Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection

Muis, Amran; Suriani, ; Najamuddin, Erwin; Djaenuddin, Nurasiah; Nonci, Nurnina; Pakki, Syahrir; Aminah,

doi: 10.1007/s41348-026-01291-6pmid: N/A

Major maize diseases, such as downy mildew, leaf blight, and rust, pose significant threats to global maize production. This study utilized three types of rhizosphere isolates from the Bacillus subtilis species, known for their antagonistic properties against several important maize phytopathogens and their ability to dissolve phosphate and potassium minerals under laboratory conditions. To further assess the potential of biopesticide formulation, field experiments were conducted to control downy mildew, leaf blight, and rust while also promoting maize growth. The tests involved applying the biopesticide formulation through seed soaking and crop spraying in combination with six maize varieties: Nasa 29, JH 29, HJ 21, Jakarin, Lamuru, and NK6172. The study’s findings demonstrated that applying biopesticide formulations derived from antagonistic bacteria, both at the seed level and through foliar spraying, significantly reduced the severity of major maize diseases across various varieties. Specifically, the treatments were effective against downy mildew in the Nasa 29 and JH 29 varieties, resulting in infection rates of only 0.2% to 0.8%. Leaf blight disease was considerable in the HJ 21, Lamuru, and Jakarin varieties, with infection rates ranging from 15% to 22%. Additionally, rust disease was significantly managed in the Nasa 29, JH 29, Jakarin, and NK6172 varieties, where infection rates varied between 27% and 31%. Moreover, the study indicated that genetic factors of variety play a vital role in influencing the capacity of biopesticide formulations to enhance plant growth.

Julián-Flores, Antonio; Vázquez-Núñez, María de los Ángeles; Ascacio-Valdés, Juan Alberto; Perales-Rosas, Daniel; Reyes-Luna, Carlos; Michel, Mariela R.; Aguilar-Zárate, Pedro

doi: 10.1007/s41348-026-01288-1pmid: N/A

The use of biocidal fungi as biological control agents remains a relevant field of research. Beauveria bassiana, which is used for the production of biological insecticides, can be cultivated in fermentation systems to obtain secondary metabolites with antifungal properties. In the present study, oosporein production was carried out through liquid fermentation of Beauveria bassiana PQ2. The obtained extracts were purified and characterized by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Antifungal activity was evaluated against Gibberella moniliformis, determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Half Maximal Inhibitory Concentration (IC₅₀). The results revealed four purified fractions (Amberlite fraction and Sephadex fractions F1, F2, and F3), and HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of oosporein and potassium oosporein. Sephadex F3 fraction showed the highest inhibitory activity against G. moniliformis in both assays, with an MIC of 62.5 µg/mL and an IC₅₀ of 13.48 ± 0.88 µg/mL. These findings suggest that Sephadex F3 may contain a higher concentration of oosporein and could represent a viable alternative for the control of phytopathogens.

Abo-Elyousr, Kamal A. M.; El-Fawy, Mansour M.; El-Nagar, Asmaa S.; Abou-Shlell, Mohamed K.; Almasoudi, Najeeb M.; Al-Qurashi, Adel D.; Sallam, Nashwa M. A.

doi: 10.1007/s41348-026-01297-0pmid: N/A

Maize (Zea mays L.) is considered one of the important and most productive cereal crops in the world, it is used in human food and animal feed. A number of fungal diseases attack the maize crop, including Fusarium camptoceras-caused stalk and ear rots. It is considered one of the most significant diseases that have an effect on crop quality and quantity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of biochar in stalk and ear rot disease management, vegetative promotion, and plant anatomical enhancement. The findings demonstrated that biochar significantly decreased the pathogen’s growth rate at the tested concentrations (0.50, 1, and 2% w/v). Moreover, ear rot severity decreased when corn cobs were treated with biochar under laboratory conditions. In greenhouse experiments, drenching the soil with biochar suspensions significantly decreases stalk rot disease severity in maize compared to the untreated control. Plant growth indicators like plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight of maize plants were all obviously impacted by biochar. Additionally, data showed that, in comparison to the untreated control plants, biochar improved the anatomical features of maize roots and leaves. Additionally, data showed that plants treated with this treatment had higher levels of total phenol contents and peroxidase (POD) enzyme activity.

Plotnikov, Kirill Olegovich; Nikulin, Akim Sergeevitch; Blinov, Alexander Gennadievich; Ryabinina, Valeria Alexeevna; Biryukov, Mikhail Yurievich; Dmitrieva, Anastasia Mikhailovna; Chepurnov, Grigory Yurievich

doi: 10.1007/s41348-026-01296-1pmid: N/A

This work reports the first detection of potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) on tomato plants in Russia. Plants showing signs of PSTVd infection were found in greenhouses in Khabarovsk Region and Stavropol Region. Three isolates of viroids, H41, K168 and K169, were isolated. Phylogenetic analysis established their close relationship with the isolates infecting potato plants previously characterized in Russia. The analysis of the secondary structures of the detected isolates also showed their similarity to the previously characterized isolates. However, for the H41 isolate, the insertion of two nucleotides in the PM1 loop of the pathogenic VM region (VMR) was noted. Insertions in the PM1 loop increased the free energy values of this structural element. The information obtained suggests that genetically Russian isolates do not undergo significant changes in the main structural elements even during the transition from potato to tomato, but there are insertions in the PM1 loop related to the virulence modulation region.

Rizzo, Domenico; Pecori, Francesco; Gionni, Alessandra; Zubieta, Claudia Gabriela; Marrucci, Andrea; Moriconi, Michela; Ranaldi, Chiara; Palmigiano, Bruno; Bartolini, Linda; Downes, Alice; Bolige, Edson; Feltgen, Stephanie; Bracalini, Matteo; Panzavolta, Tiziana; Hoppe, Björn; Santini, Alberto; Luchi, Nicola