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Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases
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Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 5202

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Luis Guillermo Hernández-Montiel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nanotechnology & Microbial Biocontrol Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz 23096, Mexico
Interests: phytopathology; food science; plant–microbe interactions; microbiology; biological control; plant disease resistance; nanotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than half of the world's agricultural production is lost due to diseases caused by root, foliage or fruit pathogens. The application of pesticides is the most common way to control diseases in plants; however, biocontrol using antagonistic microorganisms represents an effective alternative to the use of synthetic agricultural products. Among the antagonistic microorganisms, bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes stand out, having been shown to be just as efficient as pesticides for the control of phytopathogens. Various laboratory reports indicate their antagonistic efficiency when applied in liquid or powder forms to plants; however, a global challenge is the development of microbial formulations that have stability in various environments and consistently present a timely antagonistic effect in greenhouses or fields.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of the most recent advances in the development of biocontrol products for plant diseases through contributions on the evaluation of microorganisms antagonistic to phytopathogens, microbial formulations, and evaluations in the laboratory, greenhouse or field settings, among others.

Dr. Luis Guillermo Hernández-Montiel
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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 agents
  • microbial formulations for plants or fruits
  • induction of resistance
  • plant-microbe interactions
  • disease management
  • phytopathology
  • microbial communities

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 2800 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Properties of Sargassum cinereum and Padina boergesenii Extracts Against Fungi Associated with Strawberry Fruits Concerning Mycotoxin Production
by Amany A. El-Shahir, Nurah M. Alzamel, Amani Omar Abuzaid, Naglaa Loutfy and Eman A. Alwaleed
Plants 2024, 13(22), 3115; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223115 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1311
Abstract
Strawberries are susceptible to decay and destruction while being harvested and stored. This study had the following objectives: (1) the documentation of fungi and mycotoxin production associated with infected strawberry fruits; (2) the evaluation of the primary phytochemicals of Sargassum cinereum and Padina [...] Read more.
Strawberries are susceptible to decay and destruction while being harvested and stored. This study had the following objectives: (1) the documentation of fungi and mycotoxin production associated with infected strawberry fruits; (2) the evaluation of the primary phytochemicals of Sargassum cinereum and Padina boergesenii by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis to identify the active chemical composition of the seaweed extracts; and (3) the assessment of the antifungal activity of five extracts from brown seaweeds both in vitro and in vivo against fungal infections on fresh fruit under post-harvest conditions. The most common fungi were Aspergillus niger 14.36%, Botrytis cinerea 38.29%, and Mucor irregularis 16.88%. Padina boergesenii acetone extract had the highest in vitro antifungal activity. The methanol extracts of both S. cinereum and P. boergesenii were effective against the pathogenicity and aggressiveness (in vivo) on post-harvest strawberry fruits. B. cinerea could produce botrydial and dihydrobotrydial toxins with concentrations of 8.14 µg/mL and 4.26 µg/mL, respectively. A. niger could produce ochratoxin A with a concentration of 10.05 µg/mL. The present study demonstrates that the extracts of macroalgae S. cinereum and P. boergesenii contain secondary metabolites and antioxidants, indicating their potential utilization in antifungal applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases)
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21 pages, 2566 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Herbicidal Activities through Bioconversion of Diosgenin by Yarrowia lipolytica P01a
by Christian Hernández-Guzmán, Luis G. Hernández-Montiel, Adrian E. Velázquez-Lizarraga, Leopoldo J. Ríos-González, Sergio Huerta-Ochoa, Vianey de J. Cervantes-Güicho, Thelma K. Morales-Martínez, Claudio H. Mejía-Ruíz and Ana G. Reyes
Plants 2024, 13(18), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13182629 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1541
Abstract
This study explores the bioconversion of diosgenin by Yarrowia lipolytica P01a, focusing on enhancing the antioxidant, antifungal, and herbicidal activities of the resulting extracts. The bioconversion process, involving glycosylation and hydroxylation, produced significant amounts of protodioscin and soyasaponin I. The extracts showed [...] Read more.
This study explores the bioconversion of diosgenin by Yarrowia lipolytica P01a, focusing on enhancing the antioxidant, antifungal, and herbicidal activities of the resulting extracts. The bioconversion process, involving glycosylation and hydroxylation, produced significant amounts of protodioscin and soyasaponin I. The extracts showed superior antioxidant activity, with up to 97.02% inhibition of ABTS· radicals and 33.30% inhibition of DPPH· radicals at 1000 mg L−1 of diosgenin. Antifungal assays revealed strong inhibitory effects against Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria sp., and Aspergillus niger, with maximum inhibition rates of 67.34%, 35.63%, and 65.53%, respectively. Additionally, the herbicidal activity of the bioconverted extracts was comparable to commercial herbicides, achieving 100% inhibition of seed germination in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. These findings suggest that the Y. lipolytica P01a-mediated bioconversion of diosgenin could provide a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for developing natural biofungicides and bioherbicides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases)
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23 pages, 4711 KiB  
Article
A Novel Plant-Derived Biopesticide Mitigates Fusarium Root Rot of Angelica sinensis by Modulating the Rhizosphere Microbiome and Root Metabolome
by Qi Liu, Waqar Ahmed, Guoli Li, Yilin He, Mohamed Mohany, Zhaoyu Li and Tong Shen
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2180; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162180 - 6 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1532
Abstract
Fusarium root rot caused by the Fusarium species complex significantly affects the yield and quality of Angelica sinensis, a valuable medicinal herb. Traditional management primarily relies on chemical fungicides, which have led to pathogen resistance, environmental hazards, and concerns regarding public health [...] Read more.
Fusarium root rot caused by the Fusarium species complex significantly affects the yield and quality of Angelica sinensis, a valuable medicinal herb. Traditional management primarily relies on chemical fungicides, which have led to pathogen resistance, environmental hazards, and concerns regarding public health and the active components in A. sinensis. This study explores the efficacy of a novel plant-derived biopesticide Shi Chuang Zhi Feng Ning (T1; SCZFN), alongside Bacillus subtilis wettable powder (T2) and a chemical fungicide (T3), in controlling root rot and understanding their impacts on the rhizosphere microbial community and root metabolome. Results of the field experiment demonstrated that treatments T1 and T3 achieved control efficiencies of 73.17% and 75.45%, respectively, significantly outperforming T2 (39.99%) and the control. High-throughput sequencing revealed that all treatments altered the diversity and structure of microbial communities, with T1 and T2 reducing the abundance of taxa linked to root rot, such as Muribaculaceae spp., Humicola spp., Fusarium spp., and Mycochlamys spp. Treatment T1 notably enhanced beneficial bacterial taxa, including Acidobacteria spp., Nitrospira spp., and Pedosphaeraceae spp., involved in carbon cycling and plant growth promotion. Metabolomic analysis identified 39, 105, and 45 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) across the treatments, demonstrating T1’s potential to modulate the root metabolome effectively. Further, a correlation analysis demonstrated a stronger correlation between distinct microorganisms with significant influence and DEMs of T1 treatment compared to other treatments. These findings underscore biopesticide SCZFN’s role in enhancing plant health and disease suppression in A. sinensis, providing insights into its biocontrol mechanisms and supporting the development of sustainable disease management strategies in its cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases)
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Review

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16 pages, 1121 KiB  
Review
Brassicaceae Isothiocyanate-Mediated Alleviation of Soil-Borne Diseases
by Tikkisetty Pavana Praneetha, Sam A. Masih, Rosangela Addesso, Ann Maxton and Adriano Sofo
Plants 2025, 14(8), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14081200 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 299
Abstract
Soil-borne diseases lead to high risk in crop production by diminishing the productivity and general health of the affected plants. Brassica plants are known to produce glucosinolates, which, upon decomposition, release bioactive isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs have attracted attention because of their biofumigation properties, [...] Read more.
Soil-borne diseases lead to high risk in crop production by diminishing the productivity and general health of the affected plants. Brassica plants are known to produce glucosinolates, which, upon decomposition, release bioactive isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCs have attracted attention because of their biofumigation properties, effectively suppressing soil-borne pathogens and pests, promising natural solutions for managing soil-borne diseases. ITCs produced by Brassica plants or seed meal additives to soil have the ability to reduce soil-borne pests and diseases while increasing beneficial soil microbiota. Several researchers have indicated that ITCs can interfere with the life cycles of soil-borne pathogens and, at the same time, strengthen plant defense systems, which makes them a more environmentally friendly option than chemical pesticides. The breakdown of Brassica biomass has also been shown to stimulate beneficial microbial communities, which play a key role in nutrient availability and pathogen suppression. Studies indicate that this process enhances the availability of essential nutrients like sulfur and nitrogen in the soil, both of which are critical for plant growth and development. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the role of Brassica ITCs in mitigating soil-borne diseases. We aim to consolidate current knowledge on ITC-mediated biofumigation, recommend strategies for enhancing its efficiency in practical applications, and highlight the need for future research to optimize its long-term effectiveness in sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Biocontrol Products for Plant Diseases)
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