Article
Plant Sciences
Ilaria Di Lelio, Mariangela Coppola, Ernesto Comite, Donata Molisso, Matteo Lorito, Sheridan Lois Woo, Francesco Pennacchio, Rosa Rao, Maria Cristina Digilio
Summary: Species of the Trichoderma genus are widely used in agriculture for crop protection and growth promotion, with recent studies suggesting they may enhance plant defense against insects. However, their biocontrol activity is variable and influenced by environmental conditions, particularly temperature. Understanding this variability is crucial for optimizing their use in plant protection. This study showed that different Trichoderma strains exhibit varied effects on plant defense and insect resistance at different temperatures, with implications for rational selection of isolates for field applications.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Mnqobi Zuma, Cliven Njekete, Kouassi A. J. Konan, Philippe Bearez, Edwige Amiens-Desneux, Nicolas Desneux, Anne-Violette Lavoir
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness of Alyssum as a companion plant and Ephestia kuehniella eggs as alternative prey in enhancing the population growth of Orius laevigatus, a predator used for biological control against Macrosiphum euphorbiae. The presence of Alyssum and/or E. kuehniella eggs resulted in increased O. laevigatus population growth and steady reduction of M. euphorbiae populations. The combination of Alyssum and alternative prey also led to the highest yield in terms of number of fruits per plant.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Martina Sinno, Marta Ranesi, Ilaria Di Lelio, Giuseppina Iacomino, Andrea Becchimanzi, Eleonora Barra, Donata Molisso, Francesco Pennacchio, Maria Cristina Digilio, Stefania Vitale, David Turra, Vili Harizanova, Matteo Lorito, Sheridan Lois Woo
Summary: Endophytic fungi can enhance plant growth and defense against pests and pathogens, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus, shows promise as an endophyte in controlling pests and diseases in crops, but the diversity of strains and plant responses should be carefully considered for successful utilization. This study identified B. bassiana strains with potential for tomato endophytic colonization, disease control, and pest management, laying the groundwork for more effective integrated pest management strategies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Abolfazl Hajihassani, Josiah Marquez, Moges Woldemeskel, Negin Hamidi
Summary: Meloidogyne incognita, the most predominant plant-parasitic nematode species of tomato, causes significant yield loss. Four naturally occurring virulent populations of M. incognita were found in vegetable fields in Georgia. These populations were able to reproduce on tomato cultivars with the Mi-1 gene, indicating resistance-breaking capabilities.
Article
Agronomy
Cristina R. Machado-Assefh, Maria del M. Said-Adamo, Sabrina D. Cortez, Agustin I. Lopez Gialdi, Guadalupe Lopez Isasmendi, Jaime Ortego, Adriana E. Alvarez
Summary: In the areas adjacent to potato crops in Salta, Argentina, researchers found plants that could potentially serve as hosts for aphid vectors and/or reservoirs of PLRV and PVY. They identified 34 plant species and 27 aphid species, with 11 of the plant species reported as hosts for PLRV and/or PVY.
Article
Entomology
Manuel Canto-Tejero, Jose Luis Casas, Maria Angeles Marcos-Garcia, Maria Jesus Pascual-Villalobos, Victoria Florencio-Ortiz, Pedro Guirao
Summary: Essential oils and pure compounds such as (E)-anethole, geraniol, farnesol, and (Z)-jasmone were found to have repellent effects against aphids. Farnesol was also shown to attract natural enemies of aphids. Among the compounds tested, farnesol showed promise as a repellent, as well as an attractant for natural enemies of aphids.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Muhammad Qasim Aslam, Athar Hussain, Afzal Akram, Sonia Hussain, Rubab Zahra Naqvi, Imran Amin, Muhammad Saeed, Shahid Mansoor
Summary: This study functionally validated Mi-1.2-like orthologs in five whitefly hosts and found differential regulation of the Mi-1.2-like gene in various tissue types and under different stresses. The results suggest that Mi-1.2-like R genes could be potential candidates for enhancing whitefly resistance in cotton plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fenni Lv, Peng Wang, Enliang Zhang, Lingling Ma, Lulu Gao, Rutong Yang, Qing Wang, Ya Li
Summary: Efficient and stable transformation systems were developed from embryogenic calli in five genotypes of Catalpa bungei, with a positive frequency up to 92.31%. Transgenic lines expressing Cry2A and Cry9Aa-like genes showed significantly higher resistance to Omphisa plagialis, indicating great potential for future pest management in changing climatic conditions. This transformation system could also be a valuable tool for gene function analysis and genetic improvement of forest trees.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Crispus M. Mbaluto, Esraa M. Ahmad, Anne Madicke, Katharina Grosser, Nicole M. van Dam, Ainhoa Martinez-Medina
Summary: Plants mediate interactions between different herbivores attacking aboveground and belowground organs through the activation of hormonal signaling pathways and the accumulation of defense metabolites. The impact of root infection by root-knot nematode and leaf feeding by potato aphid on tomato plant defense responses were investigated. The study revealed an asymmetrical interaction between the two herbivores in tomato plants, with the root-knot nematode determining the root defense response regardless of later aphid feeding.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yunhe Li, Zhenying Wang, Jorg Romeis
Summary: The highly destructive fall armyworm was first detected in China in late 2018, posing a major economic threat to corn production. This article reviews control strategies and discusses the prospects of managing this pest with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn in China.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Marcia Gabriel, Stela M. Kulczynski, Marcilene F. A. Santos, Caio F. B. Souza, Marlove F. B. Muniz, Leonardo S. Boiteux, Regina M. D. G. Carneiro
Summary: A Mi-1.2 gene-virulent population of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, was found in southern Brazil, which has the ability to overcome the Mi-1.2 resistance gene and cause severe gall symptoms in tomato plants, posing a potential threat to the tomato agribusiness sector.
JOURNAL OF PLANT DISEASES AND PROTECTION
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Tao Zhang, Ju Cai, Sisi Wang, Litang Lv, Dandan Yuan, Xiaofang Zeng, Jianrong Li, Yan Li
Summary: The CsERF gene family in plants plays a crucial role in plant seed development, organ morphogenesis, secondary metabolite synthesis, and response to abiotic stresses. This study screened and named 90 members of CsERF gene family, studied their molecular characteristics and evolutionary relationships, predicted tissue expression and promoter cis-acting elements. The results showed conserved motifs in 81 CsERF proteins and identified their subcellular localization. Phylogenetic analysis divided the CsERF genes into six groups and revealed homologous gene pairs. The study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding tea plant growth, development, and cold stress tolerance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fumin Wang, Yong-Lak Park, Michael Gutensohn
Summary: Secondary metabolites produced in glandular trichomes of tomato, specifically mono- and sesquiterpenes, have contrasting roles in interactions with the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae. While sesquiterpenes derived from TPS12 contribute to host plant resistance against M. euphorbiae, monoterpenes derived from TPS20 appear to be exploited as cues for aphid orientation towards host plants.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Horticulture
Florian Wulf, Jana Podhorna, Martina Bandte, Carmen Buettner, Malgorzata Rybak
Summary: There is an increasing trend in using natural and environmental-friendly approaches to control pests and diseases in horticultural production systems. Biological alternatives, such as botanical extracts and basic substances, show promise in reducing the need for conventional plant protectants. This study investigated the effect of a weekly foliar spray of nettle extract on aphids in ornamental plant production and found that it can effectively reduce aphid density and potentially decrease the use of synthetic plant protectants in horticulture.
FOLIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kai Chen, Wensi Tang, Yongbin Zhou, Jun Chen, Zhaoshi Xu, Rui Ma, Yingshan Dong, Youzhi Ma, Ming Chen
Summary: Soybean, as a main economic crop and a major source of oil and protein, is greatly affected by drought stress. This study explores the value of applying the GmDREB1 gene in improving the drought resistance of soybean. The results show that overexpression of GmDREB1 significantly enhances the drought resistance and yield of transgenic soybean. Mechanism analysis reveals that GmDREB1 regulates the expression of stress-related genes by interacting with ERF-like transcription factors, thus improving the drought resistance of transgenic soybean.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)