Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 November 2022) | Viewed by 18718

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture and Fisheries, IFAPA La Mojonera, Camino San Nicolás, 1. La Mojonera, 04745 Almería, Spain
Interests: plant virology; plant pathology; plant virus resistance; plant virus susceptibility; molecular diagnosis; genomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture and Fisheries, IFAPA La Mojonera, Camino San Nicolás, 1. La Mojonera, 04745 Almería, Spain
Interests: soilborne diseases and nematodes; fungal diseases and epidemiology; diagnosis; grafting; plant resistance; biosolarisation; biofumigation; organic agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the main challenges in agriculture is to provide enough quality vegetables for a world population in continuous growth. To reach this goal, research into the different strategies to manage plant disease is extremely important.

This Special Issue aims to provide a summary of the latest research on all aspects related to plant disease management. This includes all these topics of interest:

Plant disease epidemiology (fungi, virus, and nematodes), diagnosis, plant disease genetic resistance, plant disease susceptibility, resistance durability, host-pathogen interaction, biological control, biopesticides, practices to reduce inoculum/population level in soils, and in general, any novel IPM strategy to manage one or several pathogens.

We are looking forward to your contributions,

Best regards,

Dr. Leticia Ruiz García
Dr. Francisco Miguel De Cara García
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant disease resistance
  • fungi
  • virus
  • nematodes
  • biological control
  • soilborne diseases
  • IPM
  • diagnosis
  • sustainability

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1519 KiB  
Article
Insights into the Key Genes in Cucumis melo and Cucurbita moschata ToLCNDV Resistance
by Belén Román, Pedro Gómez, Dirk Janssen and Leticia Ruiz
Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020231 - 08 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV, family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) is a whitefly-transmitted virus that causes widespread damage in Cucurbitaceae and Solaneceae crops worldwide. The Spanish strain, ToLCNDV-ES, affects mainly cucurbit crops and has spread through the Mediterranean basin since [...] Read more.
Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV, family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) is a whitefly-transmitted virus that causes widespread damage in Cucurbitaceae and Solaneceae crops worldwide. The Spanish strain, ToLCNDV-ES, affects mainly cucurbit crops and has spread through the Mediterranean basin since its first detection in 2013 in the south of Spain. The control of the virus has been based on the adoption of measures to control the vector, which have not been sufficient to reduce production losses. Therefore, the identification of key genes for ToLCNDV resistance is essential for the development of resistant plants. Regarding genetic control of resistance in cucurbit crops, one major locus on chromosome 11 and two additional regions in chromosomes 12 and 2 of C. melo linked to ToLCNDV resistance have been described recently. Concerning C. moschata, a major QTL was also identified on chromosome 8 that resulted in synteny with a QTL on chromosome 11 of C. melo. In this work, we investigated the molecular basis of ToLCNDV resistance in contrasting accessions of C. melo and C. moschata by transcriptional characterization of 10 different candidate genes controlling host factors related to proviral or antiviral mechanisms. Two proviral factor genes, ARP4 in C. melo and SYTA in C. moschata, showed clear differences in expression levels when the susceptible and resistant accessions were compared. The knowledge of proviral factors associated with resistance could be used to screen an active mutagenesis TILLING platform. This is the case of C. pepo, in which no ToLCNDV resistance has been described to date. The relationship between the regulation of the genes ARP4 and SYTA, as well as the genome position of the described loci related to ToLCNDV resistance, is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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15 pages, 1436 KiB  
Article
FytoSol, a Promising Plant Defense Elicitor, Controls Early Blight (Alternaria solani) Disease in the Tomato by Inducing Host Resistance-Associated Gene Expression
by Yasemin Bektas
Horticulturae 2022, 8(6), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8060484 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2420
Abstract
Early blight (EB), caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria solani, is one of the most common and destructive diseases in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The use of fungicides is a prominent tactic used to control EB; however, their undesirable effects [...] Read more.
Early blight (EB), caused by the necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria solani, is one of the most common and destructive diseases in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The use of fungicides is a prominent tactic used to control EB; however, their undesirable effects on the environment and human health, as well as involvement in the development of resistant strains, have driven researchers to search for new alternatives. Plant defense elicitors are exogenous defense-triggering molecules that induce a plant’s defense system associated with extensive transcriptional- and metabolic reprogramming of the genome and do not cause direct toxicity to phytopathogens. Moreover, 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) was an early-identified and strong plant defense elicitor to various phytopathogens. Recently, the combination of chitosan oligomers and pectin-derived oligogalacturonides that can mimic the induction of plants by a pathogen or damaged-derived molecules (PAMP and DAMP) were characterized as defense elicitors, named FytoSol. In this study, the preventive roles of these two defense elicitors—FytoSol and INA—against EB disease and its molecular basis, were explored. According to the results, FytoSol significantly reduced disease severity by an average of 30% for almost one month with an AUDPC value of 399 compared to the control, which had an AUDPC value of 546. On the contrary, INA did not provide any protection against EB. Gene expression analyses of these two distinct plant defense elicitors indicated that the expression patterns of several SA-, JA-, or ET-pathway-related genes (Pti4, TPK1b, Pto kinase, TomloxD, PRB1-2, SABP2, WRKY33b, WRKY70, PR-5, and PR3) were induced by defense elicitors differently. FytoSol extensively upregulated gene expressions of PR3, downregulated the SA-related defense pathway, and provided remarkable protection against the necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria solani. On the contrary, INA mostly induced genes related to biotrophic and/or hemibiotrophic pathogen protection. Our results indicate that FytoSol is a promising plant defense elicitor against EB and the modes of action of the elicitors are important to characterize their effects against pathogens. Further research may extend the use of defense elicitors as alternatives to pesticides in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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14 pages, 2896 KiB  
Article
Tolerance Screening for Phytophthora capsici and Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae in Cucurbita spp. and Gene Expression Responses in Mutant Families
by Alejandro Ayala-Doñas, Pedro Gómez and Miguel de Cara-García
Horticulturae 2022, 8(3), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030191 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1742
Abstract
Cucurbita species can be affected by soil-borne pathogens, such as Phytopthora capsici and Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae (Fsc). Diverse commercial and conserved lines of Cucurbita spp. were tested. C. pepo subsp. pepo genotypes showed the highest susceptibility to both pathogens. [...] Read more.
Cucurbita species can be affected by soil-borne pathogens, such as Phytopthora capsici and Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae (Fsc). Diverse commercial and conserved lines of Cucurbita spp. were tested. C. pepo subsp. pepo genotypes showed the highest susceptibility to both pathogens. The tolerance to P. capsici and Fsc was then screened in a zucchini mutant population. Two M3 mutant lines (Cp107 and Cp116) with a high occurrence of tolerant individuals to Phytophthora capsici were obtained from a screening of 160 M2 mutant lines. The M3 lines presented higher tolerance than the background MUCU-16. Furthermore, in the inoculated samples, both mutants overexpressed CpDEF and expressed more CpPAL and CpChiIV than the susceptible control. It has been previously shown that this expression pattern could be associated with tolerance in the P. capsici - Cucurbita spp. pathosystem. The M3 lines obtained could be applied in breeding programs, as they are likely to be compatible with the highly susceptible C. pepo subsp. pepo genotype. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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16 pages, 3845 KiB  
Article
Identification and Characterization of Triple Action Bioagents (TAB) and Their Potency against Fusarium Wilt of Lentil
by Raheeba Tun Nisa, Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, Umer Basu, Rameesa Rashid, Xiukang Wang, Shaheen Kauser Jan, H. S. Viswanath, Walid Soufan, Muntazir Mushtaq, Muhammad Habib ur Rahman, Farooq Ahmad bhat and Ayman EL Sabagh
Horticulturae 2021, 7(12), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120587 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2510
Abstract
Fusarium wilt is a severe disease that plays a significant role in reducing the yield of lentil. Under favorable conditions for disease growth, the disease can cause complete crop failure and can be a crucial limiting issue for lentil cultivation in specific geographical [...] Read more.
Fusarium wilt is a severe disease that plays a significant role in reducing the yield of lentil. Under favorable conditions for disease growth, the disease can cause complete crop failure and can be a crucial limiting issue for lentil cultivation in specific geographical zones. The current work focused on isolating potentialbio-agents exhibiting copper oxychloride resistance and evaluating their efficacy in seed treatment for ecologically sustainable management of Fusarium wilt of lentil. Seventy biocontrol agent isolates were isolated and tested for resistance by growing them on Potato Dextrose Agar medium (PDA) amended with copper oxychloride at the rate of 2500 ppm. Isolate-H10 and isolate-C9 showed more excellent compatibility with copper oxychloride fungicide with 69 mm and 65 mm radial growths, respectively. The isolates H10 and C9 had the highest inhibitory percentages of 84.30% and 83.94% against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis, respectively, and the highest phosphorus solubilization index (PSI). Primers (ITS 1 and ITS 4) identified these putative bioagents as Trichoderma harzianum isolate skua-tab-1 and Penicillium crysogenum strain Tab2. Sequences were submitted to the NCBI and assigned the accession numbers MK414603 and MK418066. In pot culture, these isolates also demonstrated their superiority in reducing the disease incidence and severity if seeds were treated with H10 and C9 alone or in combination with copper oxychloride fungicide. The two isolated bioagents exhibit three fundamental properties: compatibility with copper oxychloride, antagonistic activity toward the pathogen fall armyworm, and the ability to dissolve phosphorus minerals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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12 pages, 26913 KiB  
Article
Colloidal Silver Hydrogen Peroxide: New Generation Molecule for Management of Phytopathogens
by Hosapura Shekhararaju Mahesha, Jayasuvarnapura Umapathi Vinay, Medikeripura Rekhyanaik Ravikumar, Suryanarayana Visweswarashastry, Manikyanahalli Chandrashekhara Keerthi, Hanamant Mudakappa Halli, Shadi Shokralla, Tarek K. Zin El-Abedin, Eman A. Mahmoud and Hosam O. Elansary
Horticulturae 2021, 7(12), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120573 - 13 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 9056
Abstract
Plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are a significant threat to global commercial crop production resulting in increased cost of production, reduced crop establishment and productivity. An effort was made to study the antimicrobial activity of silver hydrogen peroxide (SHP) against selected plant pathogenic [...] Read more.
Plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are a significant threat to global commercial crop production resulting in increased cost of production, reduced crop establishment and productivity. An effort was made to study the antimicrobial activity of silver hydrogen peroxide (SHP) against selected plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria under in vitro conditions. Higher antibacterial activity of SHP was observed against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac; 39.67 mm), Xanthomonas citri pv. punicae (Xap; 39.00 mm), and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs; 36.67 mm) at 500 ppm concentration. SHP was superior to streptocycline (500 ppm) against Xac (25.33 mm) and Xcp (22.67 mm) at 100 ppm. The soil-borne fungi viz., Pythium aphanidermatum and Fusarium solani failed to initiate mycelium growth on PDA at the concentration of 5000 ppm and above. The average size of SHP particles was 462 nm in diameter, and 73.40% of particles had the size of 378 nm, which reflects the particles present in SHP solution in the form of colloids. The effective doses (100–5000 ppm) did not show any phytotoxicity symptoms in plants, while leaf necrosis was noticed at 10,000 ppm after four days of application. SHP (≤5000 ppm) can be used to effectively manage both fungal and bacterial plant pathogens by a single application. Further field studies need to be conducted for validation and commercial use of SHP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Management: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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