Epidemiology and Control of 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 May 2022) | Viewed by 39067

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Special Issue Editor

Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: plant diseases; phytopathogenic fungi; plant protection; biological control agents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, global climatic changes (GCC) caused by human activities, above all including the consumption rates of fossil fuel and deforestation, have progressively caused an increase of CO2 (carbon dioxide) concentrations in atmosphere and, simultaneously, a significant global mean temperature. All this has had and is having direct repercussions on the amount of food resources and their supply. Among these GCC effects, the life cycle and epidemiology of plant pathogens are and will be deeply altered within the same crop season. As a consequence to these phytopathological implications and challenging scenarios, plant protection and disease management should be deeply reconsidered above all for timing of treatments. To this regard, it is noteworthy that some plant disease epidemics have currently shocking effects on food and forestry heritage losses in the world. A better knowledge of pathogen epidemiology as well as of correct technical placement of control measures could better satisfy the growing interest in strategies aiming at a rational and sustainable approach for plant disease management. In the light of above considerations, researchers and technicians are invited to investigate epidemiological (biological) cycles of airborne and soilborne plant pathogens with the aim to ensure a good agricultural productivity, maintaining an effective management of plant diseases and, simultaneously, a good economic and environmental sustainability. This Special Issue will underline the performances of new eco-sustainable control means to increase our knowledge for plant pathologists, international scientific communities, and industries and will provide a better understanding of the mode of action and timing application procedure of control means in different soil–plant systems. At the same time, an early and deep understanding of plant disease epidemiology is needed to better anticipate challenges ahead and to relate directly with disease control strategies.

Dr. Alessandro Vitale
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • global climatic changes
  • plant pathogens
  • airborne agents
  • soilborne agents
  • sustainable approach
  • biological control agents
  • epidemiology
  • life cycle
  • plant disease management

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 211 KiB  
Editorial
Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases
by Alessandro Vitale
Plants 2023, 12(4), 793; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12040793 - 10 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1570
Abstract
I am pleased to present this edition of the Special Issue of Plants, dedicated to multifaceted topic of epidemiology and control of plant diseases in agricultural systems [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

16 pages, 3897 KiB  
Article
COS-OGA Applications in Organic Vineyard Manage Major Airborne Diseases and Maintain Postharvest Quality of Wine Grapes
by Francesca Calderone, Alessandro Vitale, Salvina Panebianco, Monia Federica Lombardo and Gabriella Cirvilleri
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1763; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11131763 - 01 Jul 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1855
Abstract
In most wine-growing countries of the world the interest for organic viticulture and eco-friendly grape production processes increased significantly in the last decade. Organic viticulture is currently dependent on the availability of Cu and S compounds, but their massive use over time has [...] Read more.
In most wine-growing countries of the world the interest for organic viticulture and eco-friendly grape production processes increased significantly in the last decade. Organic viticulture is currently dependent on the availability of Cu and S compounds, but their massive use over time has led to negative effects on environment health. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative and sustainable treatments against powdery mildew, gray mold and sour rot under the field conditions on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia Sicilian cultivars. In detail, the efficacy of COS-OGA, composed by a complex of oligochitosans and oligopectates, and its effects in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were evaluated to reduce airborne disease infections of grape. COS-OGA combined with AMF induced a significant reduction in powdery mildew severity both on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia with a mean percentage decrease of about 15% and 33%, respectively. Moreover, COS-OGA alone and combined with AMF gave a good protection against gray mold and sour rot with results similar to the Cu–S complex (performance in disease reduction ranging from 65 to 100%) on tested cultivars. Similarly, the COS-OGA and AMF integration provided good performances in enhancing average yield and did not negatively impact quality and microbial communities of wine grape. Overall, COS-OGA alone and in combination could be proposed as a valid and safer option for the sustainable management of the main grapevine pathogens in organic agroecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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20 pages, 4831 KiB  
Article
Identification and Pathogenicity of Paramyrothecium Species Associated with Leaf Spot Disease in Northern Thailand
by Patchareeya Withee, Sukanya Haituk, Chanokned Senwanna, Anuruddha Karunarathna, Nisachon Tamakaew, Parichad Pakdeeniti, Nakarin Suwannarach, Jaturong Kumla, Piyawan Suttiprapan, Paul W. J. Taylor, Milan C. Samarakoon and Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1445; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11111445 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2882
Abstract
Species of Paramyrothecium that are reported as plant pathogens and cause leaf spot or leaf blight have been reported on many commercial crops worldwide. In 2019, during a survey of fungi causing leaf spots on plants in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son [...] Read more.
Species of Paramyrothecium that are reported as plant pathogens and cause leaf spot or leaf blight have been reported on many commercial crops worldwide. In 2019, during a survey of fungi causing leaf spots on plants in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces, northern Thailand, 16 isolates from 14 host species across nine plant families were collected. A new species Paramyrothecium vignicola sp. nov. was identified based on morphology and concatenated (ITS, cmdA, rpb2, and tub2) phylogeny. Further, P. breviseta and P. foliicola represented novel geographic records to Thailand, while P. eichhorniae represented a novel host record (Psophocarpus sp., Centrosema sp., Aristolochia sp.). These species were confirmed to be the causal agents of the leaf spot disease through pathogenicity assay. Furthermore, cross pathogenicity tests on Coffea arabica L., Commelina benghalensis L., Glycine max (L.) Merr., and Dieffenbachia seguine (Jacq.) Schott revealed multiple host ranges for these pathogens. Further research is required into the host–pathogen relationship of Paramyrothecium species that cause leaf spot and their management. Biotic and abiotic stresses caused by climate change may affect plant health and disease susceptibility. Hence, proper identification and monitoring of fungal communities in the environment are important to understand emerging diseases and for implementation of disease management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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13 pages, 5046 KiB  
Article
YOLO-JD: A Deep Learning Network for Jute Diseases and Pests Detection from Images
by Dawei Li, Foysal Ahmed, Nailong Wu and Arlin I. Sethi
Plants 2022, 11(7), 937; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11070937 - 30 Mar 2022
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5482
Abstract
Recently, disease prevention in jute plants has become an urgent topic as a result of the growing demand for finer quality fiber. This research presents a deep learning network called YOLO-JD for detecting jute diseases from images. In the main architecture of YOLO-JD, [...] Read more.
Recently, disease prevention in jute plants has become an urgent topic as a result of the growing demand for finer quality fiber. This research presents a deep learning network called YOLO-JD for detecting jute diseases from images. In the main architecture of YOLO-JD, we integrated three new modules such as Sand Clock Feature Extraction Module (SCFEM), Deep Sand Clock Feature Extraction Module (DSCFEM), and Spatial Pyramid Pooling Module (SPPM) to extract image features effectively. We also built a new large-scale image dataset for jute diseases and pests with ten classes. Compared with other state-of-the-art experiments, YOLO-JD has achieved the best detection accuracy, with an average mAP of 96.63%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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14 pages, 1403 KiB  
Article
Development of a Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Rapid Detection of Olea Europaea Geminivirus
by Sofia Bertacca, Andrea Giovanni Caruso, Daniela Trippa, Annalisa Marchese, Antonio Giovino, Slavica Matic, Emanuela Noris, Maria Isabel Font San Ambrosio, Ana Alfaro, Stefano Panno and Salvatore Davino
Plants 2022, 11(5), 660; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11050660 - 28 Feb 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2301
Abstract
A real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for simple, rapid and efficient detection of the Olea europaea geminivirus (OEGV), a virus recently reported in different olive cultivation areas worldwide. A preliminary screening by end-point PCR for OEGV detection was conducted to [...] Read more.
A real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for simple, rapid and efficient detection of the Olea europaea geminivirus (OEGV), a virus recently reported in different olive cultivation areas worldwide. A preliminary screening by end-point PCR for OEGV detection was conducted to ascertain the presence of OEGV in Sicily. A set of six real-time LAMP primers, targeting a 209-nucleotide sequence elapsing the region encoding the coat protein (AV1) gene of OEGV, was designed for specific OEGV detection. The specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of the diagnostic assay were determined. The LAMP assay showed no cross-reactivity with other geminiviruses and was allowed to detect OEGV with a 10-fold higher sensitivity than conventional end-point PCR. To enhance the potential of the LAMP assay for field diagnosis, a simplified sample preparation procedure was set up and used to monitor OEGV spread in different olive cultivars in Sicily. As a result of this survey, we observed that 30 out of 70 cultivars analyzed were positive to OEGV, demonstrating a relatively high OEGV incidence. The real-time LAMP assay developed in this study is suitable for phytopathological laboratories with limited facilities and resources, as well as for direct OEGV detection in the field, representing a reliable method for rapid screening of olive plant material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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15 pages, 2826 KiB  
Article
Paclobutrazol Improves the Quality of Tomato Seedlings to Be Resistant to Alternaria solani Blight Disease: Biochemical and Histological Perspectives
by Tarek A. Shalaby, Naglaa A. Taha, Dalia I. Taher, Metwaly M. Metwaly, Hossam S. El-Beltagi, Adel A. Rezk, Sherif M. El-Ganainy, Wael F. Shehata, Hassan R. El-Ramady and Yousry A. Bayoumi
Plants 2022, 11(3), 425; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11030425 - 04 Feb 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3227
Abstract
The production and quality of tomato seedlings needs many growth factors and production requirements besides controlling the phytopathogens. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) has benefit applications in improving crop productivity under biotic stress (Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight disease in tomatoes). [...] Read more.
The production and quality of tomato seedlings needs many growth factors and production requirements besides controlling the phytopathogens. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) has benefit applications in improving crop productivity under biotic stress (Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early blight disease in tomatoes). In the current study, the foliar application of PBZ, at rates of 25, 50, and 100 mg L−1, was evaluated against early blight disease in tomatoes under greenhouse conditions. The roles of PBZ to extend tomato seedling lives and handling in nurseries were also investigated by measuring different the biochemical (leaf enzymes, including catalase and peroxidase) and histological attributes of tomato seedlings. Disease assessment confirmed that PBZ enhanced the quality of tomato seedlings and induced resistance to early blight disease post inoculation, at 7, 14, and 21 days. Higher values in chlorophyll content, enzyme activities, and anatomical features of stem (cuticle thickness) and stomata (numbers and thickness) were recorded, due to applied PBZ. This may support the delay of the transplanting of tomato seedlings without damage. The reason for this extending tomato seedling life may be due to the role of PBZ treatment in producing seedlings to be greener, more compact, and have a better root system. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that PBZ has a distinguished impact in ameliorating biotic stress, especially of the early blight disease under greenhouse conditions. Further studies, which consider molecular variables, will be conducted to explore the role of PBZ in more detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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15 pages, 53592 KiB  
Article
Characterization and Control of Thielaviopsis punctulata on Date Palm in Saudi Arabia
by Khalid A. Alhudaib, Sherif M. El-Ganainy, Mustafa I. Almaghasla and Muhammad N. Sattar
Plants 2022, 11(3), 250; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11030250 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3165
Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the most important edible fruit crop in Saudi Arabia. Date palm cultivation and productivity are severely affected by various fungal diseases in date palm-producing countries. In recent years, black scorch disease has emerged as a devastating [...] Read more.
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the most important edible fruit crop in Saudi Arabia. Date palm cultivation and productivity are severely affected by various fungal diseases in date palm-producing countries. In recent years, black scorch disease has emerged as a devastating disease affecting date palm cultivation in the Arabian Peninsula. In the current survey, leaves and root samples were collected from deteriorated date palm trees showing variable symptoms of neck bending, leaf drying, tissue necrosis, wilting, and mortality of the entire tree in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia. During microscopic examination, the fungus isolates growing on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media produced thick-walled chlamydospores and endoconidia. The morphological characterization confirmed the presence of Thielaviopsis punctulata in the date palm plant samples as the potential agent of black scorch disease. The results were further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and phylogenetic dendrograms of partial regions of the ITS, TEF1-α, and β-tubulin genes. The nucleotide sequence comparison showed that the T. punctulata isolates were 99.9–100% identical to each other and to the T. punctulata isolate identified from Iraq-infecting date palm trees. The pathogenicity of the three selected T. punctulata isolates was also confirmed on date palm plants of Khalas cultivar. The morphological, molecular, and pathogenicity results confirmed that T. punctulata causes black scorch disease in symptomatic date palm plants in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, seven commercially available fungicides were also tested for their potential efficacy to control black scorch disease. The in vitro application of the three fungicides Aliette, Score, and Tachigazole reduced the fungal growth zone by 86–100%, respectively, whereas the in vivo studies determined that the fungicides Aliette and Score significantly impeded the mycelial progression of T. punctulata with 40% and 73% efficiency, respectively. These fungicides can be used in integrated disease management (IDM) strategies to curb black scorch disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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7 pages, 3856 KiB  
Article
Fusarium nirenbergiae (Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex) Causing the Wilting of Passion Fruit in Italy
by Dalia Aiello, Alberto Fiorenza, Giuseppa Rosaria Leonardi, Alessandro Vitale and Giancarlo Polizzi
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2011; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10102011 - 26 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2590
Abstract
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) is an ever-increasing interest crop in Italy because it is mainly cultivated for its edible fruit and, secondly, as an ornamental evergreen climber. During the summer of 2020, two-year-old plants of purple passion fruit in one of [...] Read more.
Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) is an ever-increasing interest crop in Italy because it is mainly cultivated for its edible fruit and, secondly, as an ornamental evergreen climber. During the summer of 2020, two-year-old plants of purple passion fruit in one of the most important expanding production areas of Sicily (southern Italy) showed symptoms of yellowing, wilting, and vascular discoloration. Fusarium-like fungal colonies were consistently yielded from symptomatic crown and stem tissues. Five representative isolates were characterized by a morphological and molecular analysis based on a multilocus phylogeny using RNA polymerase’s second largest subunit (RPB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) genes, as Fusarium nirenbergiae (Fusarium oxysporum species complex). Pathogenicity tests conducted on healthy 1-year-old passion fruit cuttings revealed symptoms similar to those observed in the field. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Fusarium wilt on passion fruit caused by Fusarium nirenbergiae. This report focuses on the phytopathological implications of this fungal pathogen, which may represent a future significant threat for the expanding passion fruit production in Italy and Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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12 pages, 1856 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of Pectobacterium parmentieri, a Causal Agent of Potato Soft Rot
by Anna A. Lukianova, Peter V. Evseev, Alexander A. Stakheev, Irina B. Kotova, Sergey K. Zavriev, Alexander N. Ignatov and Konstantin A. Miroshnikov
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1880; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091880 - 10 Sep 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2271
Abstract
Pectobacterium parmentieri is a plant-pathogenic bacterium, recently attributed as a separate species, which infects potatoes, causing soft rot in tubers. The distribution of P. parmentieri seems to be global, although the bacterium tends to be accommodated to moderate climates. Fast and accurate detection [...] Read more.
Pectobacterium parmentieri is a plant-pathogenic bacterium, recently attributed as a separate species, which infects potatoes, causing soft rot in tubers. The distribution of P. parmentieri seems to be global, although the bacterium tends to be accommodated to moderate climates. Fast and accurate detection systems for this pathogen are needed to study its biology and to identify latent infection in potatoes and other plant hosts. The current paper reports on the development of a specific and sensitive detection protocol based on a real-time PCR with a TaqMan probe for P. parmentieri, and its evaluation. In sensitivity assays, the detection threshold of this protocol was 102 cfu/mL on pure bacterial cultures and 102–103 cfu/mL on plant material. The specificity of the protocol was evaluated against P. parmentieri and more than 100 strains of potato-associated species of Pectobacterium and Dickeya. No cross-reaction with the non-target bacterial species, or loss of sensitivity, was observed. This specific and sensitive diagnostic tool may reveal a wider distribution and host range for P. parmentieri and will expand knowledge of the life cycle and environmental preferences of this pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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13 pages, 315 KiB  
Article
Possible Overestimation of Seed Transmission in the Spread of Pospiviroids in Commercial Pepper and Tomato Crops Based on Large-Scale Grow-Out Trials and Systematic Literature Review
by Jacobus T. J. Verhoeven, Marleen Botermans, Ruben Schoen, Harrie Koenraadt and Johanna W. Roenhorst
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1707; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10081707 - 19 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2717
Abstract
Several outbreaks of pospiviroids have been reported in pepper and tomato crops worldwide. Tracing back the origin of the infections has led to different sources. In some cases, the infections were considered to result from seed transmission. Other outbreaks were related to transmission [...] Read more.
Several outbreaks of pospiviroids have been reported in pepper and tomato crops worldwide. Tracing back the origin of the infections has led to different sources. In some cases, the infections were considered to result from seed transmission. Other outbreaks were related to transmission from ornamental crops and weeds. Pospiviroids, in particular potato spindle tuber viroid, are regulated by many countries because they can be harmful to potatoes and tomatoes. Seed transmission has been considered an important pathway of introduction and spread. However, the importance of this pathway can be questioned. This paper presents data on seed transmission from large-scale grow-out trials of infested pepper and tomato seed lots produced under standard seed-industry conditions. In addition, it presents the results of a systematic review of published data on seed transmission and outbreaks in commercial pepper and tomato crops. Based on the results of the grow-out trials and review of the literature, it was concluded that the role of seed transmission in the spread of pospiviroids in practice is possibly overestimated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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14 pages, 1989 KiB  
Article
Effects of Temperature and Wetness Duration on Infection by Coniella diplodiella, the Fungus Causing White Rot of Grape Berries
by Tao Ji, Luca Languasco, Ming Li and Vittorio Rossi
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1696; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10081696 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2396
Abstract
Grapevine white rot, caused by Coniella diplodiella, can severely damage berries during ripening. The effects of temperature and wetness duration on the infection severity of C. diplodiella were investigated by artificially inoculating grape berries through via infection pathways (uninjured and injured berries, [...] Read more.
Grapevine white rot, caused by Coniella diplodiella, can severely damage berries during ripening. The effects of temperature and wetness duration on the infection severity of C. diplodiella were investigated by artificially inoculating grape berries through via infection pathways (uninjured and injured berries, and through pedicels). The effect of temperature on incubation was also studied, as was that of inoculum dose. Injured berries were affected sooner than uninjured berries, even though 100% of the berries inoculated with C. diplodiella conidia became rotted whether injured or not; infection through pedicels was less severe. On injured berries, the disease increased as the inoculum dose increased. Irrespective of the infection pathway, 1 h of wetness was sufficient to cause infection at any temperature tested (10–35 °C); with the optimal temperature being 23.8 °C. The length of incubation was shorter for injured berries than for uninjured ones, and was shorter at 25–35 °C than at lower temperatures; the shortest incubation period was 14 h for injured berries at 30 °C. Mathematical equations were developed that fit the data, with R2 = 0.93 for infection through any infection pathway, and R2 = 0.98 for incubation on injured berries, which could be used to predict infection period and, therefore, to schedule fungicide applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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15 pages, 2872 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Two Predictive Models for Forecasting Olive Leaf Spot in Northern Greece
by Thomas Thomidis, Konstantinos Michos, Fotis Chatzipapadopoulos and Amalia Tampaki
Plants 2021, 10(6), 1200; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10061200 - 12 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
Olive leaf spot (Venturia oleaginea) is a very important disease in olive trees worldwide. The introduction of predictive models for forecasting the appearance of a disease can lead to improved disease management. One of the aims of this study was to [...] Read more.
Olive leaf spot (Venturia oleaginea) is a very important disease in olive trees worldwide. The introduction of predictive models for forecasting the appearance of a disease can lead to improved disease management. One of the aims of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature and leaf wetness on conidial germination of local isolates of V. oleaginea. The results showed that a temperature range of 5 to 25 °C was appropriate for conidial germination, with 20 °C being the optimum. It was also found that at least 12 h of leaf wetness was required to start the germination of V. oleaginea conidia at the optimum temperature. The second aim of this study was to validate the above generic model and a polynomial model for forecasting olive leaf spot disease under the field conditions of Potidea Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. The results showed that both models correctly predicted infection periods. However, there were differences in the severity of the infection, as demonstrated by the goodness-of-fit for the data collected on leaves of olive trees in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Specifically, the generic model predicted lower severity, which fits well with the incidence of the disease symptoms on unsprayed trees. In contrast, the polynomial model predicted high severity levels of infection, but these did not fit well with the incidence of disease symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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Review

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15 pages, 1085 KiB  
Review
Metabolome Profiling: A Breeding Prediction Tool for Legume Performance under Biotic Stress Conditions
by Penny Makhumbila, Molemi Rauwane, Hangwani Muedi and Sandiswa Figlan
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1756; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11131756 - 01 Jul 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2450
Abstract
Legume crops such as common bean, pea, alfalfa, cowpea, peanut, soybean and others contribute significantly to the diet of both humans and animals. They are also important in the improvement of cropping systems that employ rotation and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Biotic stresses hinder [...] Read more.
Legume crops such as common bean, pea, alfalfa, cowpea, peanut, soybean and others contribute significantly to the diet of both humans and animals. They are also important in the improvement of cropping systems that employ rotation and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Biotic stresses hinder the production of leguminous crops, significantly limiting their yield potential. There is a need to understand the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the response of these crops to biotic stressors. Simultaneous expressions of a number of genes responsible for specific traits of interest in legumes under biotic stress conditions have been reported, often with the functions of the identified genes unknown. Metabolomics can, therefore, be a complementary tool to understand the pathways involved in biotic stress response in legumes. Reports on legume metabolomic studies in response to biotic stress have paved the way in understanding stress-signalling pathways. This review provides a progress update on metabolomic studies of legumes in response to different biotic stresses. Metabolome annotation and data analysis platforms are discussed together with future prospects. The integration of metabolomics with other “omics” tools in breeding programmes can aid greatly in ensuring food security through the production of stress tolerant cultivars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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Other

14 pages, 316 KiB  
Perspective
Breeding Tools for Assessing and Improving Resistance and Limiting Mycotoxin Production by Fusarium graminearum in Wheat
by Sandiswa Figlan and Learnmore Mwadzingeni
Plants 2022, 11(15), 1933; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11151933 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1480
Abstract
The recently adopted conservation and minimum tillage practices in wheat-production systems coupled with the concomitant warming of the Earth are believed to have caused the upsurges in Fusarium head blight (FHB) prevalence in major wheat-producing regions of the world. Measures to counter this [...] Read more.
The recently adopted conservation and minimum tillage practices in wheat-production systems coupled with the concomitant warming of the Earth are believed to have caused the upsurges in Fusarium head blight (FHB) prevalence in major wheat-producing regions of the world. Measures to counter this effect include breeding for resistance to both initial infection of wheat and spread of the disease. Cases of mycotoxicosis caused by ingestion of wheat by-products contaminated with FHB mycotoxins have necessitated the need for resistant wheat cultivars that can limit mycotoxin production by the dominant causal pathogen, Fusarium graminearum. This manuscript reviews breeding tools for assessing and improving resistance as well as limiting mycotoxin contamination in wheat to reflect on the current state of affairs. Combining these aspects in wheat research and development promotes sustainable quality grain production and safeguards human and livestock health from mycotoxicosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)
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