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Background Leaf mold disease caused by Cladosporium fulvum is a serious threat affecting the global production of tomato. Cf genes are associated with leaf mold resistance, including Cf -16 , which confers effective resistance to leaf mold in tomato. However, the molecular mechanism of the Cf -16 -mediated resistance response is largely unknown. Results We performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of C. fulvum -resistant (cv. Ontario7816) and C. fulvum -susceptible (cv. Moneymaker) tomato cultivars to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 4 and 8 days post inoculation (dpi) with C. fulvum . In total, 1588 and 939 more DEGs were found in Cf -16 tomato than in Moneymaker at 4 and 8 dpi, respectively. Additionally, 1350 DEGs were shared between the 4- and 8-dpi Cf -16 groups, suggesting the existence of common core DEGs in response to C. fulvum infection. The up-regulated DEGs in Cf -16 tomato were primarily associated with defense processes and phytohormone signaling, including salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA). Moreover, SA and JA levels were significantly increased in Cf -16 tomato at the early stages of C. fulvum infection. Contrary to the previous study, the number of up-regulated genes in Cf -16 compared to Cf -10 and Cf -12 tomatoes was significantly higher at the early stages of C. fulvum infection. Conclusion Our results provide new insight into the Cf-mediated mechanism of resistance to C. fulvum , especially the unique characteristics of Cf -16 tomato in response to this fungus.

About the Authors: Li-Jun Ma * E-mail: lijun@biochem.umass.edu Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America ORCID logo http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2733-3708 Jin-Rong Xu Affiliation: Department of Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America ORCID logo http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5999-5004 Citation: Ma L-J, Xu J-R (2019) Shuffling effector genes through mini-chromosomes. PWL2 has also been reported to be a member of an AVR gene family that can be recognized by host plant resistance (R) genes in a gene-for-gene manner [7]. Follow-up functional studies of genes unique to MoT may lead to the identification of virulence factors associated with wheat infection. Because of the dynamic nature of mini-chromosomes and the mobility of effector genes present on these chromosomes, monitoring the genome evolution, particularly the mini-chromosomes, in the MoT strains at the global level is important to better understand the adaptation of this important pathogen and to develop more effective disease management strategies.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), or scab, for its devastating nature to wheat production and food security, has stimulated worldwide attention. Multidisciplinary efforts have been made to fight against FHB for a long time, but the great progress has been achieved only in the genomics era of the past 20 years, particularly in the areas of resistance gene/QTL discovery, resistance mechanism elucidation and molecular breeding for better resistance. This review includes the following nine main sections, (1) FHB incidence, epidemic and impact, (2) causal Fusarium species, distribution and virulence, (3) types of host resistance to FHB, (4) germplasm exploitation for FHB resistance, (5) genetic control of FHB resistance, (6) fine mapping of Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4 and Fhb5, (7) cloning of Fhb1, (8) omics-based gene discovery and resistance mechanism study and (9) breeding for better FHB resistance. The advancements that have been made are outstanding and exciting; however, judged by the complicated nature of resistance to hemi-biotrophic pathogens like Fusarium species and lack of immune germplasm, it is still a long way to go to overcome FHB.

Tef is an important food security orphan crop in the Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained by tef head smudge disease caused by Curvularia spp. Therefore, this study aims to model the spatiotemporal dynamics of tef head smudge disease and tef, as well as their spatiotemporal interaction. Therefore, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the current and projected geographic distribution of tef head smudge disease and tef by 2050 and 2070 under SSP245and SSP285 climate change scenarios using the MaxEnt model. The model has achieved 89.3% - 90.5% accuracy for tef and over 93% accuracy for tef head smudge disease across the current and future climate change scenarios. Tef is predicted to cover 33% of the Western Amhara region under the current climate scenario. However, its projections indicate shifts to 23.1% under SSP245 and 40.6% under SSP285 by 2050. By 2070, tef is projected to cover around 33.7% and 19.97% of the region under SSP245 and SSP285, respectively. Tef head smudge disease is predicted to occur on about 10,951 ha of land under the current climate change scenario. However, its distribution is predicted to be 6,361 ha and 18,812 ha by 2050 under SSP245 and 285, respectively. However, tef head smudge disease and tef are predicted to overlap on 9,659 ha of land under the current climate change scenario. This overlap is expected to increase to around 15,846 hectares (SSP285) by 2050, but decrease to 3,334 hectares (SSP285) by 2070. This study highlights the compounded challenges of climate change and disease pressure on tef production. Therefore, this research provides critical insights for policymakers and researchers to enhance resilience in tef cultivation and safeguard food security in the face of climate change.

Tef is an important food security orphan crop in the Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia. However, its production is constrained by tef head smudge disease caused by Curvularia spp. Therefore, this study aims to model the spatiotemporal dynamics of tef head smudge disease and tef, as well as their spatiotemporal interaction. Therefore, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the current and projected geographic distribution of tef head smudge disease and tef by 2050 and 2070 under SSP245and SSP285 climate change scenarios using the MaxEnt model. The model has achieved 89.3% - 90.5% accuracy for tef and over 93% accuracy for tef head smudge disease across the current and future climate change scenarios. Tef is predicted to cover 33% of the Western Amhara region under the current climate scenario. However, its projections indicate shifts to 23.1% under SSP245 and 40.6% under SSP285 by 2050. By 2070, tef is projected to cover around 33.7% and 19.97% of the region under SSP245 and SSP285, respectively. Tef head smudge disease is predicted to occur on about 10,951 ha of land under the current climate change scenario. However, its distribution is predicted to be 6,361 ha and 18,812 ha by 2050 under SSP245 and 285, respectively. However, tef head smudge disease and tef are predicted to overlap on 9,659 ha of land under the current climate change scenario. This overlap is expected to increase to around 15,846 hectares (SSP285) by 2050, but decrease to 3,334 hectares (SSP285) by 2070. This study highlights the compounded challenges of climate change and disease pressure on tef production. Therefore, this research provides critical insights for policymakers and researchers to enhance resilience in tef cultivation and safeguard food security in the face of climate change.

The use of synthetic fungicides to control fungal diseases has growing limitations due to eco-toxicological risks. Therefore, it is necessary to replace or integrate high risk chemicals with safer tools for human health and environment. Consequently, research on the selection, evaluation, characterization, and use of biocontrol agents (BCAs) has consistently increased in the last decades. BCA formulates, particularly in some countries, are still scarce in coping with the growing demand for their use in sustainable agricultural management. To foster development and utilization of new effective bioformulates, there is a need to optimize BCA activity, to share knowledge on their formulation processes and to simplify the registration procedures. Studies based on new molecular tools can significantly contribute to achieve such objectives. The present review provides the state of the art on biocontrol of fungal plant diseases with special emphasis on (i) features of the most studied BCAs; (ii) key strategies to optimize selection and use of BCAs (iii); mechanisms of action of the main BCAs; (iv) molecular tools and metagenomic studies in the selection and use of BCAs; (v) main issues and constraints in the registration and commercialization of BCAs, and (vi) perspectives in the biocontrol of fungal plant diseases.

The current study involves the biogenesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 NPs) by using Moringa oleifera Lam. aqueous leaf extract for the reduction of titanium dioxide salt into TiO 2 nanoparticles. The biosynthesized TiO 2 nanoparticles were observed by using the UV-visible spectrophotometry, SEM, EDX and XRD analytical methods. It was confirmed that the nanoparticles are crystalline and exist in the size range of 10–100 nm. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of O-H (hydrogen bonding), N-H (amide), C-C (alkanes) and C-I (Iodo-stretch) functional groups responsible for the stabilization of nanoparticles. Various concentrations (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO 2 NPs were applied exogenously on wheat plants infected with a fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana responsible to cause spot blotch disease at different time intervals. The measurement of disease incidence and percent disease index showed the time-dependent response and 40 mg/L was reported a stable concentration of TiO 2 NPs to reduce the disease severity. The effects of biosynthesized TiO 2 NPs were also evaluated for agro-morphological (leaf and root surface area, plant fresh and dry weight and yield parameters), physiological (relative water content, membrane stability index and chlorophyll content) and non-enzymatic metabolites (soluble sugar, protein, soluble phenol and flavonoid content) in wheat plants under biotic stress and 40 mg/L concentration of TiO 2 NPs was found to be effective to elicit modifications to reduce biotic stress. The current study highlights the significant role of biosynthesized TiO 2 NPs in controlling fungal diseases of wheat plants and thus ultimately improving the quality and yield of wheat plants.

Fusarium species are among the most important phytopathogenic and toxigenic fungi. To understand the molecular underpinnings of pathogenicity in the genus Fusarium, we compared the genomes of three phenotypically diverse species: Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Our analysis revealed lineage-specific (LS) genomic regions in F. oxysporum that include four entire chromosomes and account for more than one-quarter of the genome. LS regions are rich in transposons and genes with distinct evolutionary profiles but related to pathogenicity, indicative of horizontal acquisition. Experimentally, we demonstrate the transfer of two LS chromosomes between strains of F. oxysporum, converting a non-pathogenic strain into a pathogen. Transfer of LS chromosomes between otherwise genetically isolated strains explains the polyphyletic origin of host specificity and the emergence of new pathogenic lineages in F. oxysporum. These findings put the evolution of fungal pathogenicity into a new perspective

This paper reviews artificial intelligent noses (or electronic noses) as a fast and noninvasive approach for the diagnosis of insects and diseases that attack vegetables and fruit trees. The particular focus is on bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, and insect damage. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from plants, which provide functional information about the plant’s growth, defense, and health status, allow for the possibility of using noninvasive detection to monitor plants status. Electronic noses are comprised of a sensor array, signal conditioning circuit, and pattern recognition algorithms. Compared with traditional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques, electronic noses are noninvasive and can be a rapid, cost-effective option for several applications. However, using electronic noses for plant pest diagnosis is still in its early stages, and there are challenges regarding sensor performance, sampling and detection in open areas, and scaling up measurements. This review paper introduces each element of electronic nose systems, especially commonly used sensors and pattern recognition methods, along with their advantages and limitations. It includes a comprehensive comparison and summary of applications, possible challenges, and potential improvements of electronic nose systems for different plant pest diagnoses.