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Background The cultivated strawberry ( Fragaria  ×  ananassa Duch.) is one of the most economically important horticultural crops worldwide. Botrytis fruit rot (BFR) caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea is the most devasting disease of cultivated strawberries. Most commercially grown strawberry varieties are susceptible to BFR, and controlling BFR relies on repeated applications of various fungicides. Despite extensive efforts, breeding for BFR resistance has been unsuccessful, primarily due to lack of information regarding the mechanisms of disease resistance and genetic resources available in strawberry. Results Using a reverse genetics approach, we identified candidate genes associated with BFR resistance and screened Arabidopsis mutants using strawberry isolates of B. cinerea . Among the five Arabidopsis T-DNA knockout lines tested, the mutant line with AtWRKY53 showed the greatest reduction in disease symptoms of BFR against the pathogen. Two genes, FaWRKY29 and FaWRKY64 , were identified as orthologs in the latest octoploid strawberry genome, ‘Florida Brilliance’. We performed RNAi-mediated transient assay and found that the disease frequencies were significantly decreased in both FaWRKY29- and FaWRKY64- RNAi fruits of the strawberry cultivar, ‘Florida Brilliance’. Furthermore, our transcriptomic data analysis revealed significant regulation of genes associated with ABA and JA signaling, plant cell wall composition, and ROS in FaWRKY29 or FaWRKY64 knockdown strawberry fruits in response to the pathogen. Conclusion Our study uncovered the foundational role of WRKY transcription factor genes, FaWRKY29 and FaWRKY64 , in conferring resistance against B. cinerea . The discovery of susceptibility genes involved in BFR presents significant potential for developing resistance breeding strategies in cultivated strawberries, potentially leveraging CRISPR-based gene editing techniques.

Rice blast is a serious fungal disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.) that is threatening global food security. It has been extensively studied due to the importance of rice production and consumption, and because of its vast distribution and destructiveness across the world. Rice blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cavara 1892 (A), can infect aboveground tissues of rice plants at any growth stage and cause total crop failure. The pathogen produces lesions on leaves (leaf blast), leaf collars (collar blast), culms, culm nodes, panicle neck nodes (neck rot), and panicles (panicle blast), which vary in color and shape depending on varietal resistance, environmental conditions, and age. Understanding how rice blast is affected by environmental conditions at the cellular and genetic level will provide critical insight into incidence of the disease in future climates for effective decision-making and management. Integrative strategies are required for successful control of rice blast, including chemical use, biocontrol, selection of advanced breeding lines and cultivars with resistance genes, investigating genetic diversity and virulence of the pathogen, forecasting and mapping distribution of the disease and pathogen races, and examining the role of wild rice and weeds in rice blast epidemics. These tactics should be integrated with agronomic practices including the removal of crop residues to decrease pathogen survival, crop and land rotations, avoiding broadcast planting and double cropping, water management, and removal of yield-limiting factors for rice production. Such an approach, where chemical use is based on crop injury and estimated yield and economic losses, is fundamental for the sustainable control of rice blast to improve rice production for global food security.

Botrytis cinerea is a primary pathogen causing stem and fruit rot during pre- and post-harvest. In the present study, the main purpose was to inquire into the antifungal activity and potential mechanisms of thymol and carvacrol against B. cinerea. During the experiment, the effects of thymol and carvacrol on physical and biochemical parameters of B. cinerea were evaluated. Results indicated that thymol and carvacrol exhibited strong antifungal activity against the targeted pathogen, with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 65 mg/L and 100 mg/L for thymol, and 120 μL/L and 140 μL/L for carvacrol. Thymol and carvacrol changed obviously the morphology of B. cinerea hyphae by disrupting and distorting the mycelia through scanning electron microscopy. The membrane permeability of B. cinerea hyphae was prompted with the increment of two chemical agents’ concentration, as evidenced by extracellular conductivity increase, the release of cell constituent, and the decrease of extracellular pH. Furthermore, a marked decline in total lipid content of B. cinerea cells was induced by the two chemical agents, suggesting that the cell membrane structures were destructed. Therefore, present results indicated that thymol and carvacrol may be used as a good alternative to conventional fungicides against B. cinerea in controlling grey molds in horticultural products.

Background Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum capsici , is a significant fungal disease affecting chilli crops, leading to yield losses of 10–25%. Traditional control methods, primarily chemical fungicides, not only pose risks to the environment and soil health but also threaten public safety. In contrast, nanotechnology presents a promising eco-friendly alternative, leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles, such as their small size and high surface-to-volume ratio, to effectively manage fungal infections with minimal environmental impact. Results This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from guava leaf extract against chilli fruit rot. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the synthesis of Ag-NPs with a peak absorption at 431 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a crystalline structure with an average particle size of 42.5 nm, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 30.5 nm to 50.3 nm across different samples. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) identified functional groups involved in silver ion reduction. Zeta size analysis confirmed particle sizes of 500.1 nm, 1.0 nm, 62.4 nm, 262.8 nm, and 178.8 nm for samples S1 through S5, respectively. In antifungal assays, S1 at 50 ppm exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition (47.9%), with significant protective (87%) and curative (93%) effects. Additionally, in in-vitro leaflet assays, S1 demonstrated 86% inhibition of C. capsici at 50 ppm, highlighting its potential as an effective agent for managing chilli fruit rot. Conclusions This study presents a rapid, eco-friendly method for synthesizing Ag-NPs using guava leaf extract, showing their potential in managing chilli fruit rot caused by C. capsici . The results highlight their effectiveness in both protective and curative applications, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides. Future research should focus on scaling up the synthesis process for industrial applications, exploring the long-term environmental impact, and assessing the broader applicability of Ag-NPs in managing other phytopathogenic diseases across various crops. Summary Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from guava leaf extract effectively inhibit Colletotrichum capsici , with 86% antifungal activity at 50 ppm. This study highlights an eco-friendly, rapid synthesis method for Ag-NPs as a promising alternative to chemical fungicides in managing chilli fruit rot disease. Clinical trial number Not applicable. Graphical Abstract

Branch cankers and stem-end rot are two of the most important threats to avocado production. During the autumn of 2013, sampling was conducted in the main avocado growing area in eastern Sicily to study the occurrence and establish the causal agents of branch canker and stem-end rot. A total of 94 fungal isolates, recovered from four avocado orchards, were identified by morphological characterisation, DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses as belonging to the genera Colletotrichum , Neofusicoccum or Diaporthe . The majority of the isolates were identified as Neofusicoccum parvum (70.2 %), with the remaining isolates being Colletotrichum gloeosporioides or C. fructicola (16 %), and Diaporthe foeniculacea or D. sterilis (13.8 %), respectively. Pathogenicity tests showed N. parvum was the most virulent species ( P  =  0.05 ), whereas Diaporthe isolates were the least so. An intermediate virulence was observed for C. gloeosporioides and C. fructicola , which were associated only with stem-end rot of fruit. Regarding cultivar susceptibility of fruit to these pathogens, ‘Hass’ was more susceptible to infection by C. fructicola and D. foeniculacea compared with ‘Bacon’ whereas no significant differences were detected for the remaining pathogens. To our knowledge, this is the first account of the pathogens causing branch canker and stem-end rot of avocado in Italy, and the first studies comparing the relative virulence of each species involved.

Extensive collar rot, sunken and bleeding cankers, shoot blight, and fruit rot symptoms on olive trees have recently been observed in several orchards in Italy. Since there is little information about the etiology of these diseases and given the high economic relevance of this iconic crop, a study was conducted from autumn 2017 to summer 2022, in four Italian regions, to define the occurrence, distribution and impact of the main pathogens involved. A total of 1064 symptomatic olive samples were collected and processed. Based on colony appearance, micromorphological analysis and DNA sequence data, thirty-eight species, including eighteen Botryosphaeriaceae species belonging to five genera and fifteen Phytophthora species, were isolated and identified, thirteen of which, Diplodia africana, D. fraxini, D. subglobosa, Dothiorella omnivora, Do. sarmentorum, Do. sempervirentis, Sardiniella urbana (Botryosphaeriaceae), Phytophthora cactorum, P. cinnamomi, P. citricola, P. crassamura, P. niederhauserii and P. pseudocryptogea, are reported here for the first time in olive trees. Pathogenicity tests performed on unripe drupes and on potted olive seedlings completed Koch postulates and highlighted that several species of Botryosphaeriaceae and Phytophthora represent a growing threat to olive trees.

Olive anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. is the most important olive fruit disease worldwide. We hypothesize that induced water deficit in olive trees generates anatomical and biochemical changes which contribute to anthracnose fruit rot resistance. A three-year experiment was conducted in Arbequina under two irrigation treatments: fully irrigated (no water stress) and non-irrigated (moderate water stress), from pit hardening until harvest. At harvest, fruits were inoculated both in planta and in vitro with an isolate of C. acutatum s.l. Our results showed that fruits grown under moderate water stress had significantly lower disease incidence and severity compared to those grown without water stress. Additionally, moderate water stress increased the activity of the enzymes related to hydrogen peroxide scavenging (Catalase and Peroxidase) and enhanced cuticle fruit thickness. Together, these factors contributed to a greater resistance to C. acutatum s.l. infection, both in vitro and in planta, reflected by different area under the disease progress curve (averaging 45% and 30% lower incidence and severity, respectively). These findings could explain differences in disease expression observed in olive orchards across seasons and managements practices.

Abstract In the study, the bacterial isolate NhPB54 purified from the pitcher of Nepenthes plant was observed to have activity against Pythium aphanidermatum by dual culture and well diffusion. Hence, it was subjected to 16S rDNA sequencing and BLAST analysis, where the NhPB54 was found to have 100% identity to Pantoea dispersa. Upon screening for the plant beneficial properties, Pantoea dispersa NhPB54 was found to be positive for phosphate, potassium and zinc solubilization, nitrogen fixation, indole-3-acetic acid, ammonia, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, biofilm and biosurfactant production. Further to this, Solanum lycopersicum seedlings primed with P. dispersa NhPB54 were studied for the improved plant growth and disease protection. Here, the seedlings pre-treated with the NhPB54 culture supernatant were found to have enhanced plant growth and protection from damping off and fruit rot caused by P. aphanidermatum. From the LC-QTOF-MS/MS and GC MS analysis, P. dispersa NhPB54 was found to produce a blend of chemicals including 1-hydroxyphenazine, surfactin, and other bioactive metabolites with the likely basis of its observed antifungal and plant growth–promoting properties. From the results of the study, plants with unique adaptations can expect to harbor microbial candidates with beneficial applications.

Stem-end and anthracnose fruit rot diseases caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides are devastating post-harvest diseases occurring in mangos and many other economically important fruit crops. In this study, the marine antagonists Trichoderma and Bacillus isolated from marine sponges and sea fans displayed potent biocontrol activity against both diseases on mango cultivars Nam Dok Mai Si Thong and Nam Dok Mai. Mangos were exposed to a spore suspension of T. asperellum KUFA 0042 at a concentration of 106 spores mL−1 or a crude extract of the same strain at a concentration of 10 g L−1 through a dipping process and then inoculated with pathogens. Remarkably, there was a significant suppression (p < 0.05) of lesion development caused by L. theobromae, with a reduction rate reaching up to 95%. Similarly, the treatment significantly reduced the lesion development of anthracnose disease caused by C. gloeosporioides by up to 93%. Additionally, mangos treated with a crude extract of marine B. subtilis KUFA 0163 at a concentration of 10 g L−1 also showed a reduction in the incidences of both stem-end rot and anthracnose diseases, with disease suppression of up to 94%. The spore suspensions of Trichoderma, Bacillus, and their crude extracts had no effect on mango physiology. This study’s results show the potential of marine-derived Trichoderma and Bacillus strains as promising candidates for the development of novel biocontrol agents. These could effectively manage post-harvest diseases in mango crops without impacting the fruit's physiology

Postharvest rot fungi affect the quality and quantity of perishable peach fruit. About 25–30% of the peaches deteriorate annually after harvest in Pakistan. The present study aimed at the development of an eco-friendly management strategy to reduce reliance on synthetic fungicides while maintaining a long shelf-life of peaches. Disease surveys were done in 2019-20 on local fruit markets of Rawalpindi Pakistan. Multi-locus sequence analysis (ITS, EF-1α and β-tubulin) revealed Fusarium sporotrichioides as major fungal peach fruit rot pathogen. In vitro screening of different concentrations (1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 mg/ml) of Syzygium aromaticum, Eucalyptus golobulus, Cinnamomum verum, Curcuma longa and Allium sativum essential oil, showed that S. aromaticum essential oil as highly effective (96%) against the growth of Fusarium rot. GCMS analysis revealed Eugenol as major antifungal component in S. aromaticum. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of S. aromaticum essential oil was further carried out by testing Essential Oil Tablets Encapsulated in Polypropylene Spun-bond Sachet (EOTEPSS). In vitro results of EOTEPSS showed maximum reduction (96.31%) in spore germination of pathogenic fungi. Results of in vivo experiment showed significant reduction in lesion diameter, disease severity and a prolonged shelf-life of peaches for more than two weeks against pre-inoculated peaches with Fusarium sporotrichioides at ambient temperature (7–38.5°C). The natural ripening process of peach was not affected by the presence of EOTEPSS as no significant alteration in weight loss of fruits was recorded. These findings suggest that the application of EOTEPSS is an economical and non-hazardous strategy against post-harvest rot fungi which enhance the shelf-life of peaches.