Plant Protection Science - Latest articles

Flight activity of aphids in Serbia: investigation by water traps placed in sugar beet fields

Olivera Petrović-Obradović, Živko Ćurčić, Željko Milovac, Andja Radonjić

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):185-192 | DOI: 10.17221/130/2022-PPS  

Plant viruses, and aphids as their vectors, are limiting factors in sugar beet production. Viral plant diseases are currently impossible to treat but knowing the flight patterns of aphids can help in reducing the number of potential virus vectors. Monitoring of aphid flight activities in sugar beet fields was done using yellow water traps from April to the end of November. During the two years of investigation, a total of 5514 specimens from 75 different taxa were collected. The highest number of individuals was recorded at the end of May/beginning of June at all localities. This is the period when sugar beet develops intensively, so the risk...

Pyrethroid susceptibility and oxidative detoxification mechanism in Colorado potato beetle and western corn rootworm

Daria Dworzańska, Joanna Zamojska, Paweł Węgorek, Paweł K. Bereś, Sławomir Drzewiecki

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):174-184 | DOI: 10.17221/53/2022-PPS  

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and the western corn rootworm (WCR) are among the world’s most expansive insect pests. The aim of the study was to assess, for the first time in Poland, the levels of susceptibility to deltamethrin and tau-fluvalinate in the WCR and to determine the current status of susceptibility to those active substances in the CPB. In addition, the role of oxidative metabolism in the detoxification of pyrethroids was determined using piperonyl butoxide (PBO). The study found pyrethroid resistance in the CPB populations. The WCR populations exhibited “high susceptibility”, “susceptibility”, “low...

Effects of fungicides and antagonistic marine-derived fungi on rice seedling promotion and rice sheath blight control

Tida Dethoup, Rotchana Klaram, Arom Jantasorn

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):159-173 | DOI: 10.17221/95/2022-PPS  

Fourteen fungicides and three marine-derived fungi were tested for their activities in the promotion of rice seedling development and their efficacy in controlling rice sheath blight disease in two rice varieties, RD43 and KMDL105, under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the rice seeds treated with carbendazim 50%SC and azoxystrobin 25%SC displayed the best promotion of rice growth in root length and shoot height at seven and 14 days in rice var. RD43. Rice seeds from var. KMDL105 treated with thiophanate-methyl 70%WP exhibited significant stimulation of rice seedling growth resulting in the greatest increase in root length and shoot...

Antimicrobial activity and optimization of Aureobasidin A production by Aureobasidium pullulans PA-2 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Liang Cheng, Denggao Yue, Youhai Wei, Haixia Zhu, Hua Weng, Liangzhi Guo, Qingyun Guo

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):145-158 | DOI: 10.17221/173/2021-PPS  

This work aims to separate antimicrobial lipopeptides from fermentation by Aureobasidium pullulans PA-2, and verify its antimicrobial activity and the optimum condition of lipopeptide production. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the lipopeptides with antimicrobial activity was evaluated with the agar well diffusion test. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine optimum conditions for lipopeptides from A. pullulans PA-2. The lipopeptides with antimicrobial activity in the fermentation supernatant of the PA-2 strain was found to be the Aureobasidin A (AbA). In vitro antagonistic...

Comparison of gene expression changes in two wheat varieties with different phenotype to strip rust using RNA-Seq analysis

Congying Yuan^*, Yadi Miao, Huihan Zhang, Shiying Liu, Yaoyao Wang

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):134-144 | DOI: 10.17221/125/2022-PPS  

The fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is an important threat to wheat production because it can cause wheat stripe rust. The present study aimed to identify new stripe rust resistance genes and to provide a theoretical and practical basis for breeding wheat varieties with broad spectrum, stable, and durable resistance. Wheat leaves inoculated with wheat stripe rust fungus Chinese yellow rust 34 were collected at different time points for transcriptomic analysis based on the wheat stripe rust susceptible varieties AVOCET S (AVS) and AVSYr15NIL [near-isogenic line (NIL) derived from AVS]. The results showed that the number...

Molecular diagnosis of red rot of sugarcane in Pakistan and in vitro control of isolated pathogen using rhizobacteria

Zimen Ahmad, Muhammad Asad Farooq, Amama Fatima, Syeda Gul Nisa, Sania Tabassum, Bushra Ismat, Sundus Waseem, Umer Iqbal, Asma Akbar, Urooj Haroon, Hassan Javed Chaudhary, Tauseef Tabassum, Ahmed Z Dewidar, Abdullah Alaklabi, Muhammad Farooq Hussain Munis

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):124-133 | DOI: 10.17221/45/2022-PPS  

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a key cash crop, and its production is influenced by a variety of phytopathogens in different parts of the world. During consecutive field surveys, sugarcane stalks with red rot symptoms were observed in three provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Cane samples with visible symptoms were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Morphological and microscopic observations identified this pathogen as Colletotrichum falcatum. Comparative molecular study of amplified sequences of β-tubulin (Bt) and Actin (ACT) genes showed 100% similarity and ITS sequence...

Endophytic fungi of hazelnut (Corylus avellana)

Rosario Nicoletti, Beata Zimowska

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(2):107-123 | DOI: 10.17221/133/2022-PPS  

Results of a vast research activity carried out worldwide in the last decades have demonstrated that endophytic fungi hold a fundamental role in improving plant fitness based on their aptitudes as growth promoters and/or defensive mutualists. These properties may have applicative perspectives in crop production, particularly for tree species such as hazelnut (Corylus avellana), which is mostly cropped extensively in semi-natural contexts of highland regions throughout the temperate zones. The available data on the occurrence, ecological roles, and applications in biotechnology of endophytic fungi associated with hazelnuts are revised in this...

Morphological and molecular characterization of Neoscytalidium isolates that cause canker and dieback in Eucalyptus and Chinaberry trees in Iraq

Dleen Naji Abdulrahman, Raed A. Haleem

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):92-105 | DOI: 10.17221/82/2022-PPS  

Neoscytalidium Dimidiatum isolates are the most pathogens associated with sooty canker and dieback in the stem and twigs of Eucalyptus and Chinaberry trees in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Young trees showed branch dieback and yellowing leaves. The symptoms were further developed to sooty canker and dieback appeared on the main branch and trunk. N. dimidiatum colonies on potato dextrose agar were dense white at first and became dark gray to black within seven to ten days. Arthric dark brown conidia (6.6x 4.3 µm) were observed in the chain of mycelium. The color of the colonies was white at the beginning, then eventually turned...

Genetic diversity and pathotype profiling of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae isolates from diverse rice growing ecosystems of Karnataka state of India

Adke Raghunandana, Devanna Pramesh, Gururaj Sunkad, Chittaragi Amoghavarsha, Manoj K. Yadav, Umakanta Ngangkham, H.D. Pushpa, M.K. Prasannakumar, B.T. Raghavendra, Harischandra R. Naik, Siddepalli E. Manjunatha, S.T Yenjerappa

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):31-47 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2022-PPS  

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the significant constraints for rice production. A study was carried out to analyze the virulence, genetic diversity, and population structure of Xoo isolates collected from different rice ecosystems of Karnataka, India. The taxonomic identity of all 54 isolates was confirmed using a Xoo-specific PCR assay. The virulence assay on a set of twenty-eight near-isogenic differentials identified nine pathotype groups (KPthX-1 to KPthX-9). Among them, KPthX-6 was highly virulent, whereas KPthx-2 was less virulent. Differentials with...

Endophytic and rhizobacteria functionalities in alleviating drought stress in maize plants

Victor Funso Agunbiade, Olubukola Oluranti Babalola^*

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):1-18 | DOI: 10.17221/61/2022-PPS  

Drought stress is among the significant forms of abiotic stresses that unfavourably affects maize survival as well as the development from germination to maturity. This paper, therefore, reviewed drought stress effects in maize plants and expatiated on the plausible adoptable mitigation measures to employ in curbing these effects as well. Water shortage prompts drought stress that alters the morphological, physiological and biochemical activities in maize plants. The major drought stress implications on the plant’s survival are mostly in the area of altered metabolic functions, including nutrient metabolism, cell membrane integrity, water...

Characterisation of the HbSnRK2 gene family members and revealing specific HbSnRK2.2 functions in the stress resistance of the rubber tree

Yu Zhang, Mingyang Liu, Dong Zhang, Meng Wang, Lifeng Wang

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):59-72 | DOI: 10.17221/48/2022-PPS  

SNF1-related protein kinase (SnRK2) is a critical positive regulatory factor in the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling pathway. However, the roles of the HbSnRK2 gene family members in the rubber tree, especially in response to stress, have not been thoroughly characterised. Here, we cloned six HbSnRK2 genes from the rubber tree. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the HbSnRK2 family genes were divided into three groups. The motifs and intron numbers of HbSnRK2 were conserved. Analysis of cis-regulatory element sequences of all HbSnRK2 genes identified ABRE and TC-rich elements in the prompter of all the HbSnRK2 genes,...

Comparison of the shoot and blossom susceptibility of European and Asian pear cultivars to fire blight across different conditions

Iveta Pánková^*, Václav Krejzar, Simona Buchtová, Radka Krejzarová

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):48-58 | DOI: 10.17221/55/2022-PPS  

The susceptibility of 14 pear cultivars to the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight disease, was evaluated using three different methods of in vivo inoculation – the leaf inoculation method on detached shoots of pear cultivars in a climate chamber, and the terminal shoot and blossom inoculation methods on potted trees of the same pear cultivars in a net house. The results of the artificial inoculations of the European and Asian pear cultivars were compared using the susceptibility score scale, as well as the ANOVA and post hoc methods. The differences among the pear cultivar susceptibility increased...

Detection and molecular identification of a 16SrI group phytoplasma associated with sisal purple leafroll disease

Guihua Wang, Weihuai Wu, Jingen Xi, Helong Chen, Chunping He, Ye Li, Jinlong Zheng, John S. Hu, Kexian Yi

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):19-30 | DOI: 10.17221/90/2022-PPS  

Sisal purple leafroll disease (SPLD) is a destructive disease affecting sisal in China, however, its etiology remains unknown. This disease is characterized by purple margins and rolling and yellowing of the leaves. Recently, phytoplasma was found to be present in SPLD-affected sisal according to PCR assay. To further verify the presence of phytoplasma, determine its association with SPLD and identify the possible pathogenic phytoplasma infecting sisal, 80 symptomatic and 65 asymptomatic sisal samples were collected from the main sisal farms in three Chinese provinces, including Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces, from 2018 to 2021. PCR assays...

Endophytic fungi and their potential in controlling white root disease of cashew

Fitra Parlindo, Suryo Wiyono, Efi Toding Tondok

Plant Protect. Sci., 2023, 59(1):73-91 | DOI: 10.17221/134/2021-PPS  

White root disease is a significant disease of cashew caused by Rigidoporus sp. Five endophytic fungal isolates, namely AR31D (Fusarium proliferatum), AR42D (Penicillium citrinum), BR32C (Trichoderma asperellum), VNTB1 (Chaetomium sp.), and EAGS14 (Curvularia lunata), were assessed as the biocontrol agents against Rigidoporus sp. in vitro and in planta. The research objective was to obtain endophytic fungi that effectively control Rigidoporus sp. and their mechanisms. The in vitro test results showed that all isolates could inhibit Rigidoporus sp. and promote plant...

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