Search Results (418)

Cereal production is increasingly constrained by soil degradation, water scarcity, climate variability, and rising disease and weed pressure. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of regenerative agronomic practices in cereal production, with particular emphasis on soil health, plant disease management, water-use efficiency, and yield stability. Available evidence consistently indicates that the greatest benefits arise not from individual practices but from integrated systems combining reduced tillage, crop residue retention, diversified crop rotations including legumes, cover crops, organic fertilization, and biologically based pest management. Such practices can increase soil biological activity and its ability to limit disease by enriching functionally beneficial microbial communities and limiting pathogens through competition for resources and niches, antibiosis, hyperparasitism, and the induction of plant resistance. They can also improve soil structure, water infiltration, water retention, and crop resilience to drought stress and, under certain conditions, reduce erosion, nutrient losses, and yield variability. However, the effects of regenerative practices are strongly dependent on soil type, climate, nitrogen balance, pest pressure, and the extent of adoption of regenerative practices. Risks may arise during the transition period, including yield declines, nitrogen immobilization, weed infestation, and increased disease pressure. Evaluation of these systems should encompass not only yield but also the grain quality and phytosanitary status, soil organic carbon stocks throughout the soil profile, N₂O emissions, and production profitability. The review covers cereal systems from temperate, humid, arid and semi-arid zones, and the results were interpreted considering climate, soil quality, water availability, and agronomic practices, as the same practice can produce different effects in different agroecological zones. Further research should prioritize long-term, multifactorial experiments conducted across diverse agroecological environments that integrate agronomic performance, environmental sustainability, and crop quality. Full article

This study evaluated the long-term effects of soil tillage systems on weed dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in the Transylvanian Plain, Romania, over an eight-year period (2018–2025). A long-term field experiment was established under a split-plot design with four tillage systems: conventional tillage (CS), minimum tillage with chisel (MTC), minimum tillage with disk (MTD) and no-tillage (NT). Results indicated that reduced soil disturbance significantly increased total weed density, with a clear shift in community structure toward perennial species under conservation tillage systems. Weed infestation ranged from 8 to 9 plants m⁻² in CS to 18–25 plants m⁻² in NT. Maize yield showed a progressive decline with decreasing tillage intensity, from 7283 kg ha⁻¹ in CS to 4725 kg ha⁻¹ in NT. ANOVA results confirmed highly significant effects of tillage system (F = 2451.15; p < 0.001) and year (F = 79.62; p < 0.001), as well as a significant tillage × year interaction (F = 2.15; p < 0.05), indicating temporal variability in treatment responses under changing climatic conditions. Under the specific pedoclimatic conditions of the Transylvanian Plain, reduced tillage systems showed lower maize productivity compared with conventional tillage, indicating that the balance between soil conservation and yield performance depends on local environmental and management conditions. Full article

Brassicaceae-based bio-disinfestation is a promising non-chemical option to manage lettuce Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae (FOLac), but evidence integrating pathogen suppression, residue chemistry, and soil microbiome response remains limited. We conducted a greenhouse mesocosm assay with naturally infested soil to compare biofumigation (uncovered soil) and biosolarization (plastic-covered soil for 40 days) using five Brassicaceae residues (Brassica carinata, B. juncea, B. napus, Sinapis alba and Raphanus sativus) applied at two field-equivalent doses. Biosolarization created a distinct disinfestation environment, increasing soil temperature by an average of 2.74 °C and shifting oxidation–reduction potential toward reducing conditions. This strategy consistently reduced culturable Fusarium populations, F. oxysporum-assigned colony-forming units (CFU) and lettuce wilt severity compared with uncovered biofumigation. The strongest disease suppression was observed under plastic-covered conditions, including the soil-only control, indicating that the covered microenvironment was a major driver of suppressiveness, while Brassicaceae residues modulated the magnitude and consistency of the response. Glucosinolate profiling revealed contrasting residue chemistries among species, providing a biochemical context for interpreting species-dependent effects. Shotgun metagenomics further showed that biosolarization and biofumigation produced distinct genus-level microbial community structures, with significant effects of strategy, timepoint and their interaction, and higher Shannon diversity under biosolarization. Overall, the integration of disease severity, culture-based inoculum quantification, physicochemical indicators, residue chemistry and metagenomics supports Brassicaceae-based biosolarization as a promising pre-plant approach for suppressing FOLac wilt in naturally infested soils, with the plastic-covered disinfestation environment emerging as the main driver of suppression and Brassicaceae residues modulating the response. Full article

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the world’s most important fiber crop for the textile industry. Drought stress can adversely affect cotton production and quality, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Biochar, produced from biomass through pyrolysis, has the potential to alleviate drought stress in cotton production through improving soil properties and enhancing plant nutrition. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of biochar produced from southern yellow pine (Pinus spp.) on cotton seedling emergence and growth, yield and its component traits, and fiber quality traits under field drought-stressed, arid conditions in the U.S. over two years. Six genotypes were evaluated in 2024, and three of these genotypes were evaluated following a single application of biochar at four rates (0, 6.25, 12.5, and 25.0 t ha⁻¹) applied at the beginning of the study. Significant genotypic differences were observed in both years, as expected. No genotype × biochar interaction was detected, indicating that different cotton genotypes responded similarly to biochar application. Groundcherry (Physalis acutifolia) infestation was unexpectedly higher, and cotton seedling growth was reduced in the biochar-amended plots compared with the non-biochar control in 2024, but these effects were not observed in 2025. Plots amended with 12.5 and 25.0 t ha⁻¹ biochar had significantly higher soil moisture than those receiving 0 or 6.25 t ha⁻¹ biochar. Estimated seedcotton yield was the highest in plots receiving 12.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar in both years and was significantly greater than that of the non-biochar control, with 18.3 and 8.4% increases in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Biochar had no significant effects on fiber length, uniformity, strength, elongation, and micronaire in either year, except that 6.25 and 12.5 t ha⁻¹ biochar rates increased elongation and 25.0 t ha⁻¹ biochar rate decreased micronaire. These results indicate a single biochar application had a positive, although diminishing, effect of biochar on cotton productivity during the first two years under drought stress, while having little to no effects on fiber quality. Full article

The large-scale release of natural enemies remains a major challenge in biological control. This study evaluated the viability of using biodegradable capsules produced from pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaf fibers for the release of the predator Euborellia annulipes. The objectives of the current research were: (I) to evaluate the viability of these capsules for predator release; (II) to validate the effectiveness of aerial release by drone (Agras T40); and (III) to evaluate the behavioral repertoire and performance of the predator after exiting the capsule in maize plants infested with susceptible and resistant Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. Predator-induced opening (in the absence of moisture) required a median time of 33 h (77.5% success, mortality ≤ 7.5%), whereas autonomous opening reached 100% in soil at field capacity. Aerial release achieved a 95.04% success rate. Under semi-field conditions, moisture facilitated rapid capsule opening (220 to 269 min); the predator exhibited active search behavior and achieved a higher predation rate on the resistant pest population (40%) than on the susceptible one (25%). The technology is therefore functional, compatible with the predator’s biology, and promising for sustainable integrated pest management strategies. Full article

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is highly invasive across many countries, impacting agriculture, human and animal health and the environment. Despite a widespread invasive range, the persistence of P. hysterophorus seeds (achenes) in the soil profile has been identified as a gap in current knowledge. A long-term seed persistence field trial was under-taken, where packets of P. hysterophorus seeds were buried, retrieved periodically over 10 years and the viability assessed. Time, burial depth and soil type (clay or loam) significantly influenced seed viability. Overall viability was <5% after 5 years, and <0.2% of viable seed was recovered after 7 to 10 years. The decline was faster in seeds at 0 cm (on the soil surface) and buried at 20 cm and slower in seeds buried at 2.5 cm and 10 cm. At most retrieval times viability was higher in seeds retrieved from clay soil plots than from loam soil plots. Pasture cover (present or excluded) did not significantly influence the viability of seeds. Data from controlled ageing laboratory experiments indicated persistent seeds and complemented the field trial data. Based on the weight of 1000 seeds, less than 20 mm of rainfall could incorporate 50% of seeds into three soil types. Parthenium hysterophorus develops a persistent seed bank when incorporated into the soil and infestations will require longer-term control even if seed input is prevented. Full article

Toxoptera aurantii is a globally distributed piercing-sucking pest that severely threatens tea production. While the direct damage caused by aphid feeding is well documented, the systemic effects of infestation on plant-associated and soil microbial communities remain poorly understood. Here, we employed full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to investigate the influence of T. aurantii infestation on the microbiota of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and rhizosphere soil across four sample compartments: aphid bodies, healthy leaves, aphid-infested leaves, and root-zone soil. Our results revealed pronounced niche-specific microbial assembly patterns. The aphid microbiome exhibited the lowest diversity and was dominated by obligate endosymbionts, including Buchnera aphidicola and the secondary symbiont Serratia symbiotica. Soil harbored the highest microbial diversity with a balanced phylum-level structure. Aphid infestation significantly reduced phyllosphere microbial diversity (Shannon index) and shifted community composition, with a decline in a sequence putatively assigned to Methylobacterium brachiatum and a modest increase in a taxon assigned to the opportunistic plant pathogen OTU assigned to Dickeya chrysanthemi. This pattern suggests a hypothesis that aphid infestation may create conditions permissive for such opportunistic pathogens, although experimental validation is required. Concurrently, infestation was associated with profound metabolic reprograming in tea leaves, including upregulation of defense-related flavonoids and terpenoids and downregulation of several primary metabolites. Notably, the phyllosphere of infested leaves showed reduced microbial diversity and an increased relative abundance of a 16S rRNA sequence assigned to Dickeya chrysanthemi, while certain plant-derived antimicrobial metabolites were decreased. These patterns suggest a possible association between aphid infestation, altered antimicrobial metabolite profiles and increased relative abundance of Dickeya-assigned sequences. These findings demonstrate that T. aurantii infestation triggers a systemic response in the aboveground compartments (aphid and leaf), while the soil compartment maintains a distinct and highly diverse microbial community that serves as a potential reservoir. The study characterizes microbial communities across these three compartments without inferring infestation-driven soil remodeling. This study advances our understanding of tripartite interactions in tea ecosystems and provides a basis for developing microbiome-based strategies for sustainable pest management. Full article

Root rot and vine decline (RRVD) is one of the main root diseases of melon, causing significant production losses due to the isolated or combined action of different phytopathogenic fungi. The absence of registered chemical control methods in Brazil reinforces the need for alternative integrated management strategies. This study aims to evaluate the enzymatic responses of Jack Beans plants inoculated with M. pseudophaseolina (Experiment I) and the effectiveness of crop rotation cycles between melon (ME) and Jack Bean (JB) on RRVD and soil-borne pathogens (Experiment II). In Experiment I, the activity of chitinase (CT), β-1,3-glucanase (BG), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were assessed at five evaluation periods. In Experiment II, nine rotation cycles involving JB and ME, grown in naturally infested soil, were evaluated for disease incidence, severity, and fungal isolation frequency. In Experiment I, inoculated plants showed increased CT, BG, and PAL expression compared to non-inoculated plants. In Experiment II, the control treatment showed no disease incidence or severity, whereas all other rotation cycles exhibited 100% incidence and severity ranging from 4.5 to 4.9. The incorporation of JB demonstrated a suppressive effect on important pathogens associated with branch decline, reducing the frequency of Macrophomina spp. isolation (0–4% compared to 16% in the treatment without JB) and delaying the root penetration of Monosporascus spp. after two consecutive cycles. However, this management also favored the multiplication of Fusarium spp. in all treatments with JB incorporation. Full article

This study investigated the epidemiology and incidence of citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) disease in citron (Citrus medica L.) under varying field conditions. This research specifically aimed to quantify disease severity, assess populations of the primary vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), and identify potential alternative host plants sustaining the vector and the pathogen. Field surveys were executed across three sites characterised by distinct elevations and management practices. Site-level soil nutrient profiles exhibited moderate acidity (pH 4.67–5.74) and significant differences in organic matter and nitrogen. These findings suggest that localised deficiencies in calcium and boron may exacerbate disease severity, contributing to the varied epidemiological patterns observed across sites. Analysis revealed that both HLB disease severity and D. citri population density were significantly influenced by altitude, field condition, and orchard management. The low-elevation site (860 m above sea level (ASL)), characterised by poor maintenance, exhibited the highest mean psyllid populations (averaging 13 individuals per sticky trap per day) and the most severe disease symptoms. Conversely, the high-elevation site (1674 m ASL) displayed significantly lower infection rates and healthier tree conditions. Symptomatic citron trees across all sites consistently exhibited characteristic HLB foliar and fruit symptoms (blotchy mottle and lopsided fruits). Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) successfully detected the causal agent, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), in symptomatic citron samples from all locations, with the highest relative fold-change (2^−ΔΔCt = 4628.24). Crucially, multiple developmental stages of D. citri were observed infesting the common weed Bidens pilosa. Furthermore, qPCR confirmed the presence of CLas DNA within the B. pilosa tissue itself (2^−ΔΔCt = 210.84). This finding constitutes the first field-based evidence that B. pilosa can serve as a novel alternative host that supports both the D. citri vector and the CLas pathogen. These results establish citron as a highly susceptible host and identify B. pilosa as a new, critical epidemiological link in the HLB transmission cycle, thereby underscoring the necessity for integrated, landscape-level disease management strategies. Full article

The study evaluated the effect of intercropping Paulownia (Paulownia spp.) with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. KWS Thalis) on selected components of agroecosystem biodiversity under Polish conditions. A field experiment established in 2019 compared an alley cropping system with barley monoculture during the 2025 growing season. Weed infestation, soil microbial communities, mesofauna abundance, and crop yield were assessed. Weed abundance was lower in the intercropping system than in monoculture, reaching 5.6 vs. 15.6 plants m⁻² at BBCH 21 and 21 and 22.8 vs. 35.6 plants m⁻² at BBCH 75. Bacterial alpha diversity was significantly higher under intercropping conditions, with Shannon index values ranging from 5.12 to 5.25, compared with 4.98–5.09 in monoculture. Fungal diversity showed moderate differences between systems, whereas the abundance of Collembola and Acari was influenced mainly by seasonal variation rather than by cultivation system. No significant reduction in barley yield was observed under intercropping conditions. The results suggest that Paulownia-based alley cropping may reduce weed pressure and support selected soil biological properties without negatively affecting crop productivity. However, the observed responses varied depending on the analyzed parameter and sampling period, indicating the preliminary and context-dependent character of the results. Further long-term studies are required to better understand the ecological mechanisms operating in such agroforestry systems. Full article

To address the “3R” issues (resistance, resurgence, and residue) associated with chemical control of the sea buckthorn fruit fly (R. batava obscuriosa), this study proposes a novel physical barrier technology aimed at reducing pesticide application intensity, mitigating environmental pollution, and enhancing fruit quality. Yellow sticky traps were deployed to monitor adult occurrence dynamics and delineate the critical control window, while black polyethylene (PE) ground cover was installed on the orchard floor around the base of sea buckthorn trunks to prevent adult emergence from the soil. Control efficacy was evaluated by comparing adult trap catches and fruit infestation rates between the black PE ground cover treatment and the untreated control. Monitoring results revealed that adult emergence commenced on 29 June, entered the peak period on 9 July, attained maximum trap catch on 24 July, and persisted into the late emergence phase through mid-to-late August. Control data demonstrated that mean trap catches in the black PE ground cover treatment were lower than those in the control. From 2024 to 2025, fruit infestation rates declined from 74.5% and 62.3% in the control plot to 19.0~22.0% and 16.2~19.3% in the treatment plots, respectively, with control efficacy consistently exceeding 65%. This study demonstrates that black PE ground cover reduces adult abundance and fruit infestation rates of R. batava obscuriosa, with control efficacy consistently exceeding 65%. The observed effects are consistent with a soil-surface barrier effect and likely attributed to dual physical mechanisms: it may reduce adult emergence from the soil into the canopy and may obstruct mature larvae from entering the soil to pupate. This technology represents an environmentally sound, sustainable green control option suitable for integration into IPM programs for the sea buckthorn industry. Full article

Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) is an important soil-transmitted helminth that infests over 600 million people worldwide. However, data on its seroprevalence in remote regions, such as Thailand’s island areas, remain limited. This study examined the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG seropositivity among primary school children in Koh Yao, an island in southern Thailand. A total of 351 primary school children (156 males and 195 females) were included. The seroprevalence of anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG was determined using the Strongyloides-specific IgG antibodies ELISA, and risk factor data were collected through a questionnaire. Hematological parameters were also analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between risk factors and anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG seropositivity. The seroprevalence of anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG was 3.7% (13/351 participants). Analysis of the risk factors revealed that participants who drank filtered water exhibited lower odds of anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG seropositivity compared to those who drank tap or rainwater (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.05–0.95, p = 0.043). However, due to the small number of seropositive cases, this association is hypothesis-generating and likely serves as a proxy for better household hygiene rather than a direct protective factor. This study is the first report on anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG seropositivity among primary school children in Koh Yao, southern Thailand, demonstrating a low seropositivity rate in this population. These findings provide location-specific information on modifiable risk behaviors, aiding in developing more effective control and prevention strategies for anti-Strongyloides spp. IgG seropositivity in Thailand’s island area. Full article

Wet direct-seeded rice (WDSR) is a resource-efficient cultivation system gaining global popularity, but its sustainability is severely threatened by weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea). Due to the high genetic and physiological similarities between weedy and cultivated rice, selective chemical control remains a formidable challenge. This study evaluated an integrated chemical control strategy utilizing the safener metcamifen (applied as a seed coating) to protect cultivated rice from the pre-emergence herbicide pretilachlor in a simulated WDSR system. Indoor bioassays and outdoor mock-plot trials revealed that metcamifen seed coating alone (up to 560 mg a.i. kg⁻¹ seed) significantly promoted early seedling vigor in cultivated rice (‘Jia 67’) without exhibiting phytotoxicity. Conversely, soil application of pretilachlor at 375 g a.i. ha⁻¹ provided effective initial herbicidal activity, suppressing weedy rice emergence to merely 7.0%. Under this severe herbicide stress, metcamifen seed coating at an effective dose of 480 mg a.i. kg⁻¹ seed significantly mitigated phytotoxicity. However, this protection was partial; crop emergence was maintained at 63.8%, substantially preserving seedling biomass compared to the non-safened control (28.3%), but still reflecting a clear emergence penalty. We hypothesize that this moderate reduction in initial crop stand could potentially be compensated by proportionally increasing the initial seeding rate—a potential agronomic compromise that warrants future empirical validation in the field. In summary, this study provides a preliminary, controlled-environment evaluation demonstrating that the protective application of metcamifen with pretilachlor offers a potential framework for mitigating weedy rice infestations, subject to further field-scale verification. Full article

Phytophthora pseudocryptogea is increasingly recognized as a significant threat to Cycas revoluta cultivation in Mediterranean nursery systems. This study assessed the pathogenicity and relative aggressiveness of P. pseudocryptogea, P. nicotianae, and P. multivora through controlled stem-wounding and soil-infestation assays supported by longitudinal ANOVA models and post hoc comparisons. The results show that P. pseudocryptogea is the only species capable of infecting and colonizing C. revoluta, showing rapid symptom onset, high disease severity, and consistent re-isolation from symptomatic tissues. Conversely, P. multivora and P. nicotianae failed to induce significant symptoms and were statistically indistinguishable from the control across all inoculation methods. Time-series analyses revealed clear species-specific virulence trajectories, highlighting differences in pathogenic behavior among taxa. The findings support P. pseudocryptogea as an emerging pathogen in Mediterranean nursery environments and emphasize the importance of integrating longitudinal analytical frameworks to improve the resolution of pathogenicity assessments. Full article

Long-term continuous cropping often leads to soil-borne pathogen enrichment, and reducing pathogen abundance in continuously cropped soils is an important control measure. In this study, three rotation crops—carrot (C), garlic (G), and bok choy (B)—were introduced into potato pathogen-infested soils. The effects of different systems on pathogen abundance, soil physicochemical properties, and soil microbial abundance were investigated to preliminarily clarify mechanisms by which crop rotation suppressed pathogen enrichment. The results showed that all rotation systems significantly reduced soil pathogen abundance (Fusarium oxysporum, Fo). Among the rotation systems, carrot rotation achieved the greatest Fo reduction and exhibited the strongest increase in soil pH, followed by garlic rotation, while bok choy rotation had the weakest effect. Carrot rotation significantly increased soil bacterial abundance over other treatments. Moreover, crop rotation effectively suppressed soil pathogen enrichment by increasing soil pH and bacterial abundance. Importantly, carrot rotation enhanced soil pathogen-suppressive enzyme activities and the abundance of antagonistic bacteria in the soil. In contrast, garlic root exudates directly inhibited the pathogen, while bok choy and carrot root exudates promoted pathogen growth. These findings demonstrated different rotation crops exhibit distinct pathogen suppression mechanisms. Carrot rotation may indirectly suppress soil pathogen enrichment by increasing the abundance of antagonistic bacteria and enhancing antifungal enzymes, whereas garlic rotation may directly inhibit the pathogen via root exudates. This study provides practical guidance for growers to select optimal rotation crops and design rational continuous cropping systems. Full article