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Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture
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Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 9236

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Youssef Khamis

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Guest Editor
Agricultural Research Center, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Giza 12619, Egypt
Interests: plant pathology; integrated pest management; fruit diseases; nanotechnology
Prof. Dr. Antonio Ippolito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
Interests: postharvest pathology; molecular biology; alternative control means; grape; citrus; pomegranate
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Khaled A. El-Tarabily

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
Interests: biological control of plant pathogenic fungi; soil microbial ecology; plant–microbes interaction; soil-borne plant pathogens; biology and classification of actinobacteria

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The control of plant diseases is still widely carried out through the use of synthetic chemicals. However, many fungal and bacterial pathogens have developed resistance to the active ingredients of a wide range of pesticides. In addition, the problems associated with their use (i.e., waste disposal) as well as the increasing public awareness regarding residues and environmental risks have promoted the search for new and safer alternatives. Thus, the replacement of chemical pesticides with non-toxic compounds for consumers and for the environment is gaining considerable attention worldwide. Lowering the loss of products can be achieved through the use of an integrated disease management program, which employs a variety of control means and methods with a focus on preventing, reducing, and eradicating predisposing/instigating factors.

In this Special Issue, we invite scientists and researchers to contribute research articles on the utilization of a range of alternative control strategies, such as biological control using antagonistic/beneficial agents; physical strategies using low temperatures, modified and controlled atmospheres, heat, and irradiation; and substances generally regarded as safe, such as sanitizers, plant extracts, and essential oils. Papers that concentrate on the integrated disease management of agricultural products are also accepted.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Integrated strategies to control plant diseases;
  • Alternatives to reducing/substituting chemical pesticides;
  • Natural compounds to control plant diseases;
  • Physical means of managing plant pathogens/diseases;
  • The role of biocontrol agents in managing plant diseases;
  • Nanotechnology as a way to control plant diseases.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Youssef Khamis
Prof. Dr. Antonio Ippolito
Prof. Dr. Khaled A. El-Tarabily
Guest Editors

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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 pathology
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • pesticides
  • integrated disease management
  • nanotechnology
  • fungi
  • bacteria

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2735 KiB  
Article
Chitosan-Loaded Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: A Promising Antifungal Nanocomposite against Fusarium Wilt Disease of Tomato Plants
by Mohamed A. Mosa and Sozan E. El-Abeid
Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14295; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914295 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1077
Abstract
The extensive use of agrochemicals for crop protection is increasing their environmental risks. Due to the incredible antimicrobial potential of nanomaterials, research into their potential use in sustainable agriculture as alternatives to chemical fungicides is advancing rapidly. In this study, we evaluated the [...] Read more.
The extensive use of agrochemicals for crop protection is increasing their environmental risks. Due to the incredible antimicrobial potential of nanomaterials, research into their potential use in sustainable agriculture as alternatives to chemical fungicides is advancing rapidly. In this study, we evaluated the possible antifungal properties of copper oxide nanocomposite (CH@CuO NPs) coated with chitosan in order to fend off Fusarium wilt diseases in tomato plants caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) throughout in vitro and in vivo experiments. Here, we demonstrate some of the characteristics of a potential antifungal nanocomposite composed of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), firmly immobilized on chitosan nanoparticle (CH) surfaces as dark spots, with an irregular shape and 54.22 nm in size, as indicated by Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. Spectroscopic and microscopic investigations, as well as its antifungal efficacy, verified that the successful synthesis of the CH@CuO NPs at three different concentrations (1, 25, and 50) mg/L against three different wild isolates of the pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum that infect tomatoes was successfully proven to be effective. In vitro comparisons revealed that CH@CuO NPs showed stronger antifungal activity at only 1 mg/L (96.22 ± 1.35) than the classical chemical fungicide “Kocide 2000” at conc. 2.5 g/L (77.34 ± 0.33), for example, in the case of FOL1 isolate. In accordance with the in vivo data, tomato plants can be treated with only 1 mg/L of CH@CuO NPs for up to 75 days, by which time Fusarium wilt disease severity is reduced by 91.5% In contrast, 2.5 g/L of Kocide 2000 is required to reduce disease in tomato plants by about 90%. This research expands our understanding of agro-nanotechnology by outlining the characteristics of a unique, environmentally friendly, and economically viable nanopesticide for long-term plant protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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19 pages, 7911 KiB  
Article
Identification of a Cucumber Mosaic Virus from Cucurbita pepo on New Reclamation Land in Egypt and the Changes Induced in Pumpkin Plants
by Wael Fathy Shehata, Zafar Iqbal, Tarek Elsayed Abdelbaset, Khalied Ibrahiem Saker, Ahmed Elnabawy El Shorbagy, Ahmed Mohamed Soliman, Muhammad Naeem Sattar and Sherif Mohamed El-Ganainy
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9751; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129751 - 19 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2092
Abstract
In 2020, the leaves and fruit of 50 pumpkin plants with suspected cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) symptoms of leaf mosaic, vein yellowing, and mild leaf curling were collected from Sharq El-Owainat (Al Wadi El-Gaded governorate), a new reclamation land in Egypt. This study [...] Read more.
In 2020, the leaves and fruit of 50 pumpkin plants with suspected cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) symptoms of leaf mosaic, vein yellowing, and mild leaf curling were collected from Sharq El-Owainat (Al Wadi El-Gaded governorate), a new reclamation land in Egypt. This study was aimed at deciphering and characterizing the causal agent of the leaf yellowing disease associated with pumpkin plants in Egypt. The causal agent was identified by serological, cytological, and molecular means. The serological identification by DAS–ELISA confirmed the presence of CMV in 20% of the plants. The cytological identification by electron microscopy revealed typical cucumovirus isometric particles of 28–30 nm diameter in the cytoplasm of the leaf parenchyma, epidermal cells, the integument, and the nucleus. Molecular characterization by one-step reverse transcriptase-PCR yielded the required size of amplicon (678 bp) for CMV. Additionally, mechanical sap inoculation was used to determine the host range and symptomatology of the isolated CMV in seventeen different plant species belonging to six different plant families. CMV replicated, moved systemically, and induced a range of symptoms in sixteen plant species. The isolated CMV was transmitted to pumpkin plants at a 16.4% rate by seeds. CMV-infected pumpkin plant leaves were characterized by a substantially low concentration of photosynthetic pigments, a high level of reducing sugars, relatively low protein levels, and a significant increase in total phenol contents, implying their potential role as antiviral agents. Ultrathin sections of infected cells revealed histological changes and cytological abnormalities in comparison to healthy plants. This is the first identification of CMV on new reclamation land in Egypt, pinpointing its swift spread, which could pose a major constraint to pumpkin production in Egypt. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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20 pages, 7804 KiB  
Article
Biological Activity of Four Trichoderma Species Confers Protection against Rhizoctonia solani, the Causal Agent of Cucumber Damping-Off and Root Rot Diseases
by Mustafa I. Almaghasla, Sherif Mohamed El-Ganainy and Ahmed Mahmoud Ismail
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7250; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097250 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1899
Abstract
The cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.) is often subjected to several fungal diseases. Rhizoctonia solani-induced cucumber damping-off and root rot are the most common diseases reported from the commercial greenhouses of the eastern area of Saudi Arabia. The objective of the current [...] Read more.
The cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.) is often subjected to several fungal diseases. Rhizoctonia solani-induced cucumber damping-off and root rot are the most common diseases reported from the commercial greenhouses of the eastern area of Saudi Arabia. The objective of the current study is to explore the antagonistic activity of four Trichoderma species against R. solani in vitro and in vivo. Ten R. solani isolates (eight belonging to AG-4 and two belonging to AG-A and AG2-1) were studied. AG4 isolates were pathogenic to cucumber plants, while AG-A and AG2-1 isolates were non-pathogenic. Seven isolates of Trichoderma spp., named T. hamatum KSATR8, T. harzianum (KSATR9 and KSATR10), T. asperellum (KSATR11, KSATC, and KSAT1E), and T. longibrachiatum KSATS were isolated, and the identities of both R. solani and Trichoderma isolates were confirmed based on the phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequence of the ITS region. The dual culture findings indicated that T. asperellum KSATC and KSAT1E exhibited the most significant inhibitory activities against R. solani, with values of 79.33 and 70.89%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed a considerable degradation in the cell wall and collapsing of R. solani hyphae by all Trichoderma species. Under greenhouse conditions, the application of T. asperellum KSATC and KSAT1E at concentrations of 2 × 108 conidia/mL revealed a reduction in root rot and damping-off incidence percentages with values that did not reveal a significant (p < 0.05) difference from those of Rizolex-T fungicide. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the fungicide attained 86.67%, being higher than that of T. asperellum KSATC, which reached 80%. Trichoderma asperellum KSATC and KSAT1E were the greatest in increasing peroxidase, catalase, and chitinase enzymes activities in cucumber plants. Conversely, a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in polyphenol oxidase enzyme (0.762 and 0.97 U/g FW) and total phenol content (0.55 and 0.62 mg/g FW) was recorded in cucumber plants treated with T. harzianum KSATR9 and KSATR10, respectively. The statistical analysis results displayed no considerable variations among cucumber plants regarding total chlorophyll content as a response to treatments with Trichoderma species and fungicides. Therefore, we endorse using T. asperellum KSATC and KSAT1E as an alternative to fungicides to manage root rot and damping-off in cucumbers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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20 pages, 1013 KiB  
Article
Can Decision Support Systems Help Improve the Sustainable Use of Fungicides in Wheat?
by Ketel Christian Prahl, Holger Klink, Mario Hasler, Susanne Hagen, Joseph-Alexander Verreet and Tim Birr
Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315599 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1931
Abstract
Wheat is one of the most economically important field crops worldwide. Foliar diseases are a major threat to wheat productivity and are primarily managed by implementing less susceptible cultivars and using fungicides. With the “Farm to Fork” strategy under consideration by the European [...] Read more.
Wheat is one of the most economically important field crops worldwide. Foliar diseases are a major threat to wheat productivity and are primarily managed by implementing less susceptible cultivars and using fungicides. With the “Farm to Fork” strategy under consideration by the European Union to reduce pesticide usage by 50% by 2030, this elucidates the importance of utilizing decision support systems (DSS) to optimize fungicide applications. Therefore, three DSSs of different origins, namely the IPM-Wheat Model Schleswig-Holstein (scientific), the ISIP system (federal), and the xarvio© FIELD MANAGER (commercial), were analysed under maritime climate conditions at three locations in a high input area of wheat cultivation in northern Germany from 2019 to 2021. Fungicide efficacy was evaluated for yield as well as for the management of prevalent pathogens (Septoria tritici blotch, glume blotch, tan spot, powdery mildew, stripe rust, and leaf rust) on two different commercially available cultivars (highly and moderately susceptible). Compared to a stage-oriented standard system, no significant decrease in yield was observed in both cultivars, despite up to a 50% reduction in fungicide use through the use of DSSs. This was attributed to an optimized timing of fungicide applications, which resulted in slightly lower but still tolerable disease suppression efficacy compared to the stage-oriented system. In conclusion, minor disease severities are often overestimated, and DSSs can help improve the sustainability of fungicide use in wheat and pesticides in general. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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11 pages, 900 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Azadirachta indica and Punica granatum Extracts in the Control of Cuminum cyminum Wilt Disease Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini
by Kamal A. M. Abo-Elyousr, Adel D. Al-Qurashi, Maged Saad, Omer H. M. Ibrahim and Magdi Ali Ahmed Mousa
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15233; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215233 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1307
Abstract
Punica granatum and Azadirachta indica are plants rich in phytochemicals, which directly contribute to antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to test A. indica and P. granatum against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini (Foc), the causal pathogen of Fusarium wilt in [...] Read more.
Punica granatum and Azadirachta indica are plants rich in phytochemicals, which directly contribute to antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to test A. indica and P. granatum against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini (Foc), the causal pathogen of Fusarium wilt in cumin plants, in vivo and in vitro. After screening different concentrations of both plants, three concentrations (250, 500, and 1000 µg·mL−1) of P. granatum and A. indica were selected to study their effectiveness against Fusarium wilt in cumin plants. The in vitro study showed that both extracts have the ability to reduce mycelium growth of the pathogen with different degrees of efficacy, but less than the positive control. Under greenhouse conditions, all treatments of cumin plants significantly reduced Fusarium wilt compared to the infected control. The most effective concentration for P. granatum was 1000 µg·mL−1. The use of both extracts significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of cumin plants (g plant−1) compared to infected plants. Total phenols and flavonoids increased in inoculated cumin plants after treatment with both extracts. The results revealed that both extracts are rich in phytochemicals and possess potent in vitro antioxidant activity. Both are rich in carbohydrates, saponins, amino acids, proteins, alkaloids, and terpenoids. In conclusion, the application of methanolic extracts of P. granatum and A. indica can provide an alternative to chemical fungicides to mitigate the Fusarium wilt of cumin and, therefore, future studies should focus on the study of both extracts on different pathogens, as well their ability to reduce disease under field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Pathology and Integrated Disease Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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