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Mycology and Plant Pathology
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Mycology and Plant Pathology

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 9636

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Narayan Chandra Paul

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Kumho Life Science Laboratory, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
Interests: mycology; molecular phylogeny; virology; endophytes; biological control social media
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi play an essential role in ecosystems as they decompose substances and actively participate in the cycling of nutrients by breaking down organic substances into simple molecules. Mycology is a branch of biology that studies fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and evolution, and their role as a beneficial microbe. Plant pathology or phytopathology studies plant diseases, their mechanisms, and disease control. Mycology is under phytopathology in agriculture as most plant pathogens are fungi, and phytopathogenic fungi decrease crop yield and cause substantial production losses in pre- and post-harvest agriculture.

The Special Issue will focus on but is not limited to plant fungal disease detection, the role of fungi in agriculture, plant–fungi interaction, fungal disease management, mycotoxin production, and endophytic and symbiotic relationships of fungi. I welcome well-prepared manuscripts of original research, review articles, short communications, and new fungal disease reports.

Dr. Narayan Chandra Paul
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • beneficial fungi
  • disease management
  • fungal diseases
  • mycotoxin
  • plant–fungal interactions
  • phytopathology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

34 pages, 13651 KiB  
Article
Diplodia seriata Isolated from Declining Olive Trees in Salento (Apulia, Italy): Pathogenicity Trials Give a Glimpse That It Is More Virulent to Drought-Stressed Olive Trees and in a Warmth-Conditioned Environment
by Giuliano Manetti, Angela Brunetti, Lorenzo Sciarroni, Valentina Lumia, Sara Bechini, Paolo Marangi, Massimo Reverberi, Marco Scortichini and Massimo Pilotti
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162245 - 13 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 845
Abstract
The fungi Botryosphaeriaceae are involved in olive declines in both the world hemispheres and in all continents where this species is cultivated. In Salento (Apulia, Italy), the Botryosphaeriaceae Neofusicoccum mediterraneum and N. stellenboschiana have been reported as the agents of a branch and [...] Read more.
The fungi Botryosphaeriaceae are involved in olive declines in both the world hemispheres and in all continents where this species is cultivated. In Salento (Apulia, Italy), the Botryosphaeriaceae Neofusicoccum mediterraneum and N. stellenboschiana have been reported as the agents of a branch and twig dieback that overlaps with olive quick decline syndrome caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca. In this study, we report the finding of Diplodia seriata, another Botryosphaeriaceae species, in Salento in Xylella fastidiosa-infected olive trees affected by symptoms of branch and twig dieback. Given that its presence was also reported in olive in the Americas and in Europe (Croatia) with different degrees of virulence, we were prompted to assess its role in the Apulian decline. We identified representative isolates based on morphological features and a multilocus phylogeny. In vitro tests showed that the optimum growth temperature of the isolates is around 25–30 °C, and that they are highly thermo-tolerant. In pathogenicity trials conducted over eleven months, D. seriata expressed a very low virulence. Nonetheless, when we imposed severe water stress before the inoculation, D. seriata significatively necrotized bark and wood in a time frame of 35 days. Moreover, the symptoms which resulted were much more severe in the trial performed in summer compared with that in autumn. In osmolyte-supplemented media with a water potential from −1 to −3 Mpa, the isolates increased or maintained their growth rate compared with non-supplemented media, and they also grew, albeit to a lesser extent, on media with a water potential as low as −7 Mpa. This suggests that olives with a low water potential, namely those subjected to drought, may offer a suitable environment for the fungus’ development. The analysis of the meteorological parameters, temperatures and rainfall, in Salento in the timeframe 1989–2023, showed that this area is subjected to a progressive increase of temperature and drought during the summer. Thus, overall, D. seriata has to be considered a contributor to the manifestation of branch and twig dieback of olive in Salento. Coherently with the spiral decline concept of trees, our results suggest that heat and drought act as predisposing/inciting factors facilitating D. seriata as a contributor. The fact that several adverse factors, biotic and abiotic, are simultaneously burdening olive trees in Salento offers a cue to discuss the possible complex nature of the olive decline in Salento. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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12 pages, 2326 KiB  
Article
An Emerging Disease of Chickpea, Basal Stem Rot Caused by Diaporthe aspalathi in China
by Danhua Wang, Dong Deng, Junliang Zhan, Wenqi Wu, Canxing Duan, Suli Sun and Zhendong Zhu
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141950 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 919
Abstract
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop worldwide. An emerging disease, basal stem rot with obvious wilt symptoms, was observed in the upper part of chickpea plants during the disease survey in Qiubei County of Yunnan Province. Three fungal isolates [...] Read more.
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important legume crop worldwide. An emerging disease, basal stem rot with obvious wilt symptoms, was observed in the upper part of chickpea plants during the disease survey in Qiubei County of Yunnan Province. Three fungal isolates (ZD36-1, ZD36-2, and ZD36-3) were obtained from the diseased tissue of chickpea plants collected from the field. Those isolates were morphologically found to be similar to Diaporthe aspalathi. Molecular sequence analyses of multiple gene regions (ITS, tef1, tub2, cal, and his3) indicated that the three isolates showed a high identity with D. aspalathi. Pathogenicity and host range tests of the isolates were performed on the original host chickpea and eight other legume crops. The isolates were strongly pathogenic to chickpea and appeared highly pathogenic to soybean, cowpea, and mung bean; moderated or mild pathogenic to adzuki bean and common bean; however, the isolates did not cause symptoms on grass pea (Lathyrus sativus). Diaporthe aspalathi was previously reported as a main pathogen causing the southern stem canker in soybean. To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. aspalathi inducing basal stem rot on chickpea worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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18 pages, 3343 KiB  
Article
Physio-Biochemical, Anatomical, and Molecular Analysis of Resistant and Susceptible Wheat Cultivars Infected with TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK Novel Puccinia graminis Races
by Hayat Ali Alafari, Yaser Hafez, Reda Omara, Rasha Murad, Khaled Abdelaal, Kotb Attia and Amr Khedr
Plants 2024, 13(7), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13071045 - 8 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, is one of the most dangerous rust diseases on wheat. Through physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis, the relationship between the change in resistance of 15 wheat cultivars to stem rust disease and the response [...] Read more.
Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, is one of the most dangerous rust diseases on wheat. Through physiological, biochemical, and molecular analysis, the relationship between the change in resistance of 15 wheat cultivars to stem rust disease and the response of 41 stem rust resistance genes (Sr,s) as well as TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK races was explained. Some cultivars and Sr genes, such as Gemmeiza-9, Gemmeiza-11, Sids-13, Sakha-94, Misr-1, Misr-2, Sr31, and Sr38, became susceptible to infection. Other new cultivars include Mir-3 and Sakha-95, and Sr genes 13, 37, 40, GT, and FR*2/SRTT3-SRTT3-SR10 remain resistant. Some resistance genes have been identified in these resistant cultivars: Sr2, Sr13, Sr24, Sr36, and Sr40. Sr31 was not detected in any cultivars. Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, enzymes activities (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase), and electrolyte leakage were increased in the highly susceptible cultivars, while they decreased in the resistant ones. Anatomical characteristics such as the thickness of the epidermis, ground tissue, phloem tissue and vascular bundle diameter in the midrib were decreased in susceptible cultivars compared with resistant cultivars. Our results indicated that some races (TTKSK, TTKST, and TTTSK) appeared for the first time in Egypt and many other countries, which broke the resistant cultivars. The wheat rust breeding program must rely on land races and pyramiding genes in order to develop new resistance genes that will survive for a very long time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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20 pages, 2314 KiB  
Article
Combatting Sugar Beet Root Rot: Streptomyces Strains’ Efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum
by Walaa R. Abdelghany, Abeer S. Yassin, Farrag F. B. Abu-Ellail, Areej A. Al-Khalaf, Reda I. Omara and Wael N. Hozzein
Plants 2024, 13(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020311 - 20 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1625
Abstract
Sugar beet root rot disease triggered by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-betae is a destructive disease and dramatically affects the production and quality of the sugar beet industry. Employing beneficial microorganisms as a biocontrol strategy represents an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to combat various [...] Read more.
Sugar beet root rot disease triggered by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-betae is a destructive disease and dramatically affects the production and quality of the sugar beet industry. Employing beneficial microorganisms as a biocontrol strategy represents an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to combat various plant diseases. The distinct aspect of this study was to assess the antifungal and plant growth-promoting capabilities of recently isolated Streptomyces to treat sugar beet plants against infection with the phytopathogen F. oxysporum. Thirty-seven actinobacterial isolates were recovered from the rhizosphere of healthy sugar beet plants and screened for their potential to antagonize F. oxysporum in vitro. Two isolates SB3-15 and SB2-23 that displayed higher antagonistic effects were morphologically and molecularly identified as Streptomyces spp. Seed treatment with the fermentation broth of the selected Streptomyces strains SB3-15 and SB2-23 significantly reduced disease severity compared to the infected control in a greenhouse experiment. Streptomyces SB2-23 exhibited the highest protective activity with high efficacy ranging from 91.06 to 94.77% compared to chemical fungicide (86.44 to 92.36%). Furthermore, strain SB2-23 significantly increased plant weight, root weight, root length, and diameter. Likewise, it improves sucrose percentage and juice purity. As a consequence, the strain SB2-23’s intriguing biocontrol capability and sugar beet root growth stimulation present promising prospects for its utilization in both plant protection and enhancement strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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14 pages, 1652 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Amisulbrom Products for the Management of Clubroot of Canola (Brassica napus)
by Zhiyu Yu, Stephen E. Strelkov and Sheau-Fang Hwang
Plants 2024, 13(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010028 - 21 Dec 2023
Viewed by 979
Abstract
Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is an important disease of canola (Brassica napus). Amisulbrom, a quinone inside inhibitor (QiI), was evaluated for its effectiveness in clubroot management in Alberta, Canada. Resting spores of P. brassicae were treated in vitro with [...] Read more.
Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, is an important disease of canola (Brassica napus). Amisulbrom, a quinone inside inhibitor (QiI), was evaluated for its effectiveness in clubroot management in Alberta, Canada. Resting spores of P. brassicae were treated in vitro with 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10% (w/v) amisulbrom to determine its effect on spore germination and viability. Amisulbrom inhibited resting spore germination by up to 79% and reduced viable spores by 31% relative to the control. Applications of a liquid solution (AL1000, 1000 g active ingredient (ai) ha−1) and granular formulations (AF700, 700 g ai ha−1; AF1000, 1000 g ai ha−1; AF1500, 1500 g ai ha−1) of amisulbrom were tested on the canola cultivars ‘45H31’ (clubroot-susceptible) and ‘CS2000’ (moderately resistant) under greenhouse conditions and in field experiments in 2019 and 2020. In the greenhouse, the treatments were evaluated at inoculum concentrations of 1 × 105 or 1 × 107 resting spores g−1 soil. A trend of decreasing clubroot severity with an increasing amisulbrom rate was observed. At the lower spore concentration, treatment with AF1500 resulted in a clubroot disease severity index (DSI) <20% for both cultivars, while the lowest DSI under both low and high spore concentrations was obtained with AL1000. The field results indicated a significant reduction in DSI, with varied effects of rates and liquid vs. granular formulations. The greatest reductions (up to 58.3%) in DSI were obtained with AF1500 and AL1000 in 2020. These findings suggest that amisulbrom holds promise as part of an integrated clubroot management approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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Review

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30 pages, 952 KiB  
Review
Plant–Entomopathogenic Fungi Interaction: Recent Progress and Future Prospects on Endophytism-Mediated Growth Promotion and Biocontrol
by S. M. Ahsan, Md. Injamum-Ul-Hoque, Ashim Kumar Das, Md. Mezanur Rahman, Md. Mahi Imam Mollah, Narayan Chandra Paul and Hyong Woo Choi
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101420 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2255
Abstract
Entomopathogenic fungi, often acknowledged primarily for their insecticidal properties, fulfill diverse roles within ecosystems. These roles encompass endophytism, antagonism against plant diseases, promotion of the growth of plants, and inhabitation of the rhizosphere, occurring both naturally and upon artificial inoculation, as substantiated by [...] Read more.
Entomopathogenic fungi, often acknowledged primarily for their insecticidal properties, fulfill diverse roles within ecosystems. These roles encompass endophytism, antagonism against plant diseases, promotion of the growth of plants, and inhabitation of the rhizosphere, occurring both naturally and upon artificial inoculation, as substantiated by a growing body of contemporary research. Numerous studies have highlighted the beneficial aspects of endophytic colonization. This review aims to systematically organize information concerning the direct (nutrient acquisition and production of phytohormones) and indirect (resistance induction, antibiotic and secondary metabolite production, siderophore production, and mitigation of abiotic and biotic stresses) implications of endophytic colonization. Furthermore, a thorough discussion of these mechanisms is provided. Several challenges, including isolation complexities, classification of novel strains, and the impact of terrestrial location, vegetation type, and anthropogenic reluctance to use fungal entomopathogens, have been recognized as hurdles. However, recent advancements in biotechnology within microbial research hold promising solutions to many of these challenges. Ultimately, the current constraints delineate potential future avenues for leveraging endophytic fungal entomopathogens as dual microbial control agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycology and Plant Pathology)
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