Search Results (807)

Durian cultivation has become a key development industry in China in recent years, and durian root rot (DRR) constitutes a major threat to production. In this study, symptomatic root and stem base tissues and leaves were systematically collected from the main durian-producing regions of China, yielding 202 fungal and oomycete isolates. Isolates were identified based on morphological characterization and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp. were the most frequently recovered taxa, accounting for 39.11% and 16.34% of the isolates, respectively. Koch’s postulates confirmed Phytophthora palmivora and the Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) as the causal agents. In controlled co-inoculation experiments, simultaneous inoculation with both pathogens resulted in a shorter latent period and increased disease severity compared with single inoculations, indicating a potential interaction that warrants further investigation. Fungicide sensitivity assays showed that P. palmivora was sensitive to oxathiapiprolin, mandipropamid, fluopicolide, and chlorothalonil, while metalaxyl-M, mancozeb, cymoxanil, and propamocarb hydrochloride showed poor inhibitory activity. FIESC exhibited sensitivity to tebuconazole, fludioxonil, and pydiflumetofen but was insensitive to difenoconazole, mefentrifluconazole, and phenamacril. Oxathiapiprolin and azoxystrobin mixed at ratios of 1:13.8 and 1:10.5 produced pronounced synergistic effects against P. palmivora, with synergy ratios of 3.57 and 2.91 and co-toxicity coefficients of 357.98 and 291.08. This study compared three application methods (root drenching, trunk painting, and trunk injection) of fungicides and identified root drenching as the most effective strategy. Subsequent pairwise screening of eight combinations, composed of four anti-oomycete fungicides (oxathiapiprolin, mandipropamid, fluopicolide, azoxystrobin) paired with two anti-fungal fungicides (tebuconazole, fludioxonil), was conducted via 0.2 L root drenching. Among them, the tebuconazole-azoxystrobin combination offered the highest control efficacy (98.95%), whereas tebuconazole-mandipropamid exhibited the lowest. Further ratio optimization of the tebuconazole-azoxystrobin mixture, performed using a reduced application volume of 0.1 L per plant, identified a 1:2.36 ratio as the most effective formulation, providing 94.65% control. Overall, this work clarifies the pathogen complex associated with DRR in China, provides preliminary evidence for enhanced disease severity during co-inoculation of P. palmivora and FIESC, and identifies optimized fungicide combinations and application methods under greenhouse conditions. These results provide a foundation for further field validation and for the development of integrated management strategies. Full article

Background: Moroccans employ Eucalyptus globulus Labill., a medicinal herb, to cure a variety of ailments. This research aimed to evaluate the chemical constituents of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil (EGEO) to determine their composition and potential use as hemolytic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents. Methods: GC analysis was utilized to determine the composition of EGEO harvested in the province of Meknes. Using the disk diffusion technique, MIC, MBC, and MFC tests, antibacterial and antifungal activity were assessed against pathogenic microorganisms. DPPH, TAC, and FRAP experiments were used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of EGEO and Eucalyptol. The main chemical binding affinities were predicted by Molecular Docking analysis. GraphPad Prism (v8) was used to evaluate these findings using a Tukey and ANOVA analysis. Results: GC-MS revealed 27 components, including Eucalyptol (1,8-Cineole) (55.07%). Hemolysis recorded the greatest value, 8.16 ± 0.13. Staphylococcus aureus had the highest MIC values (1.25 mg/mL). Bacillus subtilis had a 65 mm inhibitory zone. The fungicidal effectiveness of EGEO and its major component varies according to the studied fungus strain. In terms of antioxidant characteristics, DPPH radical inhibition revealed that 1,8-Cineole has a higher IC₅₀ (4.7 ± 0.5 µg/mL). The Total Antioxidant Capacity was 22 ± 0.02 mg AAE/g. FRAP analysis showed that Eucalyptol is more potent than EGEO. Conclusion: Antimicrobial and antioxidant studies support the use of EGEO and eucalyptol in traditional and therapeutic medicine, and show their numerous possible uses as natural preservatives for perfumes and foods, as well as anticancer agents due to their hemolytic capacity. Full article

Winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) production is constrained by a complex of fungal pathogens, including Alternaria alternata, A. brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea, Phoma lingam and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which are conventionally managed with synthetic fungicides such as prothioconazole. This study evaluated the biocontrol and biostimulant potential of two plant extracts (garlic, Allium sativum; Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus) and two bacterial fermentation supernatants (Enterobacter sp. and Paenibacillus sp.) against these pathogens under in vitro, greenhouse and field conditions (2022–2024, two locations: Winna Góra and Rzeszów, Poland). In vitro, the Paenibacillus sp. supernatant showed the broadest and strongest activity, with inhibition of mycelial growth comparable to prothioconazole for several pathogens, particularly A. brassicicola and B. cinerea. Garlic extract was most effective against S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea, with efficacy increasing with concentration and reaching complete inhibition at 10%; because each concentration was analysed in a separate one-way model, this concentration trend is reported descriptively and was not formally tested as a product × concentration interaction. Jerusalem artichoke extract was consistently the most effective agent against P. lingam (88–92% inhibition, largely independent of concentration), while Enterobacter sp. showed a comparatively narrow spectrum, with no measurable activity against B. cinerea and only negligible activity against S. sclerotiorum (≤6% inhibition at all tested concentrations). In the greenhouse, all four bioproducts significantly stimulated seedling growth, with fresh shoot weight increases exceeding 100% relative to the untreated control; fresh root weight showed a similar but non-significant trend. Under field conditions, garlic extract and Paenibacillus sp. gave the most consistent statistically significant and, in several site-years, fungicide-comparable control of Phoma stem canker (Phoma lingam) and Alternaria black spot (Alternaria spp.), occasionally matching the fungicide Protikon 250 EC; on the other hand, Enterobacter sp. was more variable and Jerusalem artichoke extract intermediate. Seed yield was increased over the untreated control at Rzeszów in both seasons, with the exception of Enterobacter sp. in 2023/2024, but not at Winna Góra, and thousand-seed weight was unaffected by treatment. Full article

The intensification of Cannabis sativa cultivation has increased the need for effective and sustainable plant-health strategies. Pathogen control is particularly challenging because pesticide residues may compromise product safety and quality, while repeated chemical treatments can favour the emergence of fungicide-resistant populations. Microbial biological control agents (BCAs) represent a promising component of integrated disease management, although their discovery and validation remain largely empirical. This narrative review examines the current literature on the biological control of fungal and oomycete diseases of cannabis, with particular emphasis on Fusarium-associated syndromes, Golovinomyces-associated powdery mildew, grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea and major oomycete root rots. Cannabis-specific research remains limited and heterogeneous regarding reproducible efficacy across host genotypes, pathogens, and environments; mechanisms of protection; and application-oriented assessment of biosafety, crop quality, and formulation performance. To address these gaps, available evidence is organised within a prospective multi-omics-guided framework combining host and pathogen genomic characterisation, microbiome profiling, targeted BCA isolation, strain-level genomic analysis, preliminary safety screening and comparative in planta evaluation. Transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome analyses can complement these stages by identifying molecular and community-level patterns potentially related to direct antagonism, resource competition, host defence priming and microbiome-mediated protection. The relevance of these patterns to disease suppression requires functional validation, while the resulting evidence may inform the design and evaluation of synthetic microbial communities. Integrating omics across these stages could support more traceable and application-relevant BCA development by enabling mechanistic investigation while providing a structured roadmap for advancing biological control strategies against fungal and oomycete pathogens of cannabis. Full article

Marigold (Tagetes spp.), a widely cultivated popular ornamental plant that is highly susceptible to fungal diseases, particularly leaf spot and stem wilt, which can substantially reduce its ornamental and economic value. This study aimed to identify the causal pathogens responsible for these diseases and evaluate the efficacy of selected antifungal agents against them. The causal agent of leaf spot was identified as Alternaria alternata, whereas stem wilt was caused by the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), based on Koch’s postulates, morphological characterization, and molecular identification. The antifungal activities of five commercially available fungicides were subsequently evaluated against both pathogens. The results showed that isomycete fluridine suspension (40%), metalaxyl–oxametrin suspension (32%), eugenol liquid (0.3%), pyrazolesterin methyl thiobacillin suspension (41%), and pyrazolesterin tebuconazole suspension (30%) demonstrated varying degrees of inhibitory activity. The EC50 values for A. alternata ranged from 10.588 to 49.604 mg/L, while those against FSSC ranged from 12.273 to 27.921 mg/L. These findings provide insights into the potency of these fungicides and offer a scientific basis for developing integrated disease management strategies for marigold cultivation, although further research is required to validate and evaluate their long-term efficacy and environmental safety. Full article

The excessive use of fungicides in agriculture has generated environmental problems, increased resistance in plant pathogenic fungi, and raised concerns for food safety and human health. This study evaluates silver-based nanoparticles (NPs) as a potential alternative for the control of plant pathogens. Ag₂S-S Janus and AgNPs were synthesized through chemical reduction using non-toxic compounds, employing glucose as a reducing agent (0.30 and 0.90%) and gelatin as a passivating agent (0.50 and 1.00%), generating four treatments. The synthesized NPs showed average sizes ranging from 5 to 11 nm, with the smallest particles obtained in treatment T3 (5.90 ± 0.30 nm) and the largest in T4 (10.34 ± 0.46 nm). The antifungal and anti-oomycete activity of the NPs was evaluated in vitro against four microorganisms: Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum boninense, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phytophthora capsici. Results showed complete inhibition (100%) of A. alternata and 60–70% inhibition of P. capsici in all treatments, demonstrating strong antimicrobial potential. Additionally, NPs were applied to tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum) inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. NPs were not phytotoxic and reduced disease severity (on a 1–2 scale) while promoting lesion healing. Full article

Fungal mycoparasitism, where one fungus preys on another, offers a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides in agriculture and conventional antifungal therapies to manage clinical pathogens. The budding yeast Saccharomycopsis schoenii has emerged as a compelling model for contact-dependent, necrotrophic predation. Belonging to the CUG-Ser2 clade, its obligate predatory lifestyle is characterized by extensive genomic restructuring, including the loss of the sulfate assimilation pathway, which couples methionine starvation to a predatory behavioral switch. In this review, we highlight recent comparative genomics and functional studies as they relate to S. schoenii predation. For example, S. schoenii uses rewired mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, actin-based penetration pegs and a large tandem expansion of secreted aspartic proteases (SAPs) to breach prey cell walls. Analysis of its genome reveals structural adaptations, including AT-rich regional centromeres and dispersed mating-type (MAT) loci. The more we learn about S. schoenii’s contact-dependent attack, the greater the opportunities to deploy S. schoenii as a safe, mycotoxin-free biocontrol agent against both multi-drug-resistant Candida auris and post-harvest Penicillium molds. Full article

With increased mycotoxin contamination, the search for eco-friendly biocontrol strategies has become increasingly important. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of stilbenoid-enriched Merlot (Me) and Tannat (Ta) vine root extracts, and their major active molecule, vitisin B (VIT), against Aspergillus carbonarius growth and its ochratoxin A (OTA) production using in vitro liquid and solid, and ex vivo grape-berry assays. In liquid assay, Me and Ta (125 mg/L) and VIT (36 mg/L) significantly inhibited extracellular OTA. Additionally, VIT temporarily reduced both fungal growth and total OTA. Transcriptomics showed that VIT and Me slightly induced OTA biosynthesis genes. In solid and ex vivo assays, doses above 1 g/L decreased OTA production by up to 48% without impacting fungal growth. This lack of correlation suggested a distinct regulatory response to extract-induced stress. Importantly, the fungicide tebuconazole showed method-dependent effects. On in vitro solid medium, it significantly inhibited the fungal growth without affecting OTA yield, whereas in ex vivo berry assays, it significantly inhibited both. Our findings emphasize the potential of stilbenoid-enriched extracts as biocontrol agents targeting OTA production, highlighting the value of multi-assay evaluations. Future studies should elucidate their modes of action and optimize their efficacy. Full article

Fusarium solani is a major soil-borne pathogen responsible for root rot diseases, posing a significant threat to agricultural productivity. The development of environmentally sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides is therefore urgently needed. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of fermentation broths and extracellular metabolites derived from Tilletia laevis fungi at different developmental stages against F. solani under in vitro conditions. Six test agents, including carbendazim (one positive fungicide control), caffeic acid, phenylacetylglycine, and 6-hydroxypyridine-2-carboxylic acid (candidate bioactive metabolites), were evaluated for mycelial growth inhibition, EC₅₀ values, and physiological responses. All treatments exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory effects, with carbendazim showing the highest activity (EC₅₀ = 21.26 mg L⁻¹). Among the metabolites, 6-hydroxypyridine-2-carboxylic acid and phenylacetylglycine demonstrated notable antifungal efficacy, particularly at higher concentrations. Fermentation broths from the promycelial stage showed stronger inhibition than those from the teliospore stage, indicating stage-specific metabolite activity. Biochemical analyses of F. solani mycelia revealed significant changes in soluble protein, soluble sugar, and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and POD), suggesting that antifungal effects are mediated through metabolic disruption and oxidative stress. These findings highlight the potential of T. laevis-derived metabolites as eco-friendly biofungicides and provide a theoretical basis for sustainable management of soil-borne diseases. Further studies are required to identify active compounds and validate their efficacy under field conditions. Full article

Fungal pathogens, such as Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp., cause substantial yield losses worldwide through root and fruit rot, wilting, and leaf and fruit spots, and increasing restrictions on chemical pesticides have intensified interest in sustainable alternatives such as essential oils, plant extracts, and microbial biocontrol agents. However, these three treatment categories are rarely compared directly under identical experimental conditions, which limits conclusions about their relative efficacy. This study directly compared, for the first time under the same in vitro conditions, the antifungal activity of peppermint and thyme essential oils, clove and rosemary plant extracts, and three commercial biological products (Mycostop, Asir Fruit, Aegis) against Fusarium avenaceum and Alternaria alternata using the agar incorporation method, with fungicidal versus fungistatic activity determined by reinoculation. Most treatments inhibited mycelial growth of both pathogens relative to the untreated control, although a few treatments (Asir Fruit at early DAI and lowest-concentration thyme EO) showed no inhibition or even slight stimulation of A. alternata growth. At 7 days after inoculation, thyme essential oil (1000 µL/L) and clove plant extract at all concentrations tested completely inhibited both pathogens, and reinoculation confirmed that clove extract alone was fungicidal, likely reflecting its high eugenol content and consequent irreversible membrane damage; all other treatments were fungistatic, consistent with reversible effects on membrane permeability. Peppermint essential oil (2000 µL/L) inhibited F. avenaceum and A. alternata by 96% and 73%, respectively, while rosemary extract was comparatively weaker (57% and 21%). Among the commercial products, Mycostop, which contains Streptomyces griseoviridis, was the most effective, plausibly reflecting sustained antagonistic activity beyond metabolite secretion alone. These findings indicate that clove extract and thyme oil match or exceed commercial biocontrol products in vitro and warrant evaluation under greenhouse and field conditions as candidates for integrated disease management. Full article

Panax ginseng, a high-value medicinal plant, faces substantial yield losses due to black spot disease, while conventional chemical controls cause pesticide residues and soil ecological damage, necessitating green biocontrol strategies. Here, two antagonistic strains, Bacillus sp. WY17 and WY26, were isolated from the surface-sterilized internal root tissues of 10-year-old ginseng. Through systematic optimization of carbon/nitrogen sources, inorganic salts, and fermentation parameters (temperature, pH, agitation, inoculum size, and duration), the optimal culture conditions were established. The optimal consortium consisted of WY17 and WY26 in a 2:1 ratio (WY17:WY26 = 2:1), which achieved an antifungal inhibition rate of 84.94% against the pathogen compared to the untreated control group (pathogen only). Mechanistic investigations revealed that the crude protein extract exerted its antifungal effect by compromising the integrity of the pathogen’s cell membrane, leading to increased permeability and leakage of intra-cellular contents, and produced cell wall-degrading enzymes (chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase), thereby inhibiting mycelial growth and spore germination. In vitro efficacy tests demonstrated that this crude protein extract performed comparably to the chemical fungicide 70% mancozeb, with no statistically significant difference observed between them (p > 0.05). These findings identify a promising compound biocontrol agent derived from indigenous Bacillus strains, offering an effective and environmentally friendly alternative for managing ginseng black spot disease. Full article

Rice sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is a major constraint on rice production, and its management still relies mainly on chemical fungicides. We evaluated the biocontrol agent Bacillus cereus AR156 against the disease and examined the transcriptional and biochemical changes in rice that accompany protection. AR156 achieved a biocontrol efficacy of 71.81% at 6 days after inoculation. RNA sequencing compared AR156-treated and control plants with and without pathogen challenge, and we identified 4554 and 2740 differentially expressed genes at 24 and 48 h after inoculation, respectively. AR156-responsive genes were enriched in secondary metabolism, plant-pathogen interaction, hormone signaling, phosphoinositide signaling, and membrane transport. Of the defense-associated DEGs, 97 TF/TRs and 86 predicted PRGs were shared between 24 and 48 h, most of which reversed their direction of change over time. Prominent TF/TR families included SNF2, bHLH, MYB, MYB-related, FAR1, PHD and WRKY, with KIN and RLK prominent among the predicted PRG classes. Quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme assays showed higher expression of several pathogenesis-related and hormone-associated markers, together with increased superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activity after challenge. Together, these results indicate that AR156 suppresses rice sheath blight by temporally reshaping coordinated transcriptional and biochemical defenses rather than a single pathway. Full article

Celosia cristata is an important ornamental and medicinal plant widely cultivated in China. In July 2025, a severe black spot disease was observed on C. cristata in the Zhang Zhongjing Medicinal Plant Garden, Nanyang, Henan Province, China, resulting in substantial defoliation and yield loss. To identify the causal agent and provide a scientific basis for disease management, the pathogen was isolated and purified from diseased tissues using the tissue isolation method. The pathogen was identified based on morphological characteristics, multi-gene sequence analysis (ITS, RPB2, and TEF1-α), and pathogenicity tests conducted in accordance with Koch’s postulates. Seven isolates with uniform morphological features were obtained. Sequence analysis and multilocus phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the isolates shared 99–100% identity with Alternaria alternata. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that the isolates induced typical black spot symptoms on healthy plants. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing black spot disease on C. cristata in Henan Province. In vitro effective fungicides were screened, among which mancozeb demonstrated the strongest inhibitory activity against A. alternata, exhibiting an EC₅₀ value of 97.72 mg/L. Additionally, the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum achieved a mycelial growth inhibition rate of 69.95% against the pathogen. These findings provide a scientific foundation for the future prevention and control of black spot disease in C. cristata. Full article

Plant pathogenic fungi pose a major threat to global crop production and food security, necessitating the development of sustainable control agents. This study investigated the antifungal potential of Pseudophaeolus soloniensis, a wood-decaying fungus. A wild strain was isolated from Hebei, China, and identified via morphology and ITS sequencing. A bioactive crude extract (P1) was obtained through optimized solid-state fermentation on A3M medium. Its antimicrobial spectrum was evaluated against major phytopathogenic fungi (e.g., Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus flavus) and model bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) using mycelial growth inhibition, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and agar diffusion assays. P1 exhibited strong, selective activity, showing significantly greater inhibition against S. aureus than E. coli and pronounced effects against F. graminearum (43.79% inhibition at 20 µg/mL) and A. flavus (73.5% at 0.2 mg/mL). A hormetic-like response was observed for F. oxysporum. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed a diverse secondary metabolome, including flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, and saponins. These results establish P. soloniensis as a promising source of bioactive metabolites for developing eco-friendly fungicides. Full article

Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold or Botrytis rot on many vegetable and fruit crops worldwide, is ranked among the main limiting factors for strawberry production, being able to strongly compromise the quality, shelf life, and commercial value of fruit. UV-C is considered an environmentally friendly strategy for postharvest protection for several commodities. In this regard, this research evaluated the performance of short-wavelength UV-C radiation in reducing postharvest Botrytis decay, extending or maintaining the shelf life and quality of strawberry fruit, and detecting possible negative effects. The topic is of growing interest, as it falls within the strategic priorities of so-called “Green Technologies” to pursue a sustainable agriculture and safe food supply by minimizing fungicide use as much as possible. UV-C exposure (at a rate of 1428 J m⁻²) by means of a UV-C lamp (15 W) at a source distance of 25 cm for just 1 min provided significant reductions (from 41 up to almost 80%) depending on the artificial or natural decay pressure of gray mold caused by B. cinerea on strawberry fruit without phytotoxic effects. Analyses performed under both refrigerated and room-temperature storage conditions at different day intervals showed that postharvest UV-C does not significantly affect key chemical parameters, including the ascorbic acid content, total sugars, pH, and titratable acidity of strawberry fruit. Thus, UV-C exposure for a brief time, especially if combined with a low temperature, can be effectively considered for sustainable protection of strawberry fruit at the postharvest stage, providing a theoretical basis for further elucidation of the action modes for this and other targets, and potential large-scale application. Full article