One of the biggest challenges of wheat production worldwide is to overcome fungal diseases, and among these is Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused mainly by the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC). The occurrence of FHB can lead to contamination of grains with mycotoxins, which are harmful to human and animal health. In South America, in addition to F. graminearum sensu stricto (F. graminearum)

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) are a major constraint of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) crops worldwide. In Mexico, Sinaloa State is one of the main producers of pepper; however, there is little information available on the distribution, prevalence, and incidence of RKN on this crop. Identification of RKN species and estimation of the epidemiological factors are important to design its management

Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), a tobamovirus, has been reported worldwide infecting, especially, pepper plants. In this study, seven new PMMoV isolates were identified in symptomatic pepper plants collected in four departments of Peru. The majority of these isolates induced severe symptoms, including mottle, in susceptible pepper plants. Inoculation on pepper plants carrying four known functional

Drench applications of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducing compounds acibenzolar-s-methyl (ASM) and thiamethoxam (THIA) may contribute for the control of citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. Here, we report the results of a 3-year field experiment on the effect of drench applications of two SAR-inducing compounds, applied alone or in combination with copper oxychloride (CuOX)

Effective quantification of Calonectria ilicicola in naturally infested soils is critical for evaluating and validating control measures for managing red crown rot disease in soybean. Counting of microsclerotia has been used to quantify this pathogen, but the method is laborious and time-consuming to process large numbers of soil samples using wet sieving. To overcome these issues, we developed and

Avocado (Persea americana), an important fruit crop, is under threat from an invasive disease, laurel wilt. The pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola, spreads rapidly in the xylem of infected trees and causes a lethal vascular wilt. A previous study showed that variation in susceptibility to the disease exists among different races of avocado, with the West Indian race being most susceptible. To help elucidate

The spatiotemporal spread of citrus huanglongbing (HLB, ex greening) in Minas Gerais (MG) state, Brazil, was analyzed since its first detection in 2005. Data on the amount of eradicated plants per orchard were gathered from the georeferenced database of the state’s official HLB monitoring program. In total, 1487 orchards (118 municipalities) have been inspected yearly up to 2018. Overall, 57.2% (64

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is one of the most widely grown legumes in the world. Although the crop has high yield potential, average yields in Brazil are low due to several diseases. Angular leaf spot (ALS), caused by Pseudocercospora griseola, is among the most important diseases. A set of 81 accessions from the Instituto Agronômico (IAC, Campinas, SP) germplasm bank were evaluated for ALS

Fusarium wilt of banana, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), tropical race 4 (TR4), is one of the most devastating diseases, thus control of this disease is an urgent need in banana production. Streptomyces morookaensis strain Sm4-1986 significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of pathogen Foc-TR4. Chrome Azurol S assay showed that the strain Sm4-1986 is able to produce

Surveys were conducted in some citrus-growing parts of Manipur, Northeast India for recording the incidence of “Huanglongbing” (HLB) symptoms. The purpose of this study was to confirm the presence of HLB in citrus orchards in different geographical locations of Manipur and to correlate the disease incidence with variation in elevation of the region. The presence of “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus”

Podosphaera xanthii is presently considered as one of the powdery mildew fungi with the broadest host range. Confusion is caused by taxonomical and nomenclatural changes of the host plants and the fungal parasite. Based on the list of powdery mildews from Taiwan from 1998, an updated list of host plants of P. xanthii in this country is presented. New hosts from Taiwan are wild and horticultural herbs

In the past 15 years, the global citrus industry has experienced significant losses in the fruit production, largely due to the huanglongbing (HLB). This bacterial disease impairs water and nutrient uptake by roots causing nutritional disorders and, reciprocally, metabolic imbalances associated to oxidative stress and carbohydrate distribution in trees. The sustainability of optimum yield and fruit

Citrus is one of the most important fruit crops globally and rising incidence of citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) in citrus orchards is an increasing concern in India. CYVCV and Indian citrus ringspot virus (ICRSV) are assigned to the only two known species in the genus Mandarivirus. Both viruses naturally infect several citrus plants. ICRSV produces ringspots symptoms in Kinnow mandarin,

Intensive agriculture requires large inputs of chemicals to avoid losses caused by pathogen infections. Exploring the rhizosphere of plants, which is an area with enormous abundance and diversity of microorganisms, represents a promising strategy to protect plants from pathogens in a sustainable way. Recent studies revealed the importance of soil microbiome in the process of natural plant defense and

Spot blotch, caused by the pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana, is an important foliar disease of wheat in warm and humid regions worldwide. The fungal virulence factor ToxA interacts with Tsn1 in wheat and leads to a susceptible reaction. ToxA has been found in B. sorokiniana populations of Australia, the USA, and India, and here we report its occurrence in Mexico, based on analysis of a collection of

Grape production in the Serra Gaúcha region, south of Brazil, is severily constrained by several diseases such as the decline and death syndrome caused grapevine trunk (fungal) diseases (GTDs) and the grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV). As pathogens induce changes in leaf tissue that modify the reflectance, the spectral signature of asymptomatic and symptomatic grapevine leaves infected by

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB) represents a major threat to citriculture due to its rapid spread, difficulty of control, severe yield losses, and substantial increases in production costs in HLB-affected orchards. Successful management depends on detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease, which is associated with phloem-limited bacteria of the genus Candidatus Liberibacter that are transmitted

Soybean seed infected with Colletotrichum truncatum is an important source of primary inoculum for anthracnose epidemics. Based on differences in the GAPDH gene sequences of Colletotrichum species, one pair of species-specific primers, CtruncF1/CtruncR1, was designed to accurately detect C. truncatum in soybean seed samples. The primers amplified only a single PCR band of 211 bp from C. truncatum.

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is a native from Africa, particularly from Ethiopia. Previously of little concern to Ethiopian farmers, coffee leaf rust (CLR), caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is an emergent disease globally. To update the status of CLR, a large survey was conducted in 405 coffee fields across nine production zones of Oromia and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples

Huanglongbing (HLB) is considered the most devastating bacterial disease in citriculture. It is caused by the phloem-limited α-proteobacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas). All citrus varieties are susceptible to HLB and many studies have been conducted in an attempt to identify potential targets involved in bacterial virulence and pathogenicity mechanisms. One of the most important virulence

Maize bushy stunt and corn stunt have emerged among the most important diseases of maize in Brazil. To evaluate the single or dual presence of the phytoplasma and spiroplasma associated with corn stunting diseases, maize samples were collected across several locations in four Brazilian states. Multiplex PCR was performed for simultaneous detection of the bacteria. Eighty-nine out of 100 samples were

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the main disease of citriculture worldwide, being mainly caused by the bacterium known as ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), limited to the phloem and naturally transmitted by vector insects known as psyllids. For the production of citrus seedlings, it is necessary to use rootstocks that are propagated by seeds from fruits produced by mother plants grown in field, however

Citrus growers in several states of Brazil, but mainly in São Paulo (SP), have battled during 60 years against citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri) using exclusion and eradication methods. Since its first detection in 1957, the eradication program has undergone many modifications and efforts were made to suppress rather than eradicate the disease. When the eradication protocols became less

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is currently the most devastating citrus disease worldwide. HLB, first identified in Asia, and its insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), are quickly spreading in citrus-producing areas in South America and North America. The main challenges for HLB control include the phloem-limited biology of Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causal agent of HLB, which shields the

The Chinese citrus industry is facing an unprecedented challenge from citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). As no resistant commercial citrus varieties and no curable chemicals are available so far, it is still the “no. 1 threat” to Chinese citrus industry. This review article outlines the current status of the disease prevalence and measures recommended and adopted for the prevention and control of HLB in China

An extensive survey was carried out in the Dominican Republic in order to monitor the prevalence of the three most widespread BSV species: Banana streak OL virus (BSOLV), Banana streak GF virus (BGFV) and Banana streak IM virus (BSIMV), in Macho x Hembra (MxH) and FHIA-21 plantains and in Cavendish dessert banana throughout all banana-producing areas. This survey led to the first detection of BSVs

The use of resistance inducers may be a tool to assist in the management of citrus diseases. However, knowledge about how some inducers, such as the benzothiadiazoles, promote gene expression from the pathways involved in induced resistance and alter plant development are lacking. In this work, we evaluated the effect of the acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) on gene expression from the biosynthetic pathways

Plasmids are a major source of horizontal gene transfer among bacteria contributing to their evolution and ecology. The known collection of plasmids carried by the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa increases as new strains from different origins and hosts are sampled and sequenced. Here we performed an extensive comparison of 61 publicly available sequences annotated as plasmids belonging to 38 X.

Product and byproducts of the citrus industry are destined mainly for export and they play a significant role in the Brazilian economy. The major threats to citrus production and business include weather conditions (abiotic stress) and plant disease epidemics (biotic stress), especially bacterial diseases. Historical examples of devastating bacterial diseases that have shaped and changed radically

Citrus is one of the most ancient fruit crops cultivated in the world. For many countries, citrus production is an important source of revenues. However, despite the richness of citrus production worldwide, fruit yields are constantly threatened by diseases that cause serious economic and social impacts to growers and consumers. One such example is citrus canker, a disease that affects all commercial

Phytophthora sojae causes root and stem rot of soybeans. In Argentina, this pathogen has shown dramatic shifts in pathotype variability since its first discovery during the 1970s. The aim of this study was to report the presence and distribution of different pathotypes of P. sojae isolates from 2013 to 2015 in the southeast of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina. Isolates were obtained from diseased

Maize yellow mosaic virus, provisionally referred to MaYMV, is a novel polerovirus reported in China, Brazil, Ecuador, and more recently in Africa. Despite the broad distribution of this potentially emerging virus, information is lacking on transmission, symptomatology, and possible interaction with other maize viruses. As MaYMV belongs to the genus Polerovirus, circulative transmission by aphids was

Phytophthora blight is the most devastating disease for pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) production and is caused by Phytophthora capsici. Current management strategies are not effective. Our study assessed the multi-trait effects of Paenibacillus polymyxa, which suppresses Phytophthora blight and promotes plant growth in pepper plants. A total of 82 bacterial strains isolated from rhizosphere soil of pepper

Despite efforts of research to establish best nutrient management practices in HLB-affected citrus orchards, there are still doubts about the contribution of such strategies to minimizing losses caused by the disease in the citrus industry. We evaluated the effects of micronutrient (Zn, Mn, and/or Cu) supply and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) infection on physiological and growth traits

This study was conducted to evaluate inhibitory effect of natamycin against three isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of carrot white mold in postharvest phase. The results showed that natamycin was able to markedly decrease radial growth and sclerogenesis of three isolates of the pathogen. In addition, natamycin significantly reduced myceliogenic and carpogenic germinations of sclerotia

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a severe disease of citrus caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter. In America, the most common species is Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas). In a previous study of the Citrus-HLB pathosystem, our group found differences in CLas multiplication in a population of hybrids obtained by hybridization between Citrus sunki Hort. Ex Tan. and Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf

Interactions between insects and plant pathogens have been more enthusiastically studied in the recent decade, especially those relationships which takes the insects as vectors. The spectrum of these interactions ranges from mutualistic to pathogenic. The length of the co-evolutionary process will determine whether a microorganism shares a friend or a foe relationship with its host, and a friendship

Penja pepper (Piper nigrum) produced in Cameroon has long been recognized for its exceptional organoleptic quality. The pepper vine is grown using a support tree (Spondias mombin) in Cameroon. A root disease is associated with plant deaths in both plants. The disease symptoms are characterized by collar cracking and gummosis and the disease was tentatively identified as Armillaria root rot. In this

Citrus mosaic virus (CiMV) and navel orange infectious mottling virus (NIMV) are considered strains of satsuma dwarf virus (SDV). To understand the distribution of different isolates of SDV in China, a field survey was conducted, which allowed for the detection of CiMV and NIMV in citrus plants in Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces, respectively. In the present work, two CiMV isolates, including one named

Root and crown rot (RCR) of dry bean is a disease complex caused by soil-borne pathogens that can limit bean production in Zambia. Identifying the primary pathogen in the complex would facilitate the control as well as breeding for resistance to the disease. Plant tissue samples and DNA embedded FTA® Cards were collected to isolate, detect and molecularly identify RCR pathogens using genus/species

Citrus cultivation is challenging due to the plethora of abiotic and biotic stresses faced by the crop. In recent years, production has been severely affected by diseases such as citrus canker and huanglongbing (HLB). Disease management is hampered as there is no field resistance to these diseases in any of the important commercially planted varieties. Traditionally, conventional breeding approaches

Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is the natural vector of the Huanglongbing (HLB) pathogen that presents an unparalleled challenge to citrus production. RNA interference (RNAi) has already shown great potential for insect pest management owing to its high specificity. RNAi technique relies on the delivery of exogenous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) that target essential

In wheat, leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks is a major disease that causes major losses in production. In the present study, microsatellite or SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers were developed for P. triticina using the transcriptome data obtained during wheat-P. triticina interactions. A total of 37,268 P. triticina differentially expressed transcripts were obtained in the comparative

Avocado Branch Dieback and Wilting (ABDW) was recently reported on West-Indian avocado (Persea americana var. americana) orchards in the Serrania de Perija, Colombia. This disease is caused by Bionectria pseudochroleuca and transmitted by ambrosia beetles. In this work we estimated the potential distribution of ABDW to map avocado-growing areas at risk of ABDW in Colombia and Venezuela. Disease occurrence

Leaf blight disease in coconut (LBC) caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae leads to early defoliation and loss of bunches, which negatively impacts coconut fruit yield. The etiology of LBC in Brazil needs to be updated based on modern tools such as DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A phylogenetic tree using ITS and TEF-1α genes in combination with morphology showed L. theobromae as the most common

Plant pathogenic Xanthomonas species attack a wide range of agriculture crops and is capable of surviving on weeds. In this study, Xanthomonas strains obtained from weeds grown withing vegetable crop fields in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, were identified. Bacterial colonies resembling Xanthomonas were obtained from Aeollanthus suaveolens (strain CCRMXe03), Amaranthus lividus (CCRMXe01

This review summarizes the current status of citrus canker in the United States. The disease is present in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. In Florida, the eradication program ended in 2006 and now citrus canker is endemic to many citrus-growing areas, although it is still possible to find canker-free groves. In endemic areas, the disease is controlled using windbreaks, applying copper-based bactericides

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) are responsible for considerable losses in several tropical crops, more commonly in bean and tomato. Begomoviruses comprise the most numerous and economically destructive group within Geminiviridae. Characteristic symptoms of begomovirus infection in Capsicum chinense (chili pepper, Solanaceae) were observed in smallholder farms in the state of

A putative new virus, physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV), has been reported more frequently in Physalis peruviana associated with severe symptoms. In this study the damage caused by sap-inoculated PhyRMV in P. peruviana was assessed based on the comparison of host vegetative and reproductive parameters between virus-infected and healthy plants. Infected plants confirmed using molecular assays, showed

Huanglongbing (HLB) caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter spp.’ is the most destructive disease for citrus production. These bacteria are disseminated naturally by insect vectors, such as the psyllid Diaphorina citri. However, the transmission of the bacteria vertically from seeds to seedlings has been controversial. Therefore, the objective of this study was to re-investigate the vertical transmission

The emergence of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) disease had dramatic consequences to the citrus industry in Brazil. First reported in São Paulo State in 1987, this disease affected approximately 100 million sweet orange trees in the region 20 years later. However, current estimates indicate that the number of diseased trees has been reduced 25-fold since 2009. In this review we summarize research

Fusarium basal rot (FBR) is one of the main onion diseases in Argentina. The Onion Breeding National Program, held at INTA Experimental Station in La Consulta, Argentina, has developed onion breeding lines with increased resistance to FBR through a selection scheme performed under field conditions. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the achieved response to selection in the FBR resistance

Huanglongbing (HLB) has been a serious threat to the citrus industry worldwide. After its first report in São Paulo State, the main citrus production area in Brazil, the disease spread to the States of Minas Gerais, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Attempts to cure plants or remiss disease symptoms and damages have been evaluated and showed to be inefficient and nonviable. The development of resistant

Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is a root and collar root pathogen of a great number of wooden plants and crops around the world. The species is heterothallic requiring A1 and A2 mating types for sexual reproduction. In Colombia, P. cinnamomi represents one of the most limiting diseases in avocado (Persea americana Mill). In this work, a total of 207 P. cinnamomi isolates were analyzed from 664 symptomatic

Citrus plants presenting the typical huanglongbing (HLB) symptoms have been associated to 16SrIX phytoplasma in the States of São Paulo (SP), Minas Gerais (MG), Bahia (BA) and, more recently, Distrito Federal (DF), Brazil. Although in SP and MG states ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ is more commonly associated with HLB, single infection by phytoplasmas also occurs. To date, only 16SrIX phytoplasma

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most damaging disease in citrus. It is caused by the putative bacterium, “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Unfortunately, no cure has been found or effective control strategy established for the combat of this disease. Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was employed successfully for virus induced gene silencing

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), a single-stranded (ss)DNA virus(family; Geminiviridae), has become a constraint to the production of crops of the Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Malvaceae across the sub-Continent, south east Asia and, more recently, the western Mediterranean basin. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants constitutively expressing the phage M13 gene 5 (G5) protein, an ssDNA

Blast, caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is one of the most important diseases affecting rice yield worldwide. This study investigated the potential of silicon (Si) to counteract the effect of picolinic acid (PA), a non-host selective toxin produced by P. oryzae, on the photosynthetic performance, on the activities of defense enzymes, and the antioxidative metabolism of rice plants. Plants were grown in

According to the most recent regulation, published in 2018, areas or states of Brazil where citrus canker is endemic are no longer obliged to eradicate citrus trees affected by the disease as in the past 60 years. Instead, growers have to adopt a set of control measures, such as copper sprays, windbreaks, and control of the citrus leaf miner to minimize the impact of the disease on fruit quality and

This paper should have published with open access. It has been corrected online.