New Insights into Pathogen, Insect Pest, and Weed Control in Field and Greenhouse Cropping Systems—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the first Special Issue, entitled “New Insights into Pathogen, Insect Pest, and Weed Control in Field and Greenhouse Cropping Systems” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/TS29410019), in Agronomy, we are pleased to announce the launch of a second edition of the Issue.

The chemical-independent cropping approach in agriculture is a new research trend that has emerged due to persistent public concerns regarding pesticide residues contaminating food and the environment, as well as the scientific perspective of the reduced emergence of pesticide-resistant strains in all classes, including pathogens, insect pests, and weeds. Physical and biological approaches are important chemical alternatives addressed in this Special Issue. For the development of new physical methods of pest control, improved knowledge regarding electrostatics has provided an academic basis for creating innovative tools for the management of various pests. The devised tools consist of apparatuses that generate an electric field in the space surrounding negative or positive charges accumulated on an electric conductor. Based on the specific target, two types of apparatuses have been constructed that utilize suitable electrostatic characteristics. In the first type, the surface charge on an insulated charged conductor imparts an attractive force to another electric charge in the electric field. Using this phenomenon, electrostatic traps have been devised for airborne spores, plant pollen, and flying insect pests. In the second type, the electric charge on a non-insulated charged conductor causes an arc (spark) discharge exposure that then exterminates targets in the electric field or forcibly repels the targets outside. The most important shared feature of these types of apparatuses is a simple structure that can be fabricated and modified inexpensively by ordinary workers using common materials.　Hydrothermal and solar heating treatments of soil are another option with which to physically manage soil-resident pathogens, insect pests, and weed seeds through a soil sterilization procedure, which could be an eco-friendly method with the improved application of economic instruments. Colored films or nets, which absorb or reflect light of specific wavelengths, and specific light-emitting illuminators such as LED lights are the most familiar usable apparatuses to attract phototactic insect pests or confuse their behavior in terms of host attacking. The biological approach involves biocontrol methods and genetic breeding techniques for protecting crops from pathogens and insect pests. Biocontrol is a method involving applying microbial agents to plants in order to antagonize their pathogens and insect pests. Despite a long history of applications, there are some problems to be clarified, especially the elucidation of antagonistic mechanisms. The reliable method for successfully activating antagonists for long periods of time is a long-awaited theme in this Special Issue. The identification of resistance traits in plants and the elucidation of their expression mechanisms are the most important bases for constructing the resistance breeding program in many crop plants that may be resistant to pest attacks. At the same time, pathogenicity-related genes in pathogens that co-evolve through host and pathogen interactions are the related targets to be considered for successfully constructing an effective crop breeding strategy. Challenging these topics is the objective of launching the Special Issue Volume II.

The present Special Issue highlights various types of physical and biological research concerning the management of plant pathogens, insect pests, and weeds under field and greenhouse conditions. Of these, quality-improved traps constitute a promising tool to prevent pathogenic, wind-carried spores and flying insect pests from entering a greenhouse or to monitor their spatial and periodic changes, ensuring safe crop production. Safe and effective apparatus can be a practical an cutting-edge tool in eradicating weeds, such as the use of an electric mulching system, or to precipitate pesticides which have been sprayed outside and entered residential spaces for humans. An extensive elucidation of the photo-selective expression of pathogenicity-related genes in fungal phytopathogens provides an academic basis for constructing a light-exposure strategy for pathogen control. Despite the ongoing challenges, continued research will provide new insights that will enable the development of reliable plant protection methods, ensuring sustainable crop production, even as changes arise in different cropping systems.

Prof. Dr. Hideyoshi Toyoda
Guest Editor

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