Plant Protection Science - Latest articles
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Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) as a new host of Pityokteines spinidens in the arboretum in Europe
Tomáš Fiala, Jaroslav Holuša
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):301-304 | DOI: 10.17221/203/2024-PPS 
Bark beetle Pityokteines spinidens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is widespread across Europe. We identified this species as a pest of Tsuga canadensis in western Bohemia's Americká zahrada National Nature Monument Arboretum. This discovery suggests that P. spinidens could infest any conifer within the Abietoideae subfamily. Given its status as a known pest of various Abies species, its potential impact on related conifers warrants further attention.
Growth and resistance response of eleven eggplant cultivars to infection by the Javanese root-knot nematode – Meloidogyne javanica under greenhouse conditions
Mostafa Ahmed El-Qurashi, Fahad Al-Yahya, Ali Almasrahi, Adnan Shakeel
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):291-300 | DOI: 10.17221/185/2024-PPS
In Saudi Arabia, root-knot nematodes (RKNs) were found to cause considerable damage to eggplant. These parasites cause significant death of seedlings during nursery production, with infected plants showing the symptoms of chlorosis and wilting, along with the characteristic root galls. Therefore, this work was carried out to find a resistant cultivar of eggplant against RKNs in Saudi Arabia by screening 11 locally available cultivars for two successive seasons. Following Koch's postulates for pathogenicity, RKNs were isolated from infected eggplant, and females were identified morphologically by perineal patterns as Meloidogyne javanica, which...
Comparison of the actual release dates of ascospores of the fungus Venturia inaequalis with those predicted by selected simulation models in an apple orchard in Central Poland
Sylwester Masny, Piotr Sobiczewski
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):278-290 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2024-PPS
The research was conducted in 2014–2017 in a multi-cultivar apple orchard in the Experimental Orchard of the National Institute of Horticultural Research (IO-PIB) in Dąbrowice near Skierniewice. To determine the actual Venturia inaequalis ascospores release dates, the Burkard spore trap installed in a plot of the McIntosh cv. that was not protected against apple scab was used. Monitoring of ascospore releases was carried out annually, starting from the appearance of numerous colouring (maturing) ascospores in the pseudothecia (usually in the second decade of March) and ending at the second half of June, usually about two weeks after the...
MaPep1 and MbPep1, as plant elicitor peptides in banana, confer resistance to banana blood disease caused by Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis
Praphat Kawicha, Ladawan Rattanapolsan, Ratri Boonruangrod, Yube Yamaguchi, Kusavadee Sangdee, Aphidech Sangdee, Thanwanit Thanyasiriwat
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):262-277 | DOI: 10.17221/179/2024-PPS
Peptides play regulatory roles in various plant development and defence processes. They function as molecular messengers that detect threats and trigger defence responses. This study aimed to identify the genes encoding endogenous plant elicitor peptide precursors (PROPEPs) in bananas and their role in inducing resistance to Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis (Rsc). Two precursor genes, MaPROPEP1 and MbPROPEP1, were discovered and predicted to encode the precursor proteins of elicitor peptides, namely, MaPep1 and MbPep1. Both elicitor peptides contained 23 amino acids of the active elicitor peptide, which...
Evidence and characterisation of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis causing bacterial blight of walnut in Montenegro
Jelena Latinović, Nedeljko Latinović, Bogoljub Kandić, Aleksandra Jelušić, Tatjana Popović Milovanović
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):255-261 | DOI: 10.17221/196/2024-PPS
This study represents the first evidence of the bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis (Xaj) on walnut trees in Podgorica (Montenegro). Disease symptoms appeared on leaves in the form of dark, angular leaf spots surrounded by yellow-green haloes and lesions spread across the whole leaf. Isolated bacteria were preliminarily identified using PCR with pathovar-specific primer pair XajF/XajR and further characterised based on multi-locus sequence analysis with nine housekeeping genes (fusA, gapA, gltA, gyrB1, lepA, rpoD, dnaK, fyuA, and gyrB2)....
Influence of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum' on primary and secondary metabolites of apricots
Gabriela Trempetić, Eliška Zezulová, Tomáš Nečas, Petr Šnurkovič, Tomáš Kiss
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):242-254 | DOI: 10.17221/128/2024-PPS
'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum' ('Ca. P. prunorum') is a causative agent of European stone fruit yellows (ESFY), an economically important decline disease of some stone fruit species (Prunus spp.). The present research focused on the influence of 'Ca. P. prunorum' on primary and secondary metabolites in four apricot genotypes consisting of older trees (genotypes Nora, LEM 159, group 1) and younger trees (genotypes H 74 and H 177, group 2). The content of sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose and sorbitol), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity (AC), total soluble proteins (TSPC), mineral...
Mitigation of salinity stress effects on Vicia faba L. growth and productivity using proline and salicylic acid foliar application
Hossam El-Beltagi, Mohamed El-Nady, Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail, Metwaly Mahfouz Salem Metwaly
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):222-241 | DOI: 10.17221/127/2024-PPS
High soil salinity causes a negative impact on plant growth and lowers crop yields. Thus, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA) and proline (Pro), separately and combined, on enhancing salinity tolerance in broad beans. Salinity stress (4.69 ds/m and 6.25 ds/m) significantly reduced plant growth (plant height, leaf area, number of leaf/plant, plant dry weight), chlorophyll pigment content (chlorophyll a, b or total), relative water content, K/Na ratio, seed yield per plant, and N, P, K, and crude protein content in broad bean seeds. Foliar application of Pro and SA, either individually...
The role of seed transmission in the spread of cereal viruses: Global challenges and prevalent threats in Ukraine
Halyna Snihur, Tetiana Shevchenko, Oleksiy Shevchenko, Anhelina Kyrychenko
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(3):201-221 | DOI: 10.17221/51/2025-PPS
The transmission of plant viruses through seed plays a fundamental role in virus spread, persistence, and survival, particularly in economically important crops. Besides its considerable ecological significance, seed transmission influences plant and virus evolution. Virus contamination of the seed also has critical epidemiological implications, especially when combined with subsequent or additional insect vector spread. Plants grown from contaminated seeds serve as primary viral inoculum sources, facilitating the introduction of viruses into new regions and triggering disease outbreaks with substantial economic losses for growers. Changes in environmental...
Determination of resistance improving potentials of cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotypes against cyantraniliprole
Isse Hassan Ali, Utku Yükselbaba
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):191-200 | DOI: 10.17221/112/2023-PPS
Bemisia tabaci is a significant insect pest that causes extensive agricultural damage. The MEAM1 (Middle East-Asia Minor) and MED (Mediterranean) genetic groups of B. tabaci are the most prevalent cryptic species. This study investigated the potential for resistance development in the MED and MEAM1 genetic groups of B. tabaci against cyantraniliprole. Additionally, multiple-resistance development within each genetic group for pyriproxyfen, spirotetramat, and acetamiprid insecticides was determined. To assess the susceptibility of the first-larval stage of B. tabaci, we employed a systemic uptake method with cyantraniliprole. Additionally,...
Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) seasonal activity and association with abiotic factor
Prince Mahore, Nikki Bhardwaj, Pradyumn Singh, Mitesh Makwana, Dheerendra Mahor, Naveen, Neeraj Kumar, Sitaram Seervi, Sonu Sharma
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):183-190 | DOI: 10.17221/3/2024-PPS
The study has been conducted at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Gwalior (M.P.), in the summers of 2021 and 2022. In the summers of 2021 and 2022, the crop was first infested by the shoot and fruit borer on the 10th and 13th standard meteorological week (SMW). The infestation persisted until the 23rd and 24th SMW, respectively. During the first year, the 15th SMW had the highest infestation rate for shoot damage, 15.76%, while the 18th SMW had the highest infestation rate for shoot damage, 15.07%, in the second year. Whereas fruit damage per cent is calculated based on number and...
Phytochemical profile of stem extract of Carthamus oxycantha and identification of herbicidal and antimicrobial constituents
Muhammad Rafiq, Amna Shoaib, Arshad Javaid, Shagufta Perveen, Hafiz Umair Asdullah, Chunsong Cheng
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):172-182 | DOI: 10.17221/75/2024-PPS
The present study was carried out to enlist herbicidal and antimicrobial compounds in the methanolic stem extract of Carthamus oxycantha, a problematic weed of Asteraceae. Methanolic stem extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis that revealed the presence of 150 constituents in the extract. The most abundant compound was Niacin (45.375%) followed by D-ribofuranose, 5-deoxy-5-(methylsulfinyl)-1,2,3-tris-O-(trimethylsilyl)- (14.528%); 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (4.951%); γ-tocopherol (4.638%); hexacosane (4.148%); 3-phenyllactic acid, 2TMS derivative (2.675%); 13-retinoic acid, (Z)-, TMS derivative (2.461%); 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-ethyl-3-imidazoline-1-oxyl...
Comparative evaluation of fungicide effectiveness in controlling Coffee leaf rust in Hawai‘i
Zhening Zhang, Julia A. Coughlin, James K.F. Kam, Zhiqiang Cheng
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):162-171 | DOI: 10.17221/92/2024-PPS
Coffee leaf rust (CLR), Hemileia vastatrix, is a disease that has severely impacted the major coffee growing areas of the world. The discovery of CLR in Hawaii in October 2020 was devastating news to local growers, as it quickly spread to all coffee-growing areas, threatening the second-highest-valued crop in the State. Although the fungicide Priaxor Xemium had been approved as a Section 18 emergency exemption, there was still an urgent need for true systemic fungicides to provide sustained control of the disease. The study's overall objective was to test the efficacy of various systemic fungicides against CLR in field conditions. During the...
Population composition and virulence of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Kazakhstan
Shynbolat Rsaliyev, Aralbek Rsaliyev, Rakhim Urazaliev, Saltanat Dubekova, Akerke Serikbaykyzy
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):152-161 | DOI: 10.17221/16/2024-PPS
In recent years, epidemics of wheat yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) have been observed in major winter wheat-producing regions in Kazakhstan. However, there is currently very little information about the racial composition and virulence of Pst. The global emergence of aggressive and genetically diverse Pst races leads to different seasonal and geographic patterns of the pathogen, making cultivated wheat varieties vulnerable to the pathogen and potentially causing yellow rust epidemics. Three periods with different characteristic dominant Pst races were distinguished in Kazakhstan...
Sustainable medicinal plant production – responses of Lamiaceae plants to organic acid elicitors spraying during environmental stress: A review
Ismail Mahmoud Ali Shahhat, Arbi Guetat, Salma Yousif Sidahmed Elsheik, Medhat Ahmed Abu-Tahon, Abdelrahman Talha Abdelwahab, Marwa Abdelfattah Awad
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):110-151 | DOI: 10.17221/83/2024-PPS
This article provides a review of recent studies on the extent to which the use of organic acid elicitors such as salicylic, jasmonic, humic and ascorbic acids has been successful in alleviating the exposure of Lamiaceae plants to unfavourable environmental conditions such as drought and salinity. Overall, the results concluded all organic acid elicitors enhanced the morphological and physiological characteristics of biochemical and secondary metabolite contents. These improvements have enabled plants of the Lamiaceae family to adapt to environmental stress conditions to some extent and survive, thus achieving sustainability in the production...
Advancements in sensor-based weed management: Navigating the future of weed control
Santhappan Vignesh, Palanisamy Murali Arthanari, Rengabashyam Kalpana, Ranganathan Umarani, Subburamu Karthikeyan, Ponnusamy Janaki
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(2):95-109 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2024-PPS
Controlling weed populations in agricultural land is challenging due to various factors, such as soil conditions, crop type, and environmental conditions. Substantial experience is needed to develop a strategy for minimising pressure from weed infestation. For a relatively longer period, weed control was taken care of using herbicides and mechanical and manual weeding. While herbicides simplify weed control, they pose issues like residual effects and the development of herbicide resistance in weeds, necessitating the deployment of alternate smart weed-management technologies. Lately, smart weeding robots and sensor-based site-specific spraying systems...
LIST OF REVIEWERS 2024
Editorial Office
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1)
Obituary of Assoc. Prof. Ing. Jaroslav Polák, DrSc. (1942–2024)
Ales Lebeda
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):91-94 | DOI: 10.17221/213/2024-PPS
With regret, we have to inform the community of plant pathologists, plant virologists, and plant protection scientists. Assoc. Prof. Jaroslav Polák, a former and long-time Plant Protection Science editorial board member, passed away on May 20, 2024.
Vegetable Brassicas and Related Crucifers
Aleš Lebeda
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):89-90 | DOI: 10.17221/204/2024-PPS
Brassica and related crops are one of the most important and widely growing crops around the world. They have very broad utilization in human activities as fresh and processed food, fodder and forage of animals, condiments and ornamental plants. This group of plants belongs to one of the oldest domesticated crops with very wide geographic distribution and history of growing and human utilization. Brassicas are also very diverse from taxonomical and genetic viewpoint with rather long history of breeding. The First Edition of this book was published by CABI in 2006, this volume received very high evaluation and by reviewers was considered as “an...
Toxicity effect of Ricinus communis methanolic extracts against Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Sadia Manzoor, Rasheed Akbar, Afaq Hussain, Amjad Ali, Brekhna Faheem, Maid Zaman, Abid Farid, Ijaz Hussain, Imtiaz Ali Khan, Kahkashan Perveen, Najat A. Bukhari, Jianfan Sun
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):77-88 | DOI: 10.17221/46/2024-PPS
Bactrocera cucurbitae, commonly known as the melon fruit fly, stands as a formidable threat to global agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of cucurbitaceous crops. The adaptability, high reproductive capacity, and broad host range of B. cucurbitae make it a persistent challenge for growers worldwide. Conventional control methods, often reliant on chemical pesticides, pose environmental and ecological concerns, necessitating the exploration of alternative strategies for sustainable pest management. Invasive plants often exert deleterious effects on ecosystems, and the castor bean plant, Ricinus communis, is no exception....
The potential of volatiles from Brassica juncea seeds against grey mould agent Botrytis cinerea and their effect on storage and sensory quality of spinach leaves
Beata Kowalska, Magdalena Szczech, Maria Grzegorzewska, Anna Wrzodak, Kalina Sikorska-Zimny
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):66-76 | DOI: 10.17221/44/2024-PPS
The potential use of volatile compounds released from milled seeds of mustard (Brassica juncea cv. Malopolska) obtained from three different companies was tested in in vitro and in vivo experiments for their inhibitory effect on Botrytis cinerea growth on agar media and its infection on vegetable leaves of cucumber, bean and spinach. In the experiments with spinach, the effect of volatiles from mustards on the storage and sensory quality of fumigated leaves was evaluated. The antifungal effect of the volatiles depended on the source and dosage of mustard seeds and biofumigation time. The most efficient inhibition of B. cinerea...
Cytospora tristicha (De Not.) Mlčoch comb. nov., a lesser-known pathogen of wild roses
Patrik Mlčoch, Michaela Sedlářová
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):56-65 | DOI: 10.17221/122/2024-PPS
Stem canker of Rosa pendulina, collected in south-eastern Switzerland (canton of Graubünden) in August 2022, was studied in details. The causal agent of the disease was first identified as Valseutypella tristicha (Valsaceae, Diaporthales, Ascomycota) based on microscopic characteristics. The subsequent molecular analysis classified it into the genus Cytospora and indicated that it is identical with C. rosicola, described from China in 2020 based on the molecular data, however, V. tristicha is an older name than C. rosicola, so this has priority. Thus, a new combination of the name is proposed for this fungus.
Mapping and monitoring of weeds using unmanned aircraft systems and remote sensing
Pon Arasan A., S. Radhamani, S. Pazhanivelan, R. Kavitha, R. Raja, R. Kumaraperumal
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):44-55 | DOI: 10.17221/74/2024-PPS
Effective weed management relies on frequent field monitoring, which is difficult to perform in vast areas. Integrating red-green-blue, thermal, hyperspectral, and multispectral sensors with unmanned aircraft systems and artificial intelligence ensures better results in managing the weed menace. Since India depends largely on agriculture, it is still a long way from implementing more advanced weed management methods. Mapping and surveillance of weeds in croplands by employing remote sensing will lead to varied herbicide application rates, thus reducing its overuse. This study reviews the practical application of remote sensing methods and unmanned...
Green guardians: Bacterial endophytes in protecting vegetable crops against pathogens
Sagarika Medari, Krishnan Kalpana, Muthusamy Ramakrishnan, Aravindaram Kandan, Subbiah Ramasamy, Karuppiah Eraivan Arutkani Aiyanathan, Sankarasubramanian Harish, Andithevar Beaulah, Rangaswamy Anandham, Narayanan Manikandaboopathi, Marimuthu Ayyandurai
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):21-43 | DOI: 10.17221/38/2024-PPS
Vegetables are considered as the major source for opportunistic and emerging pathogens due to their diverse microbiome. Utilising bacterial endophytes and other bacterial agents to control a variety of economically important plant diseases is vital for achieving sustainable agriculture. Within internal plant tissues, bacterial endophytes form colonies without apparent injury. These bacteria provide several advantages for plant systems, including the direct stimulation of plant development through the creation of metabolites or phytohormones. Importantly, bacterial endophytes play a dual role by safeguarding their plant host through the biocontrol of...
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification and its limit of detection for diagnostics of plant pathogens
Govindan Muthukumar, Ayyanar Kamalakannan, Irudhayasamy Johnson, Pachamuthu Kamaraj, Iyyamperumal Muthuvel, Shanmugam Varanavasiappan
Plant Protect. Sci., 2025, 61(1):1-20 | DOI: 10.17221/62/2024-PPS
Phytopathology deals with a branch of biology encompassing pathogens that infect plants. Pathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, viroids, and phytoplasmas are notorious and hard to control; preventive measures are important for managing disease as early as possible. Age-old management practices are time-consuming and labour-intensive processes. In the past, nucleic acid-based methods, such as hybridization, amplification, and sequencing, have been used extensively for the preliminary identification of plant pathogens. Recently, PCR-based methods have been widely used for the detection of plant pathogens. However, PCR methods are time-bound and require...
Index of Volume 60
Editorial Department
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):I-III
Rediscovery of tospovirus vector Dictyothrips betae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Slovakia after 72 years – Short Communication
Michaela Mešková, Martina Zvaríková, Rudolf Masarovič, Jozef Balcerčík, Peter Fedor
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):407-410 | DOI: 10.17221/106/2024-PPS
The new record of Dictyothrips betae Uzel, 1895 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) after 72 years in Slovakia is presented. Dictyothrips betae is an important pest and one of the few thrips species known as vectors of dangerous plant tospoviruses, causing severe yield losses to economically important crops worldwide. D. betae was swept from an herbal layer in blown dunes in SW Slovakia.
Identification, classification, and transcriptional analysis of TCP gene family from Scutellaria baicalensis and SbTCP genes response under MeJA and SA treatments
Changying Dong, Purong Zhang, Dan Wang
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):393-406 | DOI: 10.17221/61/2024-PPS
TCP transcription factor is a plant-specific gene family which plays important roles in many developmental control pathways, regulating secondary metabolites and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Nevertheless, this gene family remains unknown in Scutellaria baicalensis. Here, by identifying and analysing all the TCP transcription factor family members based on the transcriptome of S. baicalensis, a total of 19 SbTCP genes were obtained following gene classification, the phylogenetic relationship, conserved domain structure, functional differentiation, and an expression activity analysis. Phylogenetic analysis grouped...
Transcriptomic analysis of melon with different Phelipanche aegyptiaca resistance
Yao Guo, Juntao Yang, Haojie Wang, Junhua Li, Bin Liu, Haozhe Min, Yongbing Zhang, Jiancai Mao
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):380-392 | DOI: 10.17221/54/2024-PPS
To elucidate the genetic factors contributing to melon resistance against Phelipanche aegyptiaca and comprehend the role of differentially resistant materials in responding to changes in P. aegyptiaca parasitisation, we investigated the P. aegyptiaca-resistant line K16 and the susceptible line K27. The parasitism rate of P. aegyptiaca was assessed at 25 days. Results revealed significant differences in parasitisation rates between K16 (15.35%) and K27 (34.2%). We compared inoculated K16 and K27 to their respective controls through transcriptome analysis and contrasted inoculated K16 with inoculated K27. Eight hundred eighteen...
Evaluation of chemical compounds as repellents of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys [Stål])
Ziga Laznik, Matej Podgornik Milosavljević, Stanislav Trdan
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):371-379 | DOI: 10.17221/87/2024-PPS
The brown marmorated stink bug [Halyomorpha halys (Stål)] is an invasive pest species. This polyphagous insect, native to Eastern Asia, threatens various cultivated plant species. Control methods often rely on chemical insecticides, but the decreasing use of such agents has prompted a shift towards preventive measures. As a defence mechanism, natural compounds released by plants have gained attention for their potential deterrent or attractant properties. In this study, we evaluated the response of the brown marmorated stink bug to selected chemical substances, including citronellal, hexanal, nonanol, β-caryophyllene, linalool, ocimene,...
Piriformospora indica incumbers the incidence and growth of Colletotrichum capsici in colonized chilli plants by direct antagonism and activation of phenylpropanoid pathway
Elizabeth T. Jojy, P. Amrutha, Joy Michal Johnson, A. Sajeena, M. Rafeekher, N. V. Radhakrishnan, Ambily Paul
Plant Protect. Sci., 2024, 60(4):354-370 | DOI: 10.17221/119/2023-PPS
Chilli anthracnose, incited by Colletotrichum capsici, is a major disease affecting the quality and quantity of chilli production. Farmers greatly depend on synthetic fungicides for the management of the disease. However, the extensive and non-judicious use of chemical fungicides resulted in the development of fungicide resistance in the pathogen and associated human and animal health risks. Piriformospora indica, a beneficial fungal root endophyte, has been employed as an efficient and safe biocontrol agent for managing bacterial, fungal and viral diseases and enhancing growth and yield. Hence, the present study was carried out to establish...