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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 of plants of this family. It can be recommended to use salicylic acid in concentrations 0.5–2.5 mM, and it should not exceed it so as not to cause poisoning and disruption of the vital and physiological processes within the plant. In contrast, these plants have limited studies on the relationship between jasmonic acid/ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid. Since vitamins such as ascorbic acid are essential for plant metabolism and growth regulation, their effect on these plants remains unstudied at concentrations 2–10 mM under different abiotic stresses. Further research is needed to understand the impact of Nano-SA, JA, HA, ASA, and citric acid on Lamiaceae plants under various environmental stress conditions. Limited studies exist on the relationship between jasmonate/humic acid and Lamiaceae plants under abiotic stress. The Lamiaceae family needs more studies on adaptation to various environmental conditions and the toxicity of stimulants used to confront these conditions. This research contributes to improving agricultural practices in challenging environmental regions.

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 the plant's natural enemies, or luring the pests to alternative food sources. This review outlines successful examples from around the world of the use of companion crops in controlling insect pests, focusing on the main pests of cabbage and onions in Europe. Details regarding the working mechanism of each of the three companion plants are discussed further in this article. We concluded that these companion plant tree forms effectively reduce the number of generalist and specialist plant pests attacking cabbage and onion.

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. This review aims to capture recent literature on the biological efficacy of seaweed extracts and their constituent metabolites, such as polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids, against diverse biotic stressors (e.g., bacteria, viruses, oomycetes, fungi (ascomycetes and basidiomycetes), nematodes, and herbivorous insect pests) and abiotic stressors (such as salinity, drought, extreme temperatures, and heavy metals). The biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms by which seaweed-derived bioactive compounds modulate plant defence responses and stress tolerance pathways are also discussed in detail. In conclusion, seaweed extracts and derived metabolites show promising stress-type-specific effects against biotic and abiotic stresses through diverse mechanisms. However, field validation, dosage optimisation, and the discovery of novel bioactives are essential to harnessing their potential fully in sustainable agriculture.

The herbicidally active Botrytis strain HZ-011 was isolated from naturally infected leaves of Rumex patientia L., and previous studies found that strain HZ-011 exhibits highly effective herbicidal effects against the broadleaf weeds Amaranthus retroflexus L., Elsholtzia densa Benth, Malva crispa, and Chenopodium album L. In this study, the active components of strain HZ-011 were isolated, purified, and structurally characterised using silica gel column chromatography, thin-layer chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The extraction test was carried out using four organic solvents with different polarities, and ethyl acetate was ultimately used as the extractant for the bulk preparation of the crude product of the active substances. Thin-layer chromatography yielded 10 different fractions and 26 components, and components B₃ and E₁ showed pathogenic effects on C. album. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of compound components B₃ and E₁ yielded three fractions with larger signal values and peak areas, and raw measurements of them revealed that component 3 was active. By analysing and comparing the spectral data of component 3 from ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-MNR, ESIMS, and EIMS, component 3 was identified as dibutyl phthalate. The activity of the individual compounds was verified. The results of this study lay a theoretical foundation for the discovery and exploration of lead compounds. They will also provide a theoretical basis for developing this strain into a microbially-derived herbicide.

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 clustered within group I (type D74). In contrast, Talis and 3233CL isolates represented group III (type MY18), and the San isolate was clustered in group V (type ABY1-01). Recombination analysis of the CP gene sequences detected two possible recombination events. One was noticed in the Argentinian strain 53, which formed group III with isolates from Chile, and Polish isolates Talis and 3233CL. Another was identified in the Chinese strain sy02 sequence with evidence of the same recombination event in Canadian strains, and the Polish isolate San (V group). Leaf epinasty, mottling, and yellowing of the young leaves and dieback of the older leaves were observed on Fragaria vesca 'Alpine' and 'EMC' indicator plants grafted with leaves of strawberry plants co-infected with SMYEV and SMoV. A single infection with SMYEV induced milder symptoms based on these indicators. 

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 tests showed that the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AbA against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The optimal fermentation conditions were: inoculum size 6.8 % (v/v)(OD₆₀₀=0.25), rotation speed 216 rpm, culture temperature 26 ℃, liquid volume 125 mL and initial pH7. Under this condition, predicting yield of the antimicrobial lipopeptides by the model was 940 mg/L, observed yield 920 mg/L, which was 51 % more than that of before optimization (610 mg/L).

The floral industry grapples with challenges like changing climatic scenarios, differences in market trends, rising costs, and severe losses posed by insect pests. The management of dipteran pests encompassing diverse species, such as leaf miners, midges, flies, and mosquitoes, has emerged as an obligate adversary, inflicting substantial economic losses in the cut and loose flower industry. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, this paper delves into the diverse array of dipteran species of leaf miners and midges, their life cycles, distribution, host range, damaging symptoms, insecticide resistance, and the management strategies practised to date. Furthermore, this critique underscores the urgent need for innovative approaches and integrated pest management techniques to mitigate the escalating menace of dipteran pests. By elucidating the multifaceted challenges and proposing strategic interventions, this critique aims to foster dialogue and inspire concerted action among researchers, stakeholders, and scholars to safeguard the sustainability and profitability of the floral industry.

In 2024, the journal Plant Protection Science (PPS) completes 60 years of publication (1965–2024). Its roots extend back to the year 1921. In recent years, PPS has developed into an international scientific journal focused on all aspects of plant protection science, published exclusively in English, and with an international editorial board. The publisher is the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), celebrating its 100th anniversary (1924–2024). PPS is one of eleven agricultural journals published by CAAS. On its 50th anniversary, PPS published a detailed overview of its history and development. This latest critical review summarises developments during the last ten years; however, in special cases, also with a longer-term perspective. During the last decade, PPS has made impressive progress and is now among the world's key scientific journals. Recently, the journal has been added to the indexing and abstracts of many international databases, e.g. BIOSIS Previews, SCOPUS and Web of Science. In 2014, PPS had an impact factor of 0.597, but during the last few years, PPS's IF has ranged between 1.3 and 1.4 (for 2023, IF = 1.7), with the possibility of further increase. Each year, PPS is published quarterly, with a total of around 40 papers (original papers, reviews, short communications, biographical notices, and book reviews). Per year, about 70–80% of papers by authors/co-authors from abroad are published (Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Oceania). In the final part of this presentation, we describe some recent achievements and discuss key topics related to PPS's future development.

This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of stem rust tolerance in commercial wheat varieties from Kazakhstan and Russia, including spring and winter varieties. Field trials were conducted to compare yield and agronomic traits between stem rust-inoculated and fungicide-treated plots, providing a practical framework for assessing tolerance. Key indicators such as disease severity, area under the disease progress curve, thousand kernel weight, and the stress tolerance index were evaluated to gauge variety resilience under stress. Significant variations in tolerance were observed, with varieties such as 'Pamyat' 47', 'Nadezhda', 'Lyubava 5', 'Tselinnaya 3s', 'Severyanka', 'Egemen-20', 'Zhemchuzhina Povolzh'ya', 'Dimash', 'Serke' and 'Korona' maintaining yield potential despite high disease pressure. Correlations revealed that traits such as flag leaf area, vegetative period, and plant height were associated with greater tolerance, highlighting their potential in breeding. With the expected increase in stem rust outbreaks due to climate change and the evolving virulence of stem rust pathogens, these findings emphasise the need for breeding programs incorporating resistance and tolerance, offering a sustainable alternative to fungicide use. This study provides critical insights for breeders and plant pathologists seeking to enhance wheat resilience in regions prone to rust epidemics.

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 coffee growing season for two years, various fungicides were tested on two farms in the Kona district of Hawaii. Treated trees showed an 84% reduction in CLR incidence compared to untreated trees in Year 1 and a 79% reduction in Year 2 by the end of the study. Treated trees also had 12% and 38% more total leaves per branch than untreated trees in Years 1 and 2, respectively. All fungicide treatments provided excellent or good control of CLR compared to the untreated control under the climate of Hawaii.

From 1967 to 1995, the flight activity of 25 monovoltine species of moths (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera) was monitored via a light trap located in Prague (50.09 N, 14.30 E). For each species, the day when half of the individuals were caught (peak of flight activity, PFA) was specified each year. This study addresses a method of predicting the calendar date of the PFA via thermal time. We determined a base temperature of +6 °C, at which the differences between the predicted and actual dates of the PFA were minimal. For each species and each year, the sum of the degree days exceeding the base temperature from January 1 to the date of the PFA (SumT) was determined, and the average SumT throughout the study was calculated. Each year, the predicted date of the PFA is the date when the average SumT was achieved. Sixty-five percent of the predicted PFA dates fell within ±5 days of the actual date of the PFA. Shifts in the magnitude and direction of the difference between the actual and predicted PFAs affecting concurrently all species were caused by the thermal conditions of the year.

The ability of Burkholderia GanoEB2 formulated in two different bioorganic powders as carriers - bioorganic empty fruit bunch (BEFB) and real strong bioorganic fertilizer (RSBF), and the efficacies of Burkholderia GanoEB2 in suppressing Ganoderma boninense infection in oil palm seedlings were determined. Results showed that the highest reduction in disease incidence (DI, 18.2%), severity of foliar symptoms (SFS, 26.6%), and disease severity foliar index (DSFI, 27.7%) was achieved by the seedlings treated with RSBF containing Burkholderia GanoEB2 compared to the seedlings treated with BEFB containing Burkholderia GanoEB2 (36.4% DI, 33.4% SFS, and 31.8% DSFI). Untreated seedlings (as control) had 100.0% DI, 90.4% SFS, and 87.5% DSFI. The disease was reduced by as much as 85.3% for seedlings treated with RSBF and by 70.5% for seedlings treated with BEFB. The formulated bioorganics containing Burkholderia GanoEB2 were proven to suppress Ganoderma disease in oil palm.

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 biomarkers) of the winter phenotype of the black poplar leaf aphid Chaitophorus leucomelas were considered variables to assess the effectiveness of different approaches. The results show a strong effect of the aqueous extracts of D. viscosa (A.E. Plant) on abundance, with pronounced insecticidal activity from the aqueous extract ratio (A.E. Ratio) (P < 0.05). The lipid and carbohydrate energy of sexuparae undergo significant changes depending on the products used, with a disturbing effect of the synthetic product compared to aqueous extracts (P < 0.05). Fecundity shows a remarkable disturbance under the action of the active ingredient compared to the extracts. The results confirm that the products applied cause a disturbance in the growth rate (r_m) and net reproductive rate (R₀) of sexuparae, with the chemical treatment having the strongest effect (P < 0.05). The full dose of the active ingredient causes remarkable disturbances in the multiplication rate (λ) and the mean generation time (T) of the sexuparae compared to the other applied molecules. Some stability is reported for the doubling time (DT) of treated females compared to the control ones.

The population structure of Phytophthora capsici among asexual and sexual progenies was analyzed using ISSR. Thirty asexual progenies of one parent and three sexual populations were assayed for genetic diversity using 5 ISSR primers and DNA from 120 offspring of P. capsici was amplified. In total, 71 reproducible ISSR fragments were obtained, of which 100% were polymorphic, revealing high polymorphism among the isolates. Among them, the percentages of polymorphism of sexual and asexual progeny isolates were 100.00 and 77.46%, respectively. Genetic similarity coefficients among all the isolates ranged from 0.54 to 0.73. The sexual offspring population showed much more variability than the asexual offspring population with 76.26% variability attributed to diversity within populations as compared with 23.74% among populations. This research reveals that the sexual progeny population of P. capsici contributes more genetic diversity than that of asexual progeny population.

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 pathogens and induction of the plant's innate immune system. This review offers a methodical and inclusive examination of the current state of endophytic diversity of bacteria, their methods of plant colonisation and their potential functions as protective agents against plant diseases. The review concludes by proposing diverse effective strategies for applying endophytic bacteria as a biological agent aiming to safeguard vegetable crop plants and enhancing the resilience of agricultural products.

Pyrenophora teres is a pathogen causing a net blotch disease in cultivated barley, which is present worldwide and can thus significantly reduce barley yields. This fungus also infects wild barley and other plants of the Hordeum genus, as well as barley grass, wheat, oats and plants from various genera, including Agropyron, Bromus, Elymus, Hordelymus and Stipa. Based on the symptoms it causes on the infected barley plants, the pathogen can be divided into two forms: P. teres f. teres, which causes net-like symptoms, and P. teres f. maculata, which causes blotchy symptoms. Infected seeds, stubble and plant debris, and volunteer and weed plants represent primary sources of pathogen inoculum. During the growing season, the pathogen enters a sexual stage, developing pseudothecia with asci and ascospores. This is followed by an asexual stage, during which conidiophores with conidia are formed. The conidial (anamorphic) stage is much more common, whereby conidia is a source of inoculum for secondary infection during the barley growing season. The first symptoms appear at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, often during the tilling phase. The most characteristic symptoms form on barley leaves. Frequently, symptoms of the net form can be mistaken for other diseases occurring on barley, making molecular analysis essential for accurate detection of P. teres, its forms, mating types and hybrids. Current net blotch control measures are based on the combined application of cultural, chemical and biological control methods and the selection of resistant varieties.

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 high-quality DNA extraction because of inhibitors' effects on PCR sensitivity. Several isothermal detection techniques are commonly used for the onsite detection of plant pathogens. Among them, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a paradigm diagnostic tool for early plant pathogen detection. Hence, in this review, we discuss the rapid, reliable, sensitive method of the LAMP assay and the limit of detection (LOD) in different sectors of plant pathology. We also address the advantages and disadvantages of different LAMP approaches and future prospects.

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, Aphrophoridae, Delphacidae and Membracidae were collected in different geographical regions of Poland. Real-time PCR with primers for rimM gene and nested PCR to detect X. fastidiosa, using DNA extracted directly from selected insects known as potential vectors of X. fastidiosa, did not confirm the bacterium's presence in these insects.

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. To explore the efficacy of R. communis, a methanol extract was tested to find the toxicity effect against B. cucurbitae. In this study, different bioactive compounds were isolated from R. communis. The crude extract of R. communis was subjected to fractionating using different organic solvents in an increasing order of polarity, where the fraction indicating maximum activity was then taken for the isolation of the bioactive compounds using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques such as column chromatography, thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The concentrations of R. communis extracts at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2% methanol were used. Pure methanol was used as the control. The experimental conditions were maintained at 28 + 20 ºC and 65 + 5% relative humidity. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomised design having five replications. A probit analysis was used to find the LC50 and LC90. The results showed that, as the concentration of the plant extracts increases, the mortalities of B. cucurbitae also increased. After a 72 h exposure period, the crude extracts exhibited the lowest LC50 at 0.30% and LC90 at 0.60%. This study investigates the potential of methanolic extracts derived from various parts of R. communis to serve as a biopesticide against B. cucurbitae which can be easily available, economically feasible, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly.

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 (2.276%); octadecanoic acid (1.851%); 2-deoxy-1,3,4,5-tetrakis-O-(trimethylsilyl); pentitol (1.757%); 3,5,5-trimethyl-4-(3-((trimethylsilyl)oxy)butyl)cyclohex-2-enone (1.505%); methyl 9.cis.,11.trans.t,13.trans.-octadecatrienoate (1.136%); and benzoic acid, 3-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-, trimethylsilyl ester (1.044%). Peak areas for the rest of the compounds were below 1%. Among the identified compounds, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (3), hexacosane (5), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (28), tetradecanoic acid, methyl ester (29), hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (30), γ-sitosterol (33), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)- (48), dodecanoic acid (68) and eicosane (128) are known to possess antimicrobial activities. Compound 28 is also known for its herbicidal activity as a binary mixture with xanthoxyline. This study concludes that the stem extract of C. oxycantha primarily comprises antifungal and antibacterial compounds.

The use of biological control products enhances the reduction of harmful pressures on the environment caused by the use of conventional pesticides. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the toxicity of eight bioinsecticides on the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to understand the relationships between insecticide exposure and insect response at the individual and population levels. The bioassay results showed that emamectin benzoate had high toxicity against A. ipsilon second instar larvae with an LC₅₀ of 0.007 (mg/L). Sublethal concentration (LC₃₀) of emamectin benzoate, spinosyn group and Bacillus thuringiensis formulation (Dipel 2X) had significantly prolonged pupal period. In addition, emamectin benzoate significantly decreased the number of eggs laid per female (135.3 ± 6.919) compared with the control treatment. Thus, the formulation of chlorfenapyr showed a 1.26-fold reduction in hatching rate. Meanwhile, the activities of oxidative stress enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) were significantly affected due to exposure to sublethal concentration. Changes in adipokinetic hormone (AKH) transcriptional regulation were detected via SQ-PCR via using cDNA synthesized from mRNA isolated from treated A. ipsilon larvae. The results showed a higher transcription rate of AKH in spinotram-treated larvae with a 1.42-fold increase over untreated larvae. Our results provide useful information for integrated pest management programs for A. ipsilon by using bioinsecticides.

Leaf spot caused by Cercospora lactucae-sativae is one of the most damaging diseases of 'Green Oak' lettuce in Thailand. This study was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of Trichoderma asperellum NST-009, a native strain in Thailand, to manage the leaf spot disease and enhance the growth of 'Green Oak' lettuce in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system. In vitro tests showed that T. asperellum NST-009 significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of C. lactucae-sativae by 72.50%, and its antifungal metabolite from the culture filtrate of T. asperellum NST-009 inhibited the mycelial growth of C. lactucae-sativae by 93.26%. In the hydroponics experiment, T. asperellum NST-009 reduced the disease severity index by 67.51% compared to the inoculated control and significantly stimulated the growth of the 'Green Oak' lettuce in terms of the plant height (8.62%), canopy width (16.67%), leaf number (18.39%), shoot fresh weight (25.71%), root fresh weight (39.26%), and total P in the leaves (31.45%) compared to the control. In addition, T. asperellum NST-009 was found to survive in both the lettuce leaves and roots at 100.00%.

Insecticidal interventions at critical stages of maize are an important strategy for managing invasive insect pest fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Conventional spraying systems cannot be used over larger areas, and the insecticide application using unmanned aerial vehicles is becoming popular among peasants. As the FAW resides inside the maize whorls, targeted insecticide application is necessary for effective management. The efficacy of (UAV) spray with different types of nozzles was compared with the conventional spray system, namely high-volume spray and Control droplet applicator. The other spray systems' droplet density, efficacy, and residues of insecticides in plants, soil and water were studied. The UAV droplet density up to 5 m swath recorded no significant variation for both nozzles. A UAV with an atomizer nozzle was as effective as a high-volume spray in reducing the FAW infestation. The residue analysis of leaf samples from the study area revealed more residues in the control droplet applicator and UAV atomizer nozzle. The per cent reduction of initial deposits in the top, middle and bottom maize leaves was least in the UAV atomizer nozzle. The insecticide residues in the study sample area were also below the detectable limit. UAV usage in maize saves time and reduces FAW damage as that of high-volume sprayers.

Carpomyia vesuviana Costa, a fruit fly species, is a major pest affecting the jujube (Ber). This monophagous insect pest causes significant economic losses in regions where the jujube is cultivated. Hence, the present study was conducted to provide a detailed morphometric and molecular analysis of C. vesuviana across various Indian regions, specifically Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Morphometric measurements were conducted for various developmental stages, from the egg to adult. The overall mean length and width of the egg were 0.61 mm and 0.18 mm, respectively, and the fully grown maggot measured 6.19 mm (length) and 1.91 mm (width). The length and width of the prepupa and pupa were 7.67 mm and 1.64 mm, and 4.00 mm and 1.72 mm, respectively. The overall mean length of the female whole body and wing expanse measured 4.74 mm and 3.92 mm, respectively. The overall mean male whole body length and wing expanse were 4.19 mm and 3.56 mm, respectively. The results of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the maggot's length at different stages, pupa length, and egg width were the main contributors to the variability, particularly in the samples from Rajasthan. Additionally, the adult female fly's morphometric traits, such as the wing and thorax measurements, showed regional variations, with the PCA highlighting Punjab's alignment with larger head and abdomen traits. The molecular analysis based on PCR and sequencing of the COXI–COXII region confirmed the species identity. The nucleotide sequence of C. vesuviana from Tamil Nadu and Punjab was deposited in GenBank as PQ198003.1 and PQ198005.1 which had nearly 99% genetic similarity with two sequences NC_071721.1 (Beijing, China) and MT121231.1 (Beijing, China) submitted in the NCBI database. A phylogenetic analysis further demonstrated that the Tamil Nadu and Punjab populations were closely related to an Iranian sample, while samples from other countries, such as the C. schineri.

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 last release of these spores. The sums of ascospores detected on a given day and their proportion in all ascospores recorded during primary infections were calculated. The obtained results formed the basis for the analysis of forecast indications of the A-scab, Metos (Metos® Pessl Instruments), and RIMpro-Venturia models in connection with meteorological data from the Metos weather station installed in this orchard and to compare them with the actual release dates recorded by the Burkard spore trap. Depending on the year, significant differences were found in the number and intensity of V. inaequalis ascospore releases and in their beginning and end dates.

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 the SbTCP genes into two subfamilies; we also found that SbTCP with the same motif structure clustered together in the evolutionary tree, and these results suggest that SbTCP proteins with the same gene structure have similar functions. Gene Ontology (GO) categorised the SbTCP genes into 17 functional subcategories, suggesting that they have diversified in functionality, even though their putative proteins share a number of conserved motifs. After the MeJA and SA treatments, the expression of SbTCP candidate genes containing MeJA and SA promoter elements was significantly higher or lower compared with the control, indicating that these candidate SbTCP genes could respond to different concentrations of MeJA and SA treatments. These comprehensive data provide a reference for elucidating the functions of TCP transcription factor family in the growth, development, and MeJA and SA stress response of S. baicalensis, this study can create a new avenue for understanding the role of TCP gene family in S. baicalensis.

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 was distinguished by clear lateral fields on both sides. Identification was confirmed using two species-specific primers (SCAR), Fjav/Rjav and MjF/MjR, and visualized amplified fragments appeared at 670 bp and 517 bp, respectively. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to screen the cultivars, using five replicates for each cultivar and nematode inoculum (1 000 second-stage juveniles). In response to M. javanica, gall index (GI), egg mass index (EMI), and reproduction factors (RF) were calculated, and all the eggplant cultivars were categorized according to their resistance levels based on RF. Among the 11 eggplant cultivars, four were found resistant to M. javanica including Black Beauty (C5, Bursa Tohum), Melanzana Violetta Difirenze (C6, Zorzi), Melanzana Violetta Lung 2 (C7, Zorzi), and Long Purple (C9, Bursa Tohum) and Violetta Lung 3 (C8, Taj Agri) was found highly resistant. Moreover, two cultivars were found moderately resistant, two susceptible, and two susceptible to M. javanica infection. Therefore, this study provided valuable information to eggplant growers about the resistant cultivars in Saudi Arabia. However, the molecular mechanisms of this resistance need to be evaluated to find novel candidate genes for breeding and CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing programs.

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 during 1985–2022. The first period covers 1985–2000, when in the southeast of the country, the main Pst races were 7E156 (31/1.5), 7E158 (A-8/5), 39E158 (X/1.5) and 86E16. In the second period (2001–2010), the crops were dominated by races 7E159, 31E159 and 47E224, which showed virulence to varieties with resistance genes Yr9 and Yr18. In the third period (2018–2022), the most dominant races in the fungal population were 7E159, 39E158, 79E73, 79E179, and 111E158, exhibiting virulence to varieties with the Yr26 and Yr27 genes. In the background of field infection, the resistance genes Yr5, Yr10, and Yr15 remain reliable in ensuring resistance; the Yr4, YrSp, and YrND sources are also highly effective against the Pst population.

We investigated the compatibility between adzuki bean and Bradyrhizobium USDA strains and the relation between the genetic diversity of indigenous adzuki bean-nodulating bradyrhizobia and their geographical distribution in Japan. Six Bradyrhizobium USDA strains were used in the inoculation test, and B. elkanii USDA 94 showed higher symbiotic efficiency than other strains. Two adzuki bean cultivars were used to isolate indigenous adzuki bean-nodulating bradyrhizobia. Their genetic diversity and community structure were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of PCR amplicons to target the 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer region, using 11 USDA Bradyrhizobium strains as reference strains. Furthermore, we performed diversity analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis based on the Chao index, and polar ordination analysis to explain the relation between community structure and geographical distribution of the adzuki bean-nodulating bradyrhizobia. The major clusters were Bj123 in Hokkaido and Kyoto, Bd110 in Fukushima and Shimane A, Be76 in Shimane B and Fukuoka, Bj6 in Miyazaki, and Bj6 and BeOK in Okinawa. Japan's indigenous adzuki bean-nodulating bradyrhizobial community was strongly and significantly correlated with latitude, longitude, annual mean temperature, and electrical conductivity. This result suggests that the adzuki bean-nodulating bradyrhizobial community is influenced by multiple environmental factors.

'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 ions: potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+), pigments: chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids, and indolic compounds content (ICC) were analysed in two time periods during the year in the leaves of tested trees. The results revealed that the presence of phytoplasma/ESFY symptoms significantly decreased the content of pigments in both groups during the summer sampling period. ESFY caused a decrease of TPC, TFC and ICC in the H 177 genotype. The phytoplasma decreased the TSPC and K+ content in older trees during both sampling periods. The only increase caused by phytoplasma infection was observed in glucose content, but only in the group of older plants. The results of this study support the idea that 'Ca. P. prunorum' affects metabolites in plants' defence system and manipulates basic metabolic processes during successful infection.