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Agronomy
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Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases
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Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 5771

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fei He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: wheat genomics and bioinformatics
Dr. Yuheng Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: wheat fungal disease control; genomics of wheat fungal pathogen

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As global climate change continues, crop diseases are becoming more frequent and severe.

Crop diseases, ranging from Fusarium head blight in wheat to rice blast in rice and extending to rust in corn, have a profound and detrimental effect on not only the growth and productivity of these crops but also pose a significant risk to global food security and agro-ecological stability. Researching and understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of these crop diseases and the functioning of the plant immune system can help us find more effective prevention and control strategies, thereby increasing crop yields and ensuring food security.

We aim to report a collection of the latest research, methods, and perspectives in this field. We hope that this Special Issue can facilitate communication among researchers. These exchanges will contribute to the formation of new research ideas.

Recent studies have demonstrated that second- and third-generation sequencing technologies can be utilized to better understand the evolution of pathogenic diseases. Through the use of these technologies, the genetic diversity of pathogens can also be studied more effectively. The development of high-throughput sequencing technologies has opened up new opportunities for studying issues such as pathogen transmission and virulence dynamics. Additionally, the publication of crop genomes and the release of pan-genomic data have accelerated the cloning and functional research of disease-resistance genes in wheat, maize, and rice. We are now able to more efficiently decipher the genetic mechanisms of disease-resistant cultivars. Population genetics tools have also been widely used in the identification of avirulence genes.

Research articles, short communications, and reviews are all welcome as a part of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Fei He
Dr. Yuheng Yang
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

  • wheat fungi disease
  • fungi pathogen genomics
  • interaction between wheat and fungi pathogens

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1450 KiB  
Article
Stem Rust Resistance in 62 Cultivars and Elite Lines from Northern Huanghuai Region of China
by Yifan Wei, Di Zhao, Tingjie Cao, Huiyan Sun, Longmei Zou, Jinjing Yang, Gongjun Zhang, Tong Li, Conghao Zhang, Qiutong Chen and Tianya Li
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1174; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051174 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 202
Abstract
Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a major disease that severely affects safe wheat production. The Huanghuai region plays a vital role in China’s wheat production and the wheat stem rust epidemic across China. However, due to [...] Read more.
Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, is a major disease that severely affects safe wheat production. The Huanghuai region plays a vital role in China’s wheat production and the wheat stem rust epidemic across China. However, due to China’s effective control measures, wheat stem rust rarely occurs in the region, resulting in little research on this disease, including the determination of resistance genes in cultivars and elite lines. For this purpose, this study utilized two predominant races (21C3CTHQM and 34MKGQM) of P. graminis f. sp. tritici to determine the resistance levels of 64 wheat cultivars in the Huanghuai wheat region. Additionally, molecular markers linked with Sr24, Sr25, Sr26, Sr31, and Sr38 were used to analyze the presence of these genes. The results indicated that among the 62 wheat cultivars and elite lines, 13 cultivars contained Sr31, four cultivars were detected to contain Sr38, and none contained Sr24, Sr25, or Sr26. Field tests in 2023 showed that three (4.8%) cultivars exhibited immunity to both races, while 20 (32.3%) and 23 (37.1%) cultivars showed resistance to moderate resistance, and 39 (62.9%) and 36 (58.1%) cultivars were moderately susceptible to susceptible. In 2024, one (1.6%) and four (6.5%) cultivars demonstrated immunity to both races, 22 (35.5%) and 23 (37.1%) cultivars showed resistance to moderate resistance, and 39 (62.9%) and 35 (56.5%) cultivars were moderately susceptible to susceptible. With over 50% of the cultivars displaying susceptibility, the overall resistance level was relatively low, indicating that stem rust outbreaks could recur if a sufficient inoculum is present. It is crucial to explore new resistance sources, discover novel resistance genes, and breed wheat cultivars with durable resistance and desirable agronomic traits to enhance the overall resistance to stem rust in Chinese wheat-growing regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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18 pages, 2961 KiB  
Article
Genetic Dissection of the Powdery Mildew Resistance in a Cultivated Emmer Wheat Accession
by Ruishan Liu, Yuli Jin, Ningning Yu, Hongxing Xu, Xusheng Sun, Jiangchun Wang, Xueqing Liu, Jiadong Zhang, Jiatong Li, Yaoxue Li and Pengtao Ma
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 980; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040980 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew, poses a significant threat to global wheat production. In this study, we identified and characterized a broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance gene, PmL709, in a resistant cultivated emmer [...] Read more.
Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew, poses a significant threat to global wheat production. In this study, we identified and characterized a broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance gene, PmL709, in a resistant cultivated emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum) accession: L709. Using bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-Seq) analysis and molecular markers, PmL709 was mapped to a 1.7 cM interval on chromosome arm 2BS, flanked by markers Xdw05/YTU95-04/YTU95-06/YTU95-08/Xdw10/Xdw11 and YTU692B-094, corresponding to a 21.82–25.94 Mb physical interval (cv. Svevo), using the segregated population crossed by L709 and a susceptible durum wheat cultivar, Langdon. Referring to the origin, the resistance spectra, and the physical position with known resistance genes on chromosome arm 2BS, PmL709 was likely to be an allele of Pm68. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 3923 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between resistant and susceptible bulks, enriched in pathways such as phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, MAPK signaling, and plant–pathogen interactions. qRT-PCR validated the differential expression of nine candidate genes within the PmL709 interval, highlighting their potential roles in disease resistance. The flanking markers could accurately trace the presence of PmL709 from resistant accession L709 in a survey of 46 susceptible wheat accessions. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms of powdery mildew resistance in wheat and offer practical tools for marker-assisted breeding to develop resistant cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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20 pages, 6371 KiB  
Article
Identification and Expression Analysis of Wheat Golden2-like (TaGLK) Gene in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stress
by Junhui Xiang, Pingu Liu, Daniel Bimpong, Jiayi Shen, Xusi Liu, Siting Wang, Yan Li, Youning Wang and Dongfang Ma
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 3070; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14123070 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 771
Abstract
The Golden2-like (GLK) transcription factors belong to the GARP family of transcription factors and play significant roles in plant growth, development, and responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. This study employed bioinformatics and expression analyses to investigate the regulatory roles of wheat [...] Read more.
The Golden2-like (GLK) transcription factors belong to the GARP family of transcription factors and play significant roles in plant growth, development, and responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. This study employed bioinformatics and expression analyses to investigate the regulatory roles of wheat GLK proteins under various stress conditions, including abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, osmotic stress, and infection by Fusarium graminearum. The study identified 125 TaGLK proteins and revealed that TaGLKs play a significant role in wheat’s development and response to adverse environmental conditions. The results indicate that TaGLKs may serve as potential transcriptional regulators capable of integrating multiple cellular signals to coordinate various developmental and physiological processes. Evolutionary analysis classified the TaGLK proteins into six subgroups, which shared similar conserved domains and motifs. Protein–protein interaction network analysis revealed that TaGLKs are involved in photoreceptor activity, cell cycle progression, and protein regulation. Gene expression analysis of TaGLKs discovered that they play key functions in wheat development, as well as regulation of biotic and abiotic stress conditions. RT-qPCR analysis showed that TaGLKs regulate earlier and late effects of osmotic stress, F. graminearum infections, and ABA treatment in wheat. These findings provide knowledge for future studies of the functions of TaGLK TFs in wheat stress tolerance and development, which could have significant implications for enhancing wheat tolerance to various environmental stressors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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10 pages, 664 KiB  
Article
Identification and Biocontrol of Cladosporium Mold Caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides on Wheat Spikes in Central China
by Mo Zhu, Hongxia Bai, Wanwan Zhang, Sujing Zhao, Zongbo Qiu and Fei He
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2330; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102330 - 10 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1467
Abstract
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most agriculturally and economically important crops in the world. Wheat fungal diseases are becoming more severe and frequent due to global climate change, threatening wheat yields and security. While fungal diseases such as fusarium [...] Read more.
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most agriculturally and economically important crops in the world. Wheat fungal diseases are becoming more severe and frequent due to global climate change, threatening wheat yields and security. While fungal diseases such as fusarium head blight, stripe rust, and powdery mildew have been extensively studied, the newly emerged fungal pathogens in wheat are still under-researched. In May 2023, black mold symptoms were observed on wheat spikes in Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China. However, the causal agent of this disease was not known. We employed a combination of morphological examination and molecular techniques to identify the pathogen. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and actin (act) genes of the fungus were partially sequenced (accession no. OR186209, PQ271633 and PQ271632) and showed 99.59–100% identity with the previously reported Cladosporium cladosporioides, which affects wheat, pokeweed, and black-eyed pea. The pathogenicity of this fungus was confirmed by fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Through a rigorous screening process, we found Simplicillium aogashimaense, Trichothecium roseum, and Bacillus velezensis as effective biocontrol agents, with B. velezensis demonstrating the most potent antagonistic activity against the Cladosporium mold. This discovery showed the potential of B. velezensis as a biocontrol agent for wheat disease management. The findings underscore the importance of the present study in advancing the control of this disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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15 pages, 1174 KiB  
Article
Influence of Wheat Cultivars, Infection Level, and Climate after Anthesis on Efficacy of Fungicide for Control of Fusarium Head Blight in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China
by Fei Xu, Hongqi Wang, Chaohong Feng, Ruijie Shi, Jihong Liu, Junmei Wang, Hua Fan, Lei Bai, Xiaoqing Li, Xiaoli Hu, Lijuan Li, Lulu Liu, Yahong Li, Zihang Han, Wei Liu, Yuli Song and Yilin Zhou
Agronomy 2024, 14(10), 2266; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102266 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 874
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the Fusarium graminearum species complex, causes significant losses in grain yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum) by inducing floret sterility. Grains become contaminated with mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON), making them unsuitable for consumption. To [...] Read more.
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the Fusarium graminearum species complex, causes significant losses in grain yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum) by inducing floret sterility. Grains become contaminated with mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON), making them unsuitable for consumption. To clarify the impact of wheat cultivar resistance, infection level, and climate after anthesis on the efficacy of a fungicide for the control of FHB, we treated two moderately susceptible cultivars and 11 susceptible cultivars with fungicide (48% phenamacril + tebuconazole) at anthesis over two years. FHB incidence (INC), disease severity index (DSI), Fusarium-damaged kernels, DON contamination, thousand-kernel weight, and yield were evaluated under artificially inoculated and naturally infected field trials in 2018 and 2021. The results of multi-factor variance analysis show that the control efficacy with respect to INC and DSI is affected by cultivar, fungicide, infection level, and climatic conditions including the average daily temperature, average daily relative humidity, and total rainfall from anthesis to 21 days after anthesis (p < 0.01). Notably, cultivar resistance (deviance = 13.34, 9.55, and 11.22) is more important than fungicide (deviance = 5.77, 6.66, and 6.69) to control the efficacy of INC, DSI, and DON. The results also suggest that infection level appears to be more important than cultivars and fungicide to control the efficacy of INC, and more important than fungicide to control the efficacy of DSI. Total rainfall is more important than other climatic factors. Our results reveal that fungicide is more effective in moderately susceptible cultivars (‘Zhengmai 9023’ and ‘Xinong 979’, 89.5%~98.9%) and some susceptible cultivars than in other susceptible cultivars (‘Zhengmai 7698’ and ‘Zhoumai 27’, 51.9%~67.2%). Thus, integrating cultivar resistance with fungicide application can be an effective strategy for the management of FHB and DON in winter wheat in the Huang-huai-hai Plain of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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20 pages, 6190 KiB  
Article
The Roles of Glutaredoxins in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Biotic and Abiotic Stress Conditions, including Fungal and Hormone Treatments
by Mengyuan Song, Xiao Xu, Ye Dong, Daniel Bimpong, Lijun Liu, Yanli Li, Huiquan Shen and Youning Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(9), 2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14092057 - 9 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1344
Abstract
Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are widely distributed oxidoreductase enzymes that play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to various stresses. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify and analyze the wheat GRX gene family and predict their properties and potential functions. [...] Read more.
Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are widely distributed oxidoreductase enzymes that play important roles in plant growth, development, and responses to various stresses. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify and analyze the wheat GRX gene family and predict their properties and potential functions. RNA-seq and RT-qPCR expression analyses were used to investigate their regulatory functions under hormone treatment and fungal diseases. In this study, 86 GRX genes were identified in wheat and classified into CC-type, CGFS-type, and CPYC-type categories with no TaGRX located on chromosome 4B. The results show that TaGRXs regulate wheat transcriptional responses and have an integrative role in biotic and abiotic stress responses. TaGRXs are involved in wheat responses to Fusarium graminearum, Puccinia striiformis, and Erysiphe graminis diseases. TaGRX73-7D, TaGRX20-3A, and TaGRX29-3B play a negative regulatory role in E. graminis infection but a positive regulatory role in F. graminearum and P. striiformis infection. These TaGRXs play potential regulatory functions in wheat responses to the plant hormones and signaling molecules, including IAA, ABA, H2O2, and SA. The findings of this study lay the groundwork for further investigation of the functions of wheat GRX genes and their potential use as candidate genes for molecular breeding of stress-resistant wheat varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanism and Sustainable Control of Crop Diseases)
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