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Agronomy
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Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection
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Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Pest and Disease Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 9636

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kai Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: soybean
Dr. Yu Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
Interests: pest management and plant protection; edible insect; analytical chemistry of agrochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zhaofeng Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: weed biology and ecology; sustainable weed management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The legume family is economically important and is one of the most important sources of starch, protein, oil, and vegetables for human food around the world. The pulses are an important component of the response of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in emergencies. However, the frequent occurrence of diseases, pests, and weeds is one of the important factors restricting the high and stable yield of legume crops. Harmful organism management (including diseases, pests, and weeds) is critical and requires integrated approaches and strategies. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advances in this field by publishing high-quality research articles focusing on the management of legume crop diseases, pests, and weeds.

We welcome original research articles, review papers, case studies, and perspectives that provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest updates in the management of diseases, pests, and weeds in legume crops. This Special Issue will cover a wide range of topics related to legume crop harmful organism management, including, but not limited to, chemical control, alternative control strategies (e.g., the use of microbiological agents, essential oils, natural enemy insects, light trapping, and cultural measures), plant disease and pest modeling, precision crop protection, remote sensing technology, and resistance breeding. We encourage researchers and experts from different disciplines to contribute their valuable insights and findings to this Special Issue.

Dr. Kai Li
Dr. Yu Gao
Dr. Zhaofeng Huang
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. Agronomy 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 2600 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

  • resistance breeding
  • resistance gene mining
  • induced resistance
  • legume viruses
  • malignant weed
  • insect ecology
  • plant disease and pest detection and modeling
  • plant disease and pests
  • biological control
  • chemical control
  • physical and mechanical control
  • pesticide resistance management
  • integrated pest management

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 4064 KiB  
Article
High-Throughput Sequence Analysis of Microbial Communities of Soybean in Northeast China
by Yuanyuan Wang, Qingyao Bai, Fanqi Meng, Wei Dong, Haiyan Fan, Xiaofeng Zhu, Yuxi Duan and Lijie Chen
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020436 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 426
Abstract
Soybean, an essential oil crop in China, has witnessed accelerated seed transfer domestically and abroad in recent years. Seed carriage has emerged as a major route for the dissemination of soybean diseases. In this study, 14 soybean cultivars from three northeastern provinces were [...] Read more.
Soybean, an essential oil crop in China, has witnessed accelerated seed transfer domestically and abroad in recent years. Seed carriage has emerged as a major route for the dissemination of soybean diseases. In this study, 14 soybean cultivars from three northeastern provinces were collected and examined for seed-borne microorganisms using traditional detection technology and high-throughput sequencing technology. Through traditional detection techniques, a total of six genera of bacteria and seventeen genera of fungi were isolated from the test varieties. The quantity and types of microorganisms on the seed surface were greater than those on the seed coat and within the seed, while the seed coat and internal seed contained fewer microorganisms. The dominant fungal genera were Cladosporium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria, accounting for 21.23%, 17.45%, 15.57%, and 11.56% of the genera, respectively. The dominant bacterial genera were Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Pantoea, accounting for 37.46%, 17.29%, and 15.27% of the genera, respectively. The dominant genera obtained through traditional seed-carrying assay techniques were also dominant in high-throughput sequencing. However, some dominant genera obtained through high-throughput sequencing were not isolated by traditional methods. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that soybean seeds from Jilin Province had the highest abundance of seed-borne fungi, followed by seeds from Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province. Jilin Province also had the highest abundance of seed-borne bacteria, followed by Heilongjiang Province and Liaoning Province. The isolation and identification of microorganisms on soybean seeds provide a scientific basis for seed quarantine treatment and disease control, which is of great significance for soybean production in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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16 pages, 2580 KiB  
Article
Identification, Characterization, and Chemical Management of Fusarium asiaticum Causing Soybean Root Rot in Northeast China
by Jinxin Liu, Wanqiu Cui, Qingyi Zhao, Zhipeng Ren, Lin Li, Yonggang Li, Lei Sun and Junjie Ding
Agronomy 2025, 15(2), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020388 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 632
Abstract
Soybean root rot, a soil-borne fungal disease, is caused by multiple pathogens that seriously affect soybean production. During spring 2021, 92 pathogenic fungal strains were isolated from soybean plants with root rot in Hailun City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Through morphological and molecular identification, [...] Read more.
Soybean root rot, a soil-borne fungal disease, is caused by multiple pathogens that seriously affect soybean production. During spring 2021, 92 pathogenic fungal strains were isolated from soybean plants with root rot in Hailun City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Through morphological and molecular identification, these strains were identified as Fusarium oxysporum (39.1%), F. asiaticum (30.4%), F. graminearum (13.0%), Pythium macrosporum (8.7%), and Rhizoctonia solani (8.7%). Among them, F. oxysporum was the dominant species, and F. asiaticum, not previously reported as a soybean root rot pathogen in Northeast China. Approximately 50% of the F. asiaticum isolates were moderately pathogenic. In addition, F. asiaticum had a wide host range, infecting black soybean, French bean, white hyacinth bean, mung bean, and adzuki bean but not corn, peanut, rice, and oat roots. Regarding field management, fludioxonil and pyraclostrobin had the best control effects of 73.8% and 69.4%, with EC50 values of 0.0029–0.0071 μg·mL−1 and 0.0045–0.0076 μg·mL−1, respectively. The study reported that F. asiaticum is a pathogen causing soybean root rot in northeast China. The application of chemical fungicides and non-host crop rotation can effectively control the disease caused by F. asiaticum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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22 pages, 505 KiB  
Article
Towards an Integrated Orobanche Management: Understanding Farmers’ Decision-Making Processes Using a Discrete Choice Experiment
by Ahmed Yangui, Taheni Mlayeh, Zouhaier Abbes and Mohamed Kharrat
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010219 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 876
Abstract
Controlling the Orobanche weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated Orobanche [...] Read more.
Controlling the Orobanche weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated Orobanche Management (IOM) approach has become a priority. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) methodology, we analyze the trade-off in farmers’ preferences between different attributes of IOM scenarios and estimate their willingness to pay (WTP). A sample of 124 Tunisian faba bean farmers participated in the study. The findings indicate that Tunisian farmers are open to adopt an IOM that includes Orobanche-tolerant faba bean varieties, and that the cost of technical package does not seem to be an obstacle. Nevertheless, farmers feel to be rewarded for delaying the sowing date from November to December. Furthermore, the study highlights that farmers show no clear preferences for the use of herbicide, specifically glyphosate, as well as for the practice of intercropping with fenugreek. While increasing faba bean yields remains a priority, farmers are willing to pay more for IOM scenarios that reduce the Orobanche plant shoot count. In conclusion, there is significant heterogeneity in farmers’ preferences, their financial situation, and the severity of Orobanche infestation significantly influencing their decision. Policy recommendations are derived from our results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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15 pages, 2739 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomics and Physiological Analyses of Soybean Stay-Green Syndrome
by Dagang Wang, Yanan Wang, Ruidong Sun, Yong Yang, Wei Zhao, Guoyi Yu, Yueying Wang, Feng Wang, Lin Zhou and Zhiping Huang
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010082 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 621
Abstract
Stay-green syndrome (SGS) is an important factor that causes soybean (Glycine max) yield reduction. Despite progress being made, the regulatory mechanism remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this study, an SGS-sensitive soybean variety, “HD0702”, was employed to investigate the underlying mechanism. Transcriptomic [...] Read more.
Stay-green syndrome (SGS) is an important factor that causes soybean (Glycine max) yield reduction. Despite progress being made, the regulatory mechanism remains largely unclear. Therefore, in this study, an SGS-sensitive soybean variety, “HD0702”, was employed to investigate the underlying mechanism. Transcriptomic analyses were performed in a tissue-specific manner to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in soybeans impacted by SGS and in those without SGS. A total of 1858 DEGs were identified in the pods, and 2814 DEGs were identified in the leaves. Further investigation revealed that SGS mainly affected the expression levels of key genes involved in the regulation of photosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. To support this finding, the chlorophyll content of the pods was to be found increased by 320% for chlorophyll a and 260% for chlorophyll b. In leaves, soluble sugar levels significantly increased, whereas phytohormones IAA and ABA decreased in SGS pods. DEGs were classified using gene ontology (GO) terms, and photosynthesis-related genes α-glucosidase, β-mannosidase, β-amylase 5 (GmBAM5), and starch synthase 2 (GmSS2) were up-regulated. This study demonstrates a molecular and physiological basis for SGS that merits further investigation to allow for SGS management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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20 pages, 5977 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Wheat-Straw-Fiber-Based Degradable Mulch Film for Sustained Release of Carbendazim and Its Application for Soybean Root Rot Control
by Shuang Liu, Zhe Jin, Pengfei Zhou, Huimin Shang, Haiyan Yang, Longhai Li, Rui Li, Ying Zhang and Haitao Chen
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010071 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 560
Abstract
In order to sustain control over soybean root rot, wheat-straw-fiber-based mulch film (WFM) coated with carbendazim (C) and chitosan (CS) mixture (C-CS-WFM) were prepared through bar coating technology. The Box–Behnken design method was employed to investigate the effects of chitosan concentration, wet film [...] Read more.
In order to sustain control over soybean root rot, wheat-straw-fiber-based mulch film (WFM) coated with carbendazim (C) and chitosan (CS) mixture (C-CS-WFM) were prepared through bar coating technology. The Box–Behnken design method was employed to investigate the effects of chitosan concentration, wet film thickness, and carbendazim loading on the dry tensile strength (DTS), wet tensile strength (WTS), and air permeance (AP) of C-CS-WFM. Eventually, the optimization process parameters were determined as follows: a chitosan concentration of 1.83–2.39%, a wet film thickness of 18–24 μm, and a carbendazim loading of 0.05–0.12 g/m2. These parameters achieved the desired physical properties of C-CS-WFM, i.e., the DTS is not less than 3.5 kN/m, the WTS is not less than 0.8 kN/m, and the AP does not exceed 2.1 μm/(Pa·s). The results showed that after the introduction of the C-CS coating, the DTS and WTS of C-CS-WFM were enhanced by 11.4% and 14.9%, respectively. In contrast, the AP was reduced by 15.6%. FT-IR analysis indicated that carbendazim was embedded in the C-CS composite material without any chemical interaction. Through SEM and sustained-release kinetic analysis, it was found that the sustained-release mechanism of C-CS-WFM conformed to the Ritger–Peppas kinetic model, and its release mechanism was the physical diffusion and matrix erosion. The results of the in vitro antifungal test and pot experiment demonstrated that C-CS-WFM could effectively inhibit the growth of Fusarium solani and promote the growth of plants. This study provided new ideas for the comprehensive prevention and control of soybean root rot. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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14 pages, 2626 KiB  
Article
Uncovering Fusarium Species Associated with Fusarium Wilt in Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and the Identification of Significant Marker–Trait Associations for Resistance in the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas’ Chickpea Collection Using SSR Markers
by Sojida M. Murodova, Tohir A. Bozorov, Ilkham S. Aytenov, Bekhruz O. Ochilov, Dilafruz E. Qulmamatova, Ilkhom B. Salakhutdinov, Marufbek Z. Isokulov, Gavkhar O. Khalillaeva, Laylo A. Azimova and Sodir K. Meliev
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14091943 - 28 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1440
Abstract
Enhancing plants’ resistance against FW is crucial for ensuring a sustainable global chickpea production. The present study focuses on the identification of fungal pathogens and the assessment of ninety-six chickpea samples for Fusarium wilt from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the [...] Read more.
Enhancing plants’ resistance against FW is crucial for ensuring a sustainable global chickpea production. The present study focuses on the identification of fungal pathogens and the assessment of ninety-six chickpea samples for Fusarium wilt from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)’s collection. Eight fungal isolates were recovered from the symptomatic chickpeas. Polyphasic identification was conducted by comparing the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), and beta-tubulin (tub2). Among them, Neocosmospora solani, N. nelsonii, N. falciformis, N. brevis, Fusarium brachygibbosum, and F. gossypinum were identified. An analysis of the genetic diversity of chickpeas, using 69 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, revealed a total of 191 alleles across all markers, with, on average, each SSR marker detecting approximately 2.8 alleles. A STRUCTURE analysis delineated lines into two distinct sub-groups (K = 2). Association mapping, using the generalized linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM) approaches, identified six and five marker–trait associations (MTAs) for FW resistance, respectively. Notably, these TA42, TA125 (A) and TA125 (B), TA37, and TAASH MTAs, commonly found in both models, emerge as potential candidates for the targeted enhancement of FW resistance in chickpeas. To our knowledge, this study represents an inaugural report on the association mapping of genomic loci governing FW resistance in chickpeas from the ICARDA’s accessions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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18 pages, 2491 KiB  
Article
Identification of QTLs and Candidate Genes for Red Crown Rot Resistance in Two Recombinant Inbred Line Populations of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]
by Augustine Antwi-Boasiako, Chunting Zhang, Aisha Almakas, Jiale Liu, Shihao Jia, Na Guo, Changjun Chen, Tuanjie Zhao and Jianying Feng
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1693; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081693 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1086
Abstract
With the rapid emergence and distribution of red crown rot (RCR) across countries, durable sources of resistance against Calonectria ilicicola in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is required to control the disease. We employed two RIL populations for the experiment. We identified [...] Read more.
With the rapid emergence and distribution of red crown rot (RCR) across countries, durable sources of resistance against Calonectria ilicicola in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is required to control the disease. We employed two RIL populations for the experiment. We identified 15 and 14 QTLs associated with RCR resistance in ZM6 and MN populations, respectively, totaling 29 QTLs. Six and eight QTLs had phenotypic variation above 10% in ZM6 and MN populations, respectively. We identified six (6) “QTL hotspots” for resistance to RCR from the ZM6 and MN RIL populations on chromosomes 1, 7, 10, 11, 13, and 18. Gene annotations, gene ontology enhancement, and RNA sequencing assessment detected 23 genes located within six “QTL Hotspots” as potential candidate genes that could govern RCR resistance in soybeans. Our data will generally assist breeders in rapidly and effectively incorporating RCR resistance into high-yielding accession through marker-assisted selection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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15 pages, 4488 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Efficacy of Four Essential Oils as Potential Insecticides against Thrips flavus
by Yulong Niu, Tianhao Pei, Yijin Zhao, Changjun Zhou, Bing Liu, Shusen Shi, Meng-Lei Xu and Yu Gao
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061212 - 4 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2494
Abstract
Plant essential oils are important alternatives in green integrated pest management. This study examined the chemical composition, bioactivity, and control efficacy of four Lamiaceae essential oils (EOs) against Thrips flavus Schrank in laboratory conditions with the goal of exploiting plant-derived insecticides to control [...] Read more.
Plant essential oils are important alternatives in green integrated pest management. This study examined the chemical composition, bioactivity, and control efficacy of four Lamiaceae essential oils (EOs) against Thrips flavus Schrank in laboratory conditions with the goal of exploiting plant-derived insecticides to control Thrips flavus. The four EOs tested were marjoram oil (Origanum majorana L.), clary sage oil (Salvia sclarea L.), perilla leaf oil (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.), and spearmint oil (Mentha spicata L.). All these EOs exhibited a certain degree of insecticidal activity against Thrips flavus. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined after treatment by the leaf-dipping method in laboratory bioassays, and its values were 0.41 mg/mL for marjoram oil, 0.42 mg/mL for clary sage oil, 0.43 mg/mL for perilla leaf oil, and 0.54 mg/mL for spearmint oil. In the pot experiment, the number of dead insects was recorded at 1, 3, and 7 days post-application, and the control efficacy of EOs against Thrips flavus was calculated. The concentration of 900.00 g a.i.·hm−2 of spearmint oil was 100% lethal against Thrips flavus after treating potted plants for seven days. The Y-tube olfactometer method was used to test for the attraction or repellent response of EOs against Thrips flavus. The spearmint oil significantly attracted female adults in the olfactory test. Furthermore, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to examine the chemical composition of the EOs. Linalool (24.52%), isopropyl myristate (28.74%), (+)-limonene (32.44%), and (+)-carvone (70.3%) were their primary ingredients. The findings suggest that all four EOs are highly effective against Thrips flavus and may be a possible alternative in the management of Thrips flavus, especially when considering reducing the use of synthetic pesticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Legume Crop Protection)
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