhd Arif Shaffiq Sahrir, Kamalrul Azlan Azizan

Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(1):79-92 | DOI: 10.17221/148/2024-PPS  

Allelopathic plants release phytotoxic compounds that contribute to their invasiveness by suppressing nearby species. However, it remains unclear which exact mode of action (MOA) underlies the allelopathy. This study explores the allelopathic mechanisms of Turnera subulata on the recipient indicator plant choy sum using a metabolomics approach. Briefly, T. subulata leaf aqueous extracts (LAEs) at different concentrations (0.0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 50.0, and 100.0 mg/mL) were sprayed at 100 mL/m² on choy sum seedlings at the two to three leaf stage. After 21 days, the Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values and photosynthetic...