Plant Protection Science, 2026 (vol. 62), issue 2
Interaction of seaweed metabolites with plants to enhance protection against biotic and abiotic stressesReview
Bibi Aida, Deepak Kasote, Jisun Hyunsook Lee
Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(2):93-145 
Biotic and abiotic stresses severely compromise economically important food crops' nutritional quality, growth, and yield. Conversely, the conventional reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides has generated substantial environmental and health risks, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. Seaweeds are rich sources of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites, and also promising natural biostimulants for enhancing plant resilience and productivity. Specific seaweed-derived metabolites function as molecular elicitors, mimicking pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activating multi-layered plant defence mechanisms....
An investigation of the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in Cicadomorpha specimens collected in different habitats in PolandOriginal Paper
Monika Ka³u¿na, Gra¿yna Soika, Wojciech Warabieda
Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(2):146-162
A quarantine organism, the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), is a xylem-inhabiting, vector-transmitted, Gram-negative, and very slow-growing bacterium in the Lysobacteraceae (earlier Xanthomonadaceae) family. The spreading of X. fastidiosa over long distances occurs mainly via import/export human-mediated transportation of mainly latently or symptomatically infected plant material. Short-distance distribution is usually by xylem sap-feeding insects. Until now, the presence of X. fastidiosa has not been reported or studied in Poland. During our study, over 500 individuals from the four families: Cicadellidae,...
Effects of aqueous extracts of Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) and insecticides on life history traits of Chaitophorus leucomelas (Insecta: Aphididae)Original Paper
Fatma Zohra Tchaker, Zahr-Eddine Djazouli, İsmail Karaca
Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(2):163-176
Methods used to control insect pests have been mainly chemical. Given the irritations associated with the use of pesticides, a search for alternatives is required, particularly through the use of plant extracts. The present study focused on comparing the insecticidal power of the aqueous extracts of the whole plant Dittrichia viscosa (commonly known as false yellowhead), the aqueous extract ratio of D. viscosa, and the bio-adjuvant Silene fuscata (1 : 1), as well as the synthetic pesticides Thiamethoxam/Lambda-cyhalothrin. Abundance, fecundity, demographic parameters, and biochemical parameters (lipid-glucidic...
Azadirachtin as a sustainable tool for zero pesticide residue production: Residue dissipation in open-field tomato productionOriginal Paper
Tahseen Chikte, Václav Psota, Michal Kum¹ta, Tomá¹ Kopta
Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(2):177-187
The growing demand for vegetables free from pesticide residues has fuelled the search for sustainable pest management solutions. This study assessed the efficacy of azadirachtin, a neem-derived biopesticide, in achieving no detectable pesticide residues in tomato production under open-field conditions. The experiment, conducted from April to September 2024, included a systematic application and residue analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The results showed that azadirachtin degraded rapidly, with residual levels in leaves, green fruits, and mature fruits falling below the detection threshold (0.01 mg/kg) after 8–10...
Diversity and Geography of Cultivated PlantsBook Review
Ale¹ Lebeda
Plant Protect. Sci., 2026, 62(2):188-189
Editor-in-Chief of this book Karl Hammer, emeritus professor at Kassel University (Germany), is a leading scientist in plant genetic resources (PGR) and agrobiodiversity. His research has focused on taxonomy, plant domestication, ecology, biogeography, conservation and exploitation of PGR in plant breeding. He also performed many studies and conducted missions around the globe. His life activities, knowledge and experience created an excellent background for this book. The book involves a close collaboration with two other editors, Dr. M.Á.E Pérez (Cuba) and Prof. C. Long (China), as well as eleven additional contributors from nine countries. The book...