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Plant Fungal Diseases and Crop Protection, 2nd Edition
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Plant Fungal Diseases and Crop Protection, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungi in Agriculture and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 2330

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ofir Degani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plant Science, MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute, Kiryat Shmona, Israel and Faculty of Sciences, Tel-Hai College, Tel-Hai, Israel
Interests: biological control; chemical control; crop protection; field studies; maize late wilt disease; plant disease; plant host–pathogen interactions; plant microflora
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi are the largest group of plant pathogens, infecting hosts through leaves, seeds, and the soil. These pathogens inflict significant damage to crops through various methods of attack, leading to reduced global production and an ongoing need for new control strategies. The comprehensive approach to managing these crop diseases relies on deeply understanding the fungi involved, the susceptible growth phases, and the environmental conditions that influence disease development. Public concerns about using synthetic chemicals and the emergence of fungicide-resistant fungal strains have led to a pressing need to explore alternative, environmentally friendly methods. This collection seeks papers exploring recent innovations and scientific advancements in fungal diseases affecting plants and their impact on modern agriculture. This includes the consideration of non-pathogenic fungi associated with plants, which may influence the onset and severity of diseases. Enhancing our understanding of this research area will yield practical benefits and essential data for future investigations.

Dr. Ofir Degani
Guest Editor

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. Journal of Fungi 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

  • biocontrol
  • crop protection
  • diagnosis
  • disease resistance
  • endophytes
  • fungicides
  • integrated disease management
  • pest control
  • plant health
  • host–pathogen interactions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1121 KiB  
Article
Trichoderma harzianum in Biocontrol of Maize Fungal Diseases and Relevant Mycotoxins: From the Laboratory to the Field
by Ivana Mitrović, Petar Čanak, Sonja Tančić Živanov, Hunor Farkaš, Marko Vasiljević, Svetlana Ćujić, Miroslav Zorić and Bojan Mitrović
J. Fungi 2025, 11(6), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11060416 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 823
Abstract
Background: Maize, one of the world’s most important food and feed crops, is often threatened by fungal infections that not only reduce yields but also contaminate grains with harmful mycotoxins. Methods: This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma harzianum K179 as an [...] Read more.
Background: Maize, one of the world’s most important food and feed crops, is often threatened by fungal infections that not only reduce yields but also contaminate grains with harmful mycotoxins. Methods: This study evaluated the biocontrol potential of Trichoderma harzianum K179 as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for protecting maize from two major pathogens, Fusarium graminearum and Aspergillus flavus. T. harzianum K179 was cultivated in a lab-scale bioreactor, and its antifungal activity was assessed through in vitro inhibition assays and two-year field trials. During the field trial, maize ear disease severity, yield, and mycotoxin levels in maize samples were monitored to assess the efficacy of the produced Trichoderma biopreparation. Results: In laboratory tests, T. harzianum K179 significantly inhibited both target pathogens. Field trials demonstrated that seed treatments with the Trichoderma bioagent reduced ear rot severity and increased grain yield compared to untreated and chemically treated controls. Notably, maize samples from T. harzianum-treated plots contained lower concentrations of key mycotoxins, including fumonisins and aflatoxins. Conclusions: These findings highlight the usefulness of T. harzianum K179 in integrated pest management strategies, offering a sustainable solution that enhances crop safety and productivity while mitigating the environmental risks associated with chemical fungicides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Fungal Diseases and Crop Protection, 2nd Edition)
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23 pages, 7312 KiB  
Article
Comparative Antagonistic Activities of Endolichenic Fungi Isolated from the Fruticose Lichens Ramalina and Usnea
by Lloyd Christian Jamilano-Llames and Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz
J. Fungi 2025, 11(4), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11040302 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 945
Abstract
Persistent fungal pathogens remain a threat to global food security as these pathogens continue to infect crops despite different mitigating strategies. Traditionally, synthetic fungicides are used to combat these threats, but their environmental and health impacts have spurred interest in a more sustainable, [...] Read more.
Persistent fungal pathogens remain a threat to global food security as these pathogens continue to infect crops despite different mitigating strategies. Traditionally, synthetic fungicides are used to combat these threats, but their environmental and health impacts have spurred interest in a more sustainable, eco-friendly approach. Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are a relatively underexplored group of microorganisms found thriving inside the lichen thalli. They are seen as promising alternatives for developing sustainable plant disease management strategies. Hence, in this study, a total of forty ELF isolates from two fruticose lichen hosts—Ramalina and Usnea, were tested and compared for their antagonistic activities against three economically important filamentous fungal pathogens—Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Fusarium oxysporum. The results of the dual culture assay showed that all ELF isolates successfully reduced the growth of the three filamentous fungal pathogens with varying degrees, and with direct contact inhibition as the predominant trait among the endolichenic fungi. Comparing the antagonistic activities between the different endolichenic fungi from the two lichen hosts, ELF isolates from Ramalina generally demonstrated a higher percentage inhibition of growth of the test fungi as compared to ELF isolates from Usnea. This study underscores the importance of endolichenic fungi as an efficient biocontrol agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Fungal Diseases and Crop Protection, 2nd Edition)
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