Search Results (307)

In recent years, Polish producers have been increasingly interested in organic fruit production. In this growing system, it is very important to choose cultivars that are less susceptible to diseases and pests. In a study conducted between 2016 and 2024 in central Poland, the suitability of ten plum cultivars (‘Cacanska Lepotica’, ‘Cacanska Najbolja’, ‘Kalipso’, ‘Katinka’, ‘Jubileum’, ‘Presenta’, ‘Silvia’, ‘Tophit’, ‘Tophit Plus’, and ‘Vision’) for organic cultivation was assessed. The results demonstrated that organic plum cultivation is feasible; however, it remains challenging. Based on long-term observations and experimental data, it was found that early-ripening plum cultivars such as ‘Katinka’, ‘Kalipso’ and ‘Cacanska Lepotica’ are more suitable for organic farming than others. Fruits of these cultivars were either not infested or only occasionally affected by the plum fruit moth and exhibited only sporadic symptoms of brown rot. The medium-early-ripening ‘Cacanska Najbolja’ cultivar is also worth noting, as the trees yield well in organic orchard conditions; however, the fruit is sometimes affected by rot-causing diseases and by the plum fruit moth. Fruits of late-ripening cultivars (‘Presenta’, ‘Tophit’, ‘Tophit Plus’, and ‘Vision’) were significantly more frequently infested by plum fruit moth caterpillars and exhibited a higher incidence of rot. The highest level of plum fruit moth infestation was observed in the fruit of ‘Tophit Plus’, whereas ‘Jubileum’ was the most susceptible to brown rot. These findings provide long-term evidence supporting cultivar selection as a key non-chemical strategy for improving the reliability of organic plum production under temperate climate conditions. The results may support cultivar selection strategies aimed at improving the sustainability and reliability of organic plum production in temperate climates. Full article

With the rapid expansion of avocado cultivation in southern Italy, growers have had to deal with the emergence of new diseases often caused by invasive and polyphagous pathogens responsible for leaf spot, branch cankers, dieback and fruit and root rot. Given the severity of these emerging diseases, a study was conducted in the main avocado growing areas in Sardinia and Sicily (Italy) to isolate and characterize the causal agents. Specifically, a total of 430 symptomatic leaf, fruit, branch, stem and root samples were collected and examined. Isolations performed on both non-selective and selective growth media yielded 22 species (fungi and oomycetes) belonging to the genera Botryosphaeria, Colletotrichum, Diplodia, Dothiorella, Macrophomina, Neofusicoccum and Phytophthora, including 14 new host–pathogen records in Italy. Notably, Neofusicoccum australe, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora palmivora emerged as the main pathogens involved in the emerging avocado diseases. The identified pathogens were often isolated simultaneously from the same plants, which exhibited a complex of symptoms. Pathogenicity bioassays have helped to clarify the differences in aggressiveness among the different species and their specificity towards the different plant organs. The results achieved suggest that avocado orchards’ productivity and profitability is threatened by a plethora of unrelated pathogens whose control represents a major challenge for the success of this crop in Italy. Full article

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.), a renowned tropical fruit crop, is increasingly cultivated in the Hainan Province of China. In June 2025, symptoms of postharvest fruit rot were observed on durian fruits from a commercial orchard in Sanya City, Hainan Province, with a disease incidence of approximately 5.2%. Three fungal isolates were obtained and identified as Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae and L. lignicola based on morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis (combining ITS, TUB2, and EF1-α gene sequences). Pathogenicity assays confirmed both species as causal agents of durian postharvest rot, with rapid lesion expansion and eight tropical fruit hosts, including banana and mango, posing a threat to postharvest storage. Fungicide sensitivity tests showed imazalil and imazalil sulfate with mean EC₅₀ values of 0.07 µg/mL and 0.08 µg/mL as most effective, followed by prochloraz, iprodione, and prochloraz-Mn. L. lignicola was more sensitive to most fungicides than L. pseudotheobromae. These findings underscore the need for species-specific fungicide strategies in disease management. This is the first report of L. pseudotheobromae and L. lignicola causing durian postharvest rot in this preliminary study from Hainan. With Hainan emerging as a key production region, further research is essential to develop effective control measures against this economically significant disease. Full article

Soft rot disease caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum is a major postharvest problem in fruits and vegetables, particularly in East Asia. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to collate and critically evaluate studies on the biocontrol efficacy of microbial antagonists against P. carotovorum in East Asia, quantitatively estimate their effectiveness, and identify research gaps. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and yielded 14 eligible studies (21 datasets) from East Asia. The overall pooled estimate of the relative reduction in disease incidence by microbial antagonists was 82% (95% CI: 74–88%; I² = 88.2%), indicating high but highly variable biocontrol efficacy across studies. Subgroup analyses revealed varying efficacy among different antagonists, with Chitosan-enhanced Lactobacillus pentosus and Leuconostoc fallax showing the highest potential (100% reduction), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (90%), Bacillus velezensis (85.7%), and Lactobacillus paracasei WX322 (82.2%). Meta-regression identified BCA cell concentration, sample size, storage days, and storage temperature as significant sources of heterogeneity. Most studies were conducted in China, highlighting the need for more research in other East Asian countries. Microbial antagonists demonstrate substantial potential for reducing soft rot incidence, yet the high heterogeneity across studies warrants cautious interpretation of the pooled effect. While these findings are promising, further field validation and expanded geographical representation are needed. Full article

Pectobacterium brasiliense is a highly destructive bacterial plant pathogen with a broad host range, causing soft rot and blackleg diseases. Genomic resources are for understanding the mechanisms of virulence in these necrotrophic bacteria. In this study, we isolated P. brasiliense strain 25ASUB12 from a symptomatic summer squash fruit growing in a field research plot in Mississippi. This is the first documented case of P. brasiliense in Mississippi. We extracted genomic DNA from the bacterial strain and sequenced it using Oxford Nanopore PromethION and Illumina NovaSeq X Plus platforms to produce a chromosome-level genome sequence of strain 25ASUB12. Genome annotation and comparative genomics were conducted to gain further insights into the strain. Results showed that the genome size of this strain was 4.90 megabases (Mb) and comprises several factors related to pathogenicity such as pectate lyases, diverse secretion factors, siderophores, and quorum-sensing genes. The whole genome of P. brasiliense strain 25ASUB12 serves as a genomic tool to conduct further research on diseases caused by this globally important plant pathogen. Full article

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is an economically important fruit crop cultivated worldwide. However, its production and fruit quality are severely constrained by powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) and Botrytis bunch rot (Botrytis cinerea) diseases. Increasing concerns regarding chemical fungicide resistance and environmental sustainability highlight the urgent need to develop alternative and more sustainable disease management strategies. This study assessed the field efficacy of Pseudomonas protegens-based formulations (TANIRI^® WP at 1 g·L⁻¹ and MaxGrowth at 1 mL·L⁻¹) within an integrated disease management program in cv. Chardonnay. Defense-related gene expression analysis revealed that biological treatments predominantly up-regulated pr1, pr2, and pr10 in both leaves and berries. In contrast, the chemical inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) triggered earlier but less consistent induction of pr1 and pr2, alongside transient activation of pal and lox9. Repeated field applications of P. protegens formulations moderately reduced the severity of Botrytis bunch rot (20.89%) and powdery mildew (6.14%), though control levels remained below conventional sulfur/Bacillus subtilis-based treatments (30.04% and 13.56%, respectively). Overall, these findings suggest that biological inducers could complement conventional management practices for grapevine health. In particular, P. protegens may act mainly by systemically inducing host defense responses and partially suppressing pathogen development under field conditions. Full article

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an important fruit crop, but its production is severely threatened by ripe rot, a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. However, V. pseudoreticulata ‘Dongan-1’ has been reported to have significant resistance to ripe rot. To investigate the molecular basis of this resistance, we employed RNA-Seq to profile transcriptome changes in the leaves and berry skins of ‘Dongan-1’ following infection. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis suggested that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly linked to stress response, cellular processes, and metabolic processes. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that DEGs in both tissues were predominantly enriched in the plant MAPK signaling pathway, peroxisome pathway, plant–pathogen interaction pathway, and plant hormone signal transduction pathway. Notably, VpCML41 was identified as a highly induced gene. Functional characterization through heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana and transient expression in ‘Thompson Seedless’ grape leaves demonstrated that VpCML41 enhances resistance to C. gloeosporioides. This enhanced resistance involves the coordinated regulation of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling cascades. Our findings provide valuable genetic resources for understanding ripe rot resistance and offer a foundation for developing resistant grape varieties. Full article

Grapes are among the most widely cultivated fruit crops globally, yet their growth and yield are severely compromised by Colletotrichum viniferum, which causes a devastating disease that affects grape berries. The wall-associated kinase (WAK) gene family, a unique subfamily of receptor-like-kinases (RLKs), plays important roles in mediating plant responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. However, the expression patterns and biological functions of grape WAKs in response to C. viniferum infection remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, a total of 57 VdWAK genes were identified and phylogenetically classified into twelve subgroups. Chromosomal localization and collinearity analyses further revealed that tandem duplication and segmental duplication events contributed to the expansion of the VdWAK gene family. Transcriptomic profiling identified VdWAK19 as a key responsive gene. It was predominantly expressed in mature berries but transcriptionally repressed upon C. viniferum infection. Virus-induced gene silencing assays in grape berries demonstrated that knockdown of VdWAK19 significantly reduced fruit resistance to C. viniferum infection. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of the functional roles of VdWAK genes during C. viniferum infection and provide a theoretical basis for the potential application of VdWAK19 in breeding grape varieties with enhanced resistance to ripe rot. Full article

Leaf blight and fruit rot caused by Phomopsis vexans are critical issues for eggplant crops. Our study evaluated the biochar amendment, alone and in combination with a foliar spray of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂-NPs), on plant performance and disease development. Fungal infection reduced plant growth, with a 22% decline in plant height and a marked decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. Adding biochar plant height mitigated these effects: the highest dose (30 g) increased plant height in infected plants by 17.1% and increased pigment concentrations and POX and PPO activities. At the same time, the blight index declined. When biochar was combined with SiO₂-NPs, the improvements were more pronounced. In infected plants, the 30 g + SiO₂-NPs treatment produced substantial improvement in plant height (+31.3%) and shoot biomass and restored chlorophyll and carotenoid contents by 63% and 28.1%, respectively. This treatment also produced the lowest blight index and the strongest enzymatic responses. Principal component analyses discriminated treated plants from infected ones. These findings indicate that biochar and SiO₂-NPs can jointly enhance plant resilience to P. vexans infection, reducing its negative impact. Full article

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important crop that remains highly susceptible to destructive fungal diseases, including gummy stem blight, downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, and anthracnose. Although fungicides and resistant cultivars are widely used, reliance on chemical control raises concerns regarding environmental safety, food quality, and the emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogen populations. Consequently, microbial biopesticides, particularly Bacillus species, have attracted increasing attention as sustainable alternatives. In this study, muskmelon plants exhibiting leaf wilting, chlorosis, and stem yellowing were collected from Guangming Farm in Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan, and associated pathogens were isolated from stem tissues and identified to determine the causal agent of these symptoms. In addition, the biocontrol efficacy of Bacillus subtilis strain MCLB2 against melon fruit rot, as well as its underlying mechanisms, was evaluated. Pathogenicity assays confirmed that isolate F01 was the causal agent. Based on morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis, this isolate showed 99.8% identity to Fusarium pernambucanum URM 7559 (GenBank accession no. NR_163754), and phylogenetic analysis further placed it within the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC). Antagonistic assays demonstrated that B. subtilis MCLB2 significantly inhibited mycelial growth and suppressed the spore germination of F. pernambucanum. In addition, culture filtrates of strain MCLB2 effectively reduced Fusarium-induced fruit rot in melon and disrupted fungal cellular respiration. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis revealed that the strain produced surfactin-family lipopeptides. In conclusion, B. subtilis MCLB2 exhibits potential as a sustainable biocontrol agent for managing Fusarium fruit rot in melon, likely through surfactin-mediated disruption of fungal cellular respiration. Full article

China has the largest strawberry cultivation area worldwide and produces substantial quantities of the fruit. However, postharvest diseases of strawberries occur frequently, limiting their safe storage. In November 2025, a localized occurrence of postharvest fruit rot affecting strawberry (cv. Hongyan) was observed in Tai’an, China. A pathogenic fungus, designated CM-RB5, was isolated from diseased fruits and identified as Penicillium citrinum based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses. This is the first report of P. citrinum causing postharvest fruit rot in strawberry. The genome of the pathogenic fungal strain CM-RB5 was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq II and PacBio RS III platforms. Genome assembly analysis revealed the total sequence length of P. citrinum CM-RB5 to be 32,053,718 bp, with a GC content of 46.41%. Additionally, P. citrinum CM-RB5 was found to produce ochratoxin and citrinin. These findings provide insights that may facilitate the development of effective control strategies for postharvest fruit rot in strawberry, thereby ensuring the consumption of safe, high-quality fruit and strawberry-derived products. Full article

Species of Penicillium are among the most important fungal pathogens responsible for postharvest diseases of agricultural crops worldwide. This review provides an overview of five economically important Penicillium spp., namely P. expansum, P. digitatum, P. italicum, P. citrinum, and P. oxalicum. Emphasis is placed on P. expansum, P. digitatum, and P. italicum which are the main causal agents of blue mold and green mold rots in pome fruits and citrus, commodities that dominate global fresh produce trade and long-term storage. While studies on plant-pathogenic Penicillium are mainly focused on these hosts, this review highlights reports of infections in other crops across diverse geographic regions, highlighting the broader host range of these species. The main aspects highlighted include host specificity and diversity, production of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites, current management and control strategies, and the potential influence of climate change on disease incidence and severity. Understanding the biology and epidemiology of plant-pathogenic Penicillium species is essential, as several species are both pathogens and producers of mycotoxins, leading to quality deterioration and nutrient depletion resulting in economic losses. Full article

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is an emerging crop in the tropics and subtropics, but its production is increasingly threatened by diseases that reduce yield and profitability. Early diagnosis of these diseases is crucial for timely intervention, yet visual symptoms often appear only after significant infection has occurred. The study aims to evaluate how optical spectral reflectance can detect dragon fruit diseases and identify the most responsive spectral regions. In this study, six major dragon fruit stem diseases: Neoscytalidium stem canker, stem sunburn, anthracnose, Botryosphaeria stem canker, Bipolaris stem rot, and bacterial soft rot were characterized by the goal of identifying unique spectral signatures for early detection and differentiation of each disease. Seventy-two potted dragon fruit plants of three distinct species were grown under four organic vermicompost treatments (0, 5, 10, 20 tons/acre) in both open-field and high-tunnel conditions together, in a randomized complete block design. A handheld spectroradiometer (350–2500 nm) was used to collect reflectance from the diseased and healthy cladodes (stem segment). Various spectral vegetative indices were computed to identify disease-specific features. The results revealed distinct spectral features for each disease. Infected cladodes consistently exhibited higher reflectance especially in the visible region (400–700 nm) and the near-infrared region (900–2500 nm) of the spectrum than healthy cladodes. The Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (GNDVI), and Spectral Ratio (SR) spectral indices were significantly higher in healthy plants than in diseased ones, reflecting higher chlorophyll concentration and plant biomass. Conversely, the 1110/810 ratio was lower in healthy plants than in diseased plants, suggesting a more compact internal plant structure. Statistical analysis revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.00001) between healthy and diseased spectra in the Red, Green and NIR regions. Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) achieved the highest classification accuracy (OA = 0.642, κ = 0.488), though performance was limited for minority classes. These findings demonstrate that targeted spectral sensing can identify dragon fruit diseases before obvious symptoms emerge. By pinpointing disease-specific spectral indices, our study paves the way for early-warning tools such as targeted multispectral sensors or drone-based imaging that would enable growers to intervene sooner and limit losses. These results highlight the potential for development of UAV-based or portable spectral sensors for large-scale, near real-time disease monitoring in dragon fruit production. Full article

Tomato fruit rot severely impacts yield and quality, causing economic losses. This study aimed to identify the pathogenic fungi associated with post-harvest tomato fruit rot and characterize the transcriptomic responses of tomatoes. Pathogens were isolated from diseased tomato fruit tissues and identified using morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and in vitro pathogenicity tests. The genome of Cladosporium oxysporum Co-1 was assembled and annotated. RNA-seq analysis was used to profile transcriptional changes in tomatoes infected with C. oxysporum Co-1, with RT-qPCR validating the RNA-seq data and spectrophotometric assays analyzing the host physiological responses. Three pathogenic fungi were isolated. Colonies of C. oxysporum exhibited a near-circular shape, with colonies transitioning from an olive-green center to gray-green at the edges, and based on ITS, β-tubulin, and EF-1α gene sequences, this isolate exhibited 99% identity with C. oxysporum. The other two fungal isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata and Fusarium incarnatum, respectively, based on morphological and multi-locus sequence analysis. All three strains induced fruit rot and browning in tomatoes, confirming their pathogenicity. The genome size of C. oxysporum Co-1 was 34,515,558 bp, comprising 52 scaffolds with a GC content of 52.82%, and encoding 10,081 protein-coding genes. RNA-seq analysis showed dynamic gene expression changes in tomatoes infected with strain A, with differentially expressed genes enriched in pathogenicity-related pathways. Spectrophotometric assays revealed that peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased initially followed by an increase post-inoculation with C. oxysporum, indicating that tomatoes defend against pathogen infection through the antioxidant enzyme system. These findings revealed the pathogenic fungi were associated with post-harvest tomato rot disease, provided genomic resources for C. oxysporum, and provided insight into the host’s response to this strain. Full article

Neopestalotiopsis rosae is an emerging fungal pathogen that causes leaf blight and fruit rot on strawberry. Due to limited fungicide availability and the small number of substances confirmed to be effective against this pathogen, alternative disease control strategies have become a focus of current research. This study aimed to assess, quantify, and compare the efficacy of extracts and inocula of Trichoderma spp. with the conventional fungicide Switch in controlling N. rosae. In the presence of T. harzianum T16 and T. asperellum T23 extracts, conidia production of N. rosae was reduced by 45.0% and 62.7%, respectively. Extracts of T. koningiopsis T10 strongly inhibited both mycelial growth and conidia production (>92.0%), demonstrating efficacy comparable to that of the reference fungicide. Furthermore, T. koningiopsis T10 extracts were able to inhibit N. rosae conidia viability by 55.6%. Under greenhouse conditions, strawberry plants treated with extracts from T. koningiopsis T10 showed protection from N. rosae leaf spots at levels similar to Switch. These findings highlight T. koningiopsis T10 extracts as a promising alternative to chemical fungicides in the integrated management of N. rosae on strawberry. Full article