Sustainable Production of Fruit Trees and Disease Resistance

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2024 | Viewed by 4278

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: plant pathology/pathogens; plant pathogen diagnostics; molecular methods in plant pathology; effects of environmental factors on genomes in prokaryotes; phytopharmacy; plant disease control
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Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture and Nutrition, Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, 52440 Poreč, Croatia
Interests: olive protection; biological control; plant pathology
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Guest Editor
Italian National Research Council, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, 10138 Torino, Italy
Interests: molecular biology of plant pathogens; quarantine plant pathogens; innovative precision diagnostics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable fruit production protects and broadens the interests of countries and contributes to the conservation of national treasures—the diversity of plant and animal species, humus content in the soil, etc. Following the guidelines for such farming, the use of agro-chemicals is minimized, the dependence on fuels is reduced, natural biological processes are enhanced, and soil fertility is restored.

Plant diseases nowadays are increasing due to the climate change we are witnessing, but also due to intensive plant production and technology. Similarly, infections are always higher in orchards with higher planting densities and where drastic pruning and abundant irrigation are present, like excessive nitrogen fertilization. Since the natural balance is disturbed under such production conditions, the plants’ vigor and resistance are reduced and various problems arise, like a large number of new diseases and their occurrence on a large scale. Under the current situation, plants become more susceptible to various diseases.

The importance of research on the proposed topic is based on the fact that there is an actual possibility of finding potential solutions to the struggle against pathogens of fruit trees that do not currently have adequate curative plant-protection remedies. Therefore, there is a need and necessity to find alternative natural ingredients and compounds in the fight against plant diseases. At the same time, effective antimicrobial, natural, and non-hazardous compounds are an alternative answer and an ecological solution to the problem of plant protection and could be a response to the increasing endangerment of human health.

In addition, the use and further development of organic plant-protection products will largely depend a) on the interest of the pesticide industries or the pharmaceutical industry (which is increasingly interested in this area, as alternative solutions to plant protection need to be pursued as registration and authorization of usage have been abolished for a large number of products); b) on the farmers' demands (which are growing over time); c) on the results of scientific research (which is increasing in that specific area); and d) on public opinion (which is more and more turning to so-called 'green' solutions).

Research on alternative compounds and agents in phytomedicine is not strongly represented in databases, as such research can be said to have just begun. This Special Issue deals with the innovative and original research on this topic nowadays.

Since science has an extremely important task in the introduction and development of any new technology, we also consider our task in fulfilling this purpose through this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Edyta Đermić
Dr. Sara Godena
Dr. Slavica Matic
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • integrated plant production
  • plant waste products
  • organic agriculture
  • phenols
  • biological control
  • bioactive compounds
  • alternative methods
  • biopesticides
  • essential oils
  • plant disease management
  • green pesticides
  • antimicrobial activity
  • bacteria
  • fungi
  • viruses
  • plant diseases

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1681 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Influence of Viral Infection on ‘Tribidrag’ Grapevines: Insights from Two Vegetation Seasons
by Mate Čarija, Matevž Likar, Silvija Černi, Tomislav Radić, Emanuel Gaši and Katarina Hančević
Horticulturae 2024, 10(5), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10050495 - 11 May 2024
Viewed by 682
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the grapevine variety ‘Tribidrag’ to virus infection over two vegetation seasons. Virus-free plants were greenhouse cultivated and green grafted with five different virus inocula composed of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) singly [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to investigate the response of the grapevine variety ‘Tribidrag’ to virus infection over two vegetation seasons. Virus-free plants were greenhouse cultivated and green grafted with five different virus inocula composed of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) singly or in coinfection with other most economically important grapevine viruses. Changes in nutrient status and photosynthesis-related parameters, along with symptom development, were measured. Using the quantitative PCR method, the relative concentration of five selected Vitis genes was determined. Cluster analysis and ANOVA revealed the reduction in phosphorus concentration (P) and photosynthesis-related parameters in infected plants in both seasons, even in the absence of symptom expression, indicating P and assimilation rate (Photo (A)) as stable markers of virus infection. Plants infected with inoculum Y composed of five different viruses provoked major significant changes in the first season while, in the second, fewer changes were measured. The sucrose synthase 3 gene was upregulated in infected plants confirming disturbed sugar metabolism related to virus-induced stress. This study showed that virus-induced changes in ‘Tribidrag’ plants even in the absence of symptoms are dependent on plant age, as well as on the composition of virus inocula. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Fruit Trees and Disease Resistance)
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26 pages, 5738 KiB  
Article
Identification and Pathogenicity of Biscogniauxia and Sordaria Species Isolated from Olive Trees
by Elena Petrović, Sara Godena, Jasenka Ćosić and Karolina Vrandečić
Horticulturae 2024, 10(3), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10030243 - 2 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1386
Abstract
A field investigation of olive trees in Istria, Croatia, revealed branch dieback and cracked bark. Samples of diseased branches were collected from eight different locations and analysed. Additionally, meteorological data from two locations were analysed to determine if there was a connection between [...] Read more.
A field investigation of olive trees in Istria, Croatia, revealed branch dieback and cracked bark. Samples of diseased branches were collected from eight different locations and analysed. Additionally, meteorological data from two locations were analysed to determine if there was a connection between climatic changes and the appearance of pathogens in the region. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on olive seedlings. This study provides a description of Biscogniauxia and Sordaria species’ morphology and elucidates their phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (TUB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1- α) regions. This research represents the first documented occurrence of Biscogniauxia mediterranea causing charcoal disease in olive trees in Croatia. Additionally, it is the first report of Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze and Sordaria fimicola causing diseases in olive trees anywhere in the world. Furthermore, this study marks one of the initial forays into molecular investigations of these species isolated from olive trees. Considering the potential threat posed by the inherent aggressiveness of Biscogniauxia species, further research is deemed necessary to curb the development of charcoal disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Fruit Trees and Disease Resistance)
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16 pages, 3649 KiB  
Article
Antifungal and Antioomycete Activities of a Curcuma longa L. Hydroethanolic Extract Rich in Bisabolene Sesquiterpenoids
by Adriana Cruz, Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Ana Teixeira, Pablo Martín-Ramos, Ana Cunha and Rui Oliveira
Horticulturae 2024, 10(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020124 - 27 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1418
Abstract
Curcuma longa, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, has been a staple in traditional medicine for centuries. In the pursuit of natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives, the extracts of C. longa have garnered attention for their efficacy in extending shelf [...] Read more.
Curcuma longa, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, has been a staple in traditional medicine for centuries. In the pursuit of natural alternatives to synthetic preservatives, the extracts of C. longa have garnered attention for their efficacy in extending shelf life and preventing the spoilage of diverse agricultural products. This study aims to assess the antifungal and antioomycete activities and plant protection capabilities of a hydroethanolic C. longa extract as a natural product against crop pathogens. The phytochemical profile of the C. longa extract was elucidated through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extract exhibited a richness in bisabolene sesquiterpenoids, notably (+)-β-turmerone, α-turmerone, (+)-(S)-ar-turmerone, and included minor phytoconstituents, such as α-atlantone, γ-curcumene, zingiberene, isoelemicin, and gibberellin A3. Radial growth inhibition assays demonstrated the C. longa extract’s effectiveness against various phytopathogenic fungi, including Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, and Diplodia corticola, as well as the oomycetes Phytophthora cactorum and Phytophthora cinnamomi. In ex situ tests, the C. longa extract demonstrated remarkable protection capabilities for Malus domestica excised stems against P. cinnamomi-induced necrosis. Furthermore, the C. longa extract exhibited non-toxicity towards lettuce seed germination and did not impact early lettuce seedling growth, indicating its safety for crop protection. These findings contribute to expanding the potential applications of C. longa as an antimicrobial agent, particularly for safeguarding economically significant trees against the destructive oomycete P. cinnamomi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Fruit Trees and Disease Resistance)
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