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Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR)

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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 (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 37025

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlos Agustí-Brisach

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Guest Editor

Agroforestal Pathology Research Group, Department of Agronomy, ETSIAM, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
Interests: biocontrol; etiology; epidemiology; fungi; integrated pest management; Mediterranean fruit crops; phytopathology; plant–pathogen–environment interactions; fungal trunk and vascular diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Eugenio Llorens

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Area of Vegetal Physiology, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellon, Spain
Interests: plant microbiology; plant–microbe interaction; plant protection; induced resistance; plant physiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biocontrol of plant diseases is considered one of the most important and current challenges of our society due to the need to look for eco-friendly alternatives against chemicals. Thus, research towards biological control sensu lato (antagonist microorganisms, biostimulants, induced resistance (IR)) for plant diseases is an urgent demand from the agro-food sector of the Euroregion, as well as for our society in the frame of European Green Deal. Exploring the different biocontrol tools as well as their combined effect against plant diseases is essential to generate knowledge on this topic to find optimum management strategies in crop protection in the frame of organic and sustainable agriculture. This Special Issue of Plants will bring together a collection of research papers on applied plant pathology and targeted reviews of biocontrol, including studies about antagonist microorganisms, biostimulants, and resistance host inducers against plant diseases.

Dr. Carlos Agustí-Brisach
Dr. Eugenio Llorens
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biological control agents
biostimulation
resistance host inducers
sustainable agriculture

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 210 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Biocontrol of Plant Diseases by Means of Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants and Induced Resistance as Alternatives to Chemicals

by Eugenio Llorens and Carlos Agustí-Brisach

Plants 2022, 11(24), 3521; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11243521 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1038

Abstract

Plant diseases are one of the biggest problems in conventional agriculture as they reduce both yield and crop value [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

18 pages, 2398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cyanobacteria-Mediated Immune Responses in Pepper Plants against Fusarium Wilt

by Amer Morsy Abdelaziz, Mohamed S. Attia, Marwa S. Salem, Dina A. Refaay, Wardah A. Alhoqail and Hoda H. Senousy

Plants 2022, 11(15), 2049; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11152049 - 05 Aug 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 1953

Abstract

Research in plant pathology has increasingly focused on developing environmentally friendly, effective strategies for controlling plant diseases. Cyanobacteria, including Desmonostoc muscorum, Anabaena oryzae, and Arthrospiraplatensis, were applied to Capsicum annuum L. to induce immunity against Fusarium wilt. Soil irrigation and foliar shoots (FS) application were used in this investigation. The disease symptoms, disease index, osmotic contents, total phenol, Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), antioxidant enzymes (activity and isozymes), endogenous hormone content, and response to stimulation of defense resistance in infected plants were assessed. Results demonstrated that using all cyanobacterial aqueous extracts significantly reduced the risk of infection with Fusarium oxysporum. One of the most effective ways to combat the disease was through foliar spraying with Arthrospira platensis, Desmonostoc muscorum, and Anabaena oryzae (which provided 95, 90, and 69% protection percent, respectively). All metabolic resistance indices increased significantly following the application of the cyanobacterial aqueous extracts. Growth, metabolic characteristics, and phenols increased due to the application of cyanobacteria. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) expressions improved in response to cyanobacteria application. Furthermore, treatment by cyanobacteria enhanced salicylic acid (SA) and Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) in the infected plants while decreasing Abscisic acid (ABA). The infected pepper plant recovered from Fusarium wilt because cyanobacterial extract contained many biologically active compounds. The application of cyanobacteria through foliar spraying seems to be an effective approach to relieve the toxic influences of F. oxysporum on infected pepper plants as green and alternative therapeutic nutrients of chemical fungicides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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11 pages, 835 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Rhizospheric Actinomycetes Revealed Antifungal and Plant-Growth-Promoting Activities under Controlled Environment

by Hazem S. Elshafie and Ippolito Camele

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1872; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11141872 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2298

Abstract

Actinomycetes has large habitats and can be isolated from terrestrial soil, rhizospheres of plant roots, and marine sediments. Actinomycetes produce several bioactive secondary metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this study, some Actinomycetes strains were isolated from the rhizosphere zone of four different plant species: rosemary, acacia, strawberry, and olive. The antagonistic activity of all isolates was screened in vitro against Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium. Isolates with the strongest bioactivity potential were selected and molecularly identified as Streptomyces sp., Streptomyces atratus, and Arthrobacter humicola. The growth-promoting activity of the selected Actinomycetes isolates was in vivo evaluated on tomato plants and for disease control against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results demonstrated that all bacterized plants with the studied Actinomycetes isolates were able to promote the tomato seedlings’ growth, showing high values of ecophysiological parameters. In particular, the bacterized seedlings with Streptomyces sp. and A. humicola showed low disease incidence of S. sclerotiorum infection (0.3% and 0.2%, respectively), whereas those bacterized with S. atratus showed a moderate disease incidence (7.6%) compared with the positive control (36.8%). In addition, the ability of the studied Actinomycetes to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes was verified. The results showed that A. humicola was able to produce chitinase, glucanase, and protease, whereas Streptomyces sp. and S. atratus produced amylase and pectinase at high and moderate levels, respectively. This study highlights the value of the studied isolates in providing bioactive metabolites and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, indicating their potential application as fungal-biocontrol agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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12 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Streptomyces albidoflavus Strain CARA17 as a Biocontrol Agent against Fungal Soil-Borne Pathogens of Fennel Plants

by Antonia Carlucci, Maria Luisa Raimondo, Donato Colucci and Francesco Lops

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1420; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11111420 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2219

Abstract

Fennel crop is a horticultural plant susceptible to several soil-borne fungal pathogens responsible for yield losses. The control of fungal diseases occurring on fennel crops is very difficult with conventional and/or integrated means; although several chemical fungicides are able to contain specific fungal diseases, they are not registered for fennel crops. The intensive use of some fungicides causes public concern over the environment and human health. The main aims of this study were to assess the ability of a strain of Streptomyces albidoflavus CARA17 to inhibit the growth of fungal soil-borne pathogens, and to protect fennel plants against severe fungal soil-borne pathogens such as Athelia rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum, Plectosphaerella ramiseptata, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Verticillium dahliae. This study confirmed that the CARA17 strain has been able to inhibit the mycelium growth of pathogens in vitro conditions with significant inhibition degrees, where S. sclerotiorum resulted in being the most controlled. The strain CARA17 was also able to significantly protect the fennel seedlings against fungal soil-borne pathogens used in vivo conditions, where the treatment with an antagonist strain by dipping resulted in being more effective at limiting the disease severity of each fungal soil-borne pathogen. Moreover, any treatment with the CARA17 strain, carried out by dipping or after transplanting, produced benefits for the biomass of fennel seedlings, showing significant effects as a promoter of plant growth. Finally, the results obtained showed that CARA17 is a valid strain as a biocontrol agent (BCA) against relevant fungal soil-borne pathogens, although further studies are recommended to confirm these preliminary results. Finally, this study allowed for first time worldwide the association of Plectosphaerella ramiseptata with fennel plants as a severe pathogen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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24 pages, 4160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Actinobacterial Strains as Potential Biocontrol Agents against Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani, the Main Soil-Borne Pathogens of Phaseolus vulgaris in Cuba

by Miriam Díaz-Díaz, Alexander Bernal-Cabrera, Antonio Trapero, Ricardo Medina-Marrero, Sergio Sifontes-Rodríguez, René Dionisio Cupull-Santana, Milagro García-Bernal and Carlos Agustí-Brisach

Plants 2022, 11(5), 645; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11050645 - 26 Feb 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

Macrophomina phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani are considered two major soil-borne pathogens of Phaseolus vulgaris in Cuba. Their management is difficult, not only due to their intrinsic biology as soil-borne pathogens, but also because the lack of active ingredients available against these pathogens. Actinobacteria, a heterogeneous bacterial group traditionally known as actinomycetes have been reported as promising biological control agents (BCAs) in crop protection. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 60 actinobacterial strains as BCAs against M. phaseolina and R. solani in vitro by dual culture assays. The most effective strains were characterized according to their cellulolytic, chitinolytic and proteolytic extracellular enzymatic activity, as well as by their morphological and biochemical characters in vitro. Forty and 25 out of the 60 actinobacteria strains inhibited the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina and R. solani, respectively, and 18 of them showed a common effect against both pathogens. Significant differences were observed on their enzymatic and biochemical activity. The morphological and biochemical characters allow us to identify all our strains as species belonging to the genus Streptomyces. Streptomyces strains CBQ-EA-2 and CBQ-B-8 showed the highest effectiveness in vitro. Finally, the effect of seed treatments by both strains was also evaluated against M. phaseolina and R. solani infections in P. vulgaris cv. Quivicán seedlings. Treatments combining the two Streptomyces strains (CBQ-EA-2 + CBQ-B-8) were able to reduce significantly the disease severity for both pathogen infections in comparison with the non-treated and inoculated control. Moreover, they showed similar effect than that observed for Trichoderma harzianum A-34 and with Celest^® Top 312 FS (Syngenta^®; Basilea, Switzerland) treatments, which were included for comparative purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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14 pages, 1339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Cultivar and Biocontrol Treatments on the Effect of Olive Stem Extracts on the Viability of Verticillium dahliae Conidia

by Ana López-Moral, Carlos Agustí-Brisach, Francisco M. Leiva-Egea and Antonio Trapero

Plants 2022, 11(4), 554; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11040554 - 20 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1548

Abstract

The effect of olive (Olea europaea) stem extract (OSE) on the viability of conidia of Verticillium dahliae, the causal agent of Verticillium wilt of olive (VWO), is not yet well understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of the olive genotype (cultivar resistance) and the interaction between olive cultivars and biocontrol treatments on the effect of OSE on conidial germination of V. dahliae by in vitro sensitivity tests. To this end, OSE from cultivars Frantoio, Arbequina, and Picual, respectively tolerant, moderately susceptible, and highly susceptible to V. dahliae, were tested alone or after treatments with biological control agents (BCAs) and commercial products efficient at reducing the progress of VWO. Aureobasidium pullulans strain AP08, Phoma sp. strain ColPat-375, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain PAB-24 were considered as BCAs. Aluminium lignosulfonate (IDAI Brotaverd^®), copper phosphite (Phoscuprico^®), potassium phosphite (Naturfos^®), and salicylic acid were selected as commercial products. Our results indicate that the influence of biological treatments against the pathogen depends on the genotype, since the higher the resistance of the cultivar, the lower the effect of the treatments on the ability of OSE to inhibit the germination of conidia. In ‘Picual’, the BCA B. amyloliquefaciens PAB024 and copper phosphite were the most effective treatments in inhibiting conidia germination by the OSE. This work represents a first approach to elucidate the role of cultivar and biological treatments in modifying the effect on the pathogen of the endosphere content of olive plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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16 pages, 1542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacillusvelezensis Strains for Protecting Cucumber Plants from Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita in a Greenhouse

by Anzhela M. Asaturova, Ludmila N. Bugaeva, Anna I. Homyak, Galina A. Slobodyanyuk, Evgeninya V. Kashutina, Larisa V. Yasyuk, Nikita M. Sidorov, Vladimir D. Nadykta and Alexey V. Garkovenko

Plants 2022, 11(3), 275; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11030275 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2369

Abstract

Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid et White is one of the most dangerous root-knot nematodes in greenhouses. In this study, we evaluated two Bacillus strains (Bacillus velezensis BZR 86 and Bacillus velezensis BZR 277) as promising microbiological agents for protecting cucumber plants from the root-knot nematode M. incognita Kof. The morphological and cultural characteristics and enzymatic activity of the strains have been studied and the optimal conditions for its cultivation have been developed. We have shown the nematicidal activity of these strains against M. incognita. Experiments with the cucumber variety Courage were conducted under greenhouse conditions in 2016–2018. We determined the effect of plant damage with M. incognita to plants on the biometric parameters of underground and aboveground parts of cucumber plants, as well as on the gall formation index and yield. It was found that the treatment of plants with Bacillus strains contributed to an increase in the height of cucumber plants by 7.4–43.1%, an increase in leaf area by 2.7–17.8%, and an increase in root mass by 3.2–16.1% compared with the control plants without treatment. The application of these strains was proved to contribute to an increase in yield by 4.6–45.8% compared to control. Our experiments suggest that the treatment of cucumber plants with two Bacillus strains improved plant health and crop productivity in the greenhouse. B. velezensis BZR 86 and B. velezensis BZR 277 may form the basis for bionematicides to protect cucumber plants from the root-knot nematode M. incognita. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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22 pages, 3090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biosolid-Amended Soil Enhances Defense Responses in Tomato Based on Metagenomic Profile and Expression of Pathogenesis-Related Genes

by Evangelia Stavridou, Ioannis Giannakis, Ioanna Karamichali, Nathalie N. Kamou, George Lagiotis, Panagiotis Madesis, Christina Emmanouil, Athanasios Kungolos, Irini Nianiou-Obeidat and Anastasia L. Lagopodi

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2789; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10122789 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2802

Abstract

Biosolid application is an effective strategy, alternative to synthetic chemicals, for enhancing plant growth and performance and improving soil properties. In previous research, biosolid application has shown promising results with respect to tomato resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (Forl). Herein, we aimed at elucidating the effect of biosolid application on the plant–microbiome response mechanisms for tomato resistance against Forl at a molecular level. More specifically, plant–microbiome interactions in the presence of biosolid application and the biocontrol mechanism against Forl in tomato were investigated. We examined whether biosolids application in vitro could act as an inhibitor of growth and sporulation of Forl. The effect of biosolid application on the biocontrol of Forl was investigated based on the enhanced plant resistance, measured as expression of pathogen-response genes, and pathogen suppression in the context of soil microbiome diversity, abundance, and predicted functions. The expression of the pathogen-response genes was variably induced in tomato plants in different time points between 12 and 72 h post inoculation in the biosolid-enriched treatments, in the presence or absence of pathogens, indicating activation of defense responses in the plant. This further suggests that biosolid application resulted in a successful priming of tomato plants inducing resistance mechanisms against Forl. Our results have also demonstrated that biosolid application alters microbial diversity and the predicted soil functioning, along with the relative abundance of specific phyla and classes, as a proxy for disease suppression. Overall, the use of biosolid as a sustainable soil amendment had positive effects not only on plant health and protection, but also on growth of non-pathogenic antagonistic microorganisms against Forl in the tomato rhizosphere and thus, on plant–soil microbiome interactions, toward biocontrol of Forl. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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14 pages, 54041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biological Control of Charcoal Rot in Peanut Crop through Strains of Trichoderma spp., in Puebla, Mexico

by Saira Jazmín Martínez-Salgado, Petra Andrade-Hoyos, Conrado Parraguirre Lezama, Antonio Rivera-Tapia, Alfonso Luna-Cruz and Omar Romero-Arenas

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2630; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10122630 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2970

Abstract

Charcoal rot is an emerging disease for peanut crops caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. In Mexico, peanut crop represents an important productive activity for various rural areas; however, charcoal rot affects producers economically. The objectives of this research were: (a) to identify and morphologically characterize the strain “PUE 4.0” associated with charcoal rot of peanut crops from Buenavista de Benito Juárez, belonging to the municipality of Chietla in Puebla, Mexico; (b) determine the in vitro and in vivo antagonist activity of five Trichoderma species on M. phaseolina, and (c) determine the effect of the incidence of the disease on peanut production in the field. Vegetable tissue samples were collected from peanut crops in Puebla, Mexico with the presence of symptoms of charcoal rot at the stem and root level. The “PUE 4.0” strain presented 100% identity with M. phaseolina, the cause of charcoal rot in peanut crops from Buenavista de Benito Juárez. T. koningiopsis (T-K11) showed the highest development rate, the best growth speed, and the highest percentage of radial growth inhibition (PIRG) over M. phaseolina (71.11%) under in vitro conditions, in addition, T. koningiopsis (T-K11) showed higher production (1.60 ± 0.01 t/ha⁻¹) and lower incidence of charcoal rot under field conditions. The lowest production with the highest incidence of the disease occurred in plants inoculated only with M. phaseolina (0.67 ± 0.01 t/ha⁻¹) where elongated reddish-brown lesions were observed that covered 40% of the total surface of the main root. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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21 pages, 36325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibitory Activity of Shrimp Waste Extracts on Fungal and Oomycete Plant Pathogens

by Soumia El boumlasy, Federico La Spada, Nunzio Tuccitto, Giovanni Marletta, Carlos Luz Mínguez, Giuseppe Meca, Ermes Ivan Rovetto, Antonella Pane, Abderrahmane Debdoubi and Santa Olga Cacciola

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2452; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10112452 - 13 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

(1) Background: This study was aimed at determining the in vitro inhibitory effect of new natural substances obtained by minimal processing from shrimp wastes on fungi and oomycetes in the genera Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Penicillium, Plenodomus and Phytophthora; the effectiveness of the substance with the highest in vitro activity in preventing citrus and apple fruit rot incited by P. digitatum and P. expansum, respectively, was also evaluated. (2) Methods: The four tested substances, water-extract, EtOAc-extract, MetOH-extract and nitric-extract, were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS-TOF; in vitro preliminary tests were carried out to determine the minimal inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations (MIC and MFC, respectively) of the raw dry powder, EtOAc-extract, MetOH-extract and nitric-extract for each pathogen. (3) Results: in the agar-diffusion-assay, nitric-extract showed an inhibitory effect on all pathogens, at all concentrations tested (100, 75, 50 and 25%); the maximum activity was on Plenodomus tracheiphilus, C. gloeosporioides and Ph. nicotianae; the diameters of inhibition halos were directly proportional to the extract concentration; values of MIC and MFC of this extract for all pathogens ranged from 2 to 3.5%; the highest concentrations (50 to 100%) tested in vivo were effective in preventing citrus and apple fruit molds. (4) Conclusions: This study contributes to the search for natural and ecofriendly substances for the control of pre- and post-harvest plant pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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20 pages, 2454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining an HA + Cu (II) Site-Targeted Copper-Based Product with a Pruning Wound Protection Program to Prevent Infection with Lasiodiplodia spp. in Grapevine

by Pedro Reis, Ana Gaspar, Artur Alves, Florence Fontaine and Cecília Rego

Plants 2021, 10(11), 2376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10112376 - 04 Nov 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2243

Abstract

The genus Lasiodiplodia has been reported from several grape growing regions and is considered as one of the fastest wood colonizers, causing Botryosphaeria dieback. The aim of this study was to (i) evaluate the efficacy of Esquive^®, a biocontrol agent, on vineyard pruning wound protection, applied single or, in a combined protection strategy with a new site-targeted copper-based treatment (LC2017), and (ii) compare their efficacy with chemical protection provided by the commercially available product, Tessior^®. For two seasons, protectants were applied onto pruning wounds, while LC2017 was applied throughout the season according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pruning wounds of two different cultivars were inoculated with three isolates of Lasiodiplodia spp. Efficacy of the wound protectants, varied between both years of the assay and according to the cultivar studied but were able to control the pathogen to some extent. The application of LC2017 did not show clear evidence of improving the control obtained by the sole application of the other products tested. Nevertheless, LC2017 showed a fungistatic effect against Lasiodiplodia spp., in vitro, and has previously shown an elicitor effect against grapevine trunk diseases. Therefore, this combination of two protection strategies may constitute a promising long-term approach to mitigate the impact of Botryosphaeria dieback. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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18 pages, 4851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation and Characterization of Endophyte Bacillus velezensis KOF112 from Grapevine Shoot Xylem as Biological Control Agent for Fungal Diseases

by Kazuhiro Hamaoka, Yoshinao Aoki and Shunji Suzuki

Plants 2021, 10(9), 1815; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091815 - 31 Aug 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4492

Abstract

As the use of chemical fungicides has raised environmental concerns, biological control agents have attracted interest as an alternative to chemical fungicides for plant-disease control. In this study, we attempted to explore biological control agents for three fungal phytopathogens causing downy mildew, gray mold, and ripe rot in grapevines, which are derived from shoot xylem of grapevines. KOF112, which was isolated from the Japanese indigenous wine grape Vitis sp. cv. Koshu, inhibited mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Phytophthora infestans. The KOF112-inhibited mycelial tips were swollen or ruptured, suggesting that KOF112 produces antifungal substances. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence revealed that KOF112 is a strain of Bacillus velezensis. Comparative genome analysis indicated significant differences in the synthesis of non-ribosomal synthesized antimicrobial peptides and polyketides between KOF112 and the antagonistic B. velezensis FZB42. KOF112 showed biocontrol activities against gray mold caused by B. cinerea, anthracnose by C. gloeosporioides, and downy mildew by Plasmopara viticola. In the KOF112–P. viticola interaction, KOF112 inhibited zoospore release from P. viticola zoosporangia but not zoospore germination. In addition, KOF112 drastically upregulated the expression of genes encoding class IV chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase in grape leaves, suggesting that KOF112 also works as a biotic elicitor in grapevine. Because it is considered that endophytic KOF112 can colonize well in and/or on grapevine, KOF112 may contribute to pest-management strategies in viticulture and potentially reduce the frequency of chemical fungicide application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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Review

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Open AccessReview

The Roles of Cruciferae Glucosinolates in Disease and Pest Resistance

by Zeci Liu, Huiping Wang, Jianming Xie, Jian Lv, Guobin Zhang, Linli Hu, Shilei Luo, Lushan Li and Jihua Yu

Plants 2021, 10(6), 1097; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10061097 - 30 May 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5188

Abstract

With the expansion of the area under Cruciferae vegetable cultivation, and an increase in the incidence of natural threats such as pests and diseases globally, Cruciferae vegetable losses caused by pathogens, insects, and pests are on the rise. As one of the key metabolites produced by Cruciferae vegetables, glucosinolate (GLS) is not only an indicator of their quality but also controls infestation by numerous fungi, bacteria, aphids, and worms. Today, the safe and pollution-free production of vegetables is advocated globally, and environmentally friendly pest and disease control strategies, such as biological control, to minimize the adverse impacts of pathogen and insect pest stress on Cruciferae vegetables, have attracted the attention of researchers. This review explores the mechanisms via which GLS acts as a defensive substance, participates in responses to biotic stress, and enhances plant tolerance to the various stress factors. According to the current research status, future research directions are also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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