Crop Protection最新文献

{"title":"Mortality rates and feeding behavior of adult Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus Marshall (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) exposed to four biopesticides on peach foliage in field cages","authors":"Anita S. Neal,&nbsp;Pasco B. Avery,&nbsp;Ronald D. Cave","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mortality and feeding damage of <em>Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus</em> Marshall (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) exposed to four biopesticides on peach foliage in field cages were assessed at two sites in Florida. Two branches (one for caging weevils and one with no cage) with 6–8 leaves without evidence of herbivory were tagged on each of 25 trees at each site. Before treatment applications, one leaf was collected from each uncaged branch for a baseline assessment of endemic entomopathogenic fungal propagules and spray drift. Treatments were three entomopathogenic fungus-based formulations (BotaniGard®ES, PFR-97™ 20 % WDG, and Met52® EC), one azadirachtin formulation (AzaMax™), and distilled water as a control. Branches tagged for caging were sprayed with either one of the three fungal biopesticide treatments at a concentration of 10⁷ propagules per ml, an azadirachtin formulation, or distilled water until runoff and then allowed to air dry. One leaf was randomly selected from each sprayed branch for propagule deposition assessment. Five adult <em>M. undecimpustulatus undatus</em> were placed in each cage (five cages per treatment) and left for 15 days after which survivorship and herbivory were assessed across three trials at each site (15 total replicates per treatment per site). All biopesticide treatments resulted in higher weevil mortality compared to the water control. BotaniGard caused approximately four times higher mortality than the other fungal treatments and 78 % mycosis. Mean damage rating index values were highest in the control treatment, followed by BotaniGard ≥ PFR-97 ≥ Met52 = AzaMax. The high mortality rates caused by BotaniGard and reduced feeding caused by AzaMaz suggest that adult <em>M. undecimpustulatus undatus</em> populations might be managed in the field by combining these two biopesticides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107218"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chymotrypsin-like proteases contribute to Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis","authors":"Andresa C.B. Oliveira ,&nbsp;Valéria Wanderley-Teixeira ,&nbsp;Teófilo P. Langa ,&nbsp;José V.C. R. Dantas ,&nbsp;Herbert A.A. de Siqueira","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Phthorimaea absoluta</em> (Meyrick) is a globally significant pest of tomato crops, capable of causing up to 100 % yield losses under high infestation levels. The continuous use of chemical insecticides has led to the evolution of resistant <em>P. absoluta</em> populations, resulting in frequent control failures in the field. This scenario extends to the entomopathogenic bacterium <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> (Berliner), raising concerns about resistance development due to increased usage as an alternative to chemical control. This study tested the hypothesis that Brazilian populations of <em>P. absoluta</em> have developed resistance to <em>Bt</em> formulations and investigated the role of serine proteases in this process. We conducted concentration-response assays for eight <em>P. absoluta</em> populations. Resistance variation was observed, with a 2.93-fold increase for Dipel® and a 5.83-fold increase for XenTari®. The LC80 values for XenTari® exceeded the recommended dose, indicating potential field control failures. Serine protease activities, specifically chymotrypsin and elastase, were inversely proportional to the LC50 values for Dipel®, suggesting their involvement in toxin activation. However, no correlation was found between serine protease activity and LC50 values for XenTari®, implying that these enzymes do not contribute to resistance against this formulation. The differential toxin composition of the two products likely explains the higher efficacy of <em>B. thuringiensis</em> var. <em>kurstaki</em> (Dipel®) compared to <em>B. thuringiensis</em> var. <em>aizawai</em> (XenTari®) against <em>P. absoluta</em>. The presence of the Cry1Ac toxin in Dipel® appears to enhance its efficiency in controlling <em>P. absoluta</em> while exerting selective pressure on the insect's humoral defenses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107217"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intelligent weed management using aerial image processing and precision herbicide spraying: An overview","authors":"Armin Ehrampoosh ,&nbsp;Pushpika Hettiarachchi ,&nbsp;Anand Koirala ,&nbsp;Jahan Hassan ,&nbsp;Nahina Islam ,&nbsp;Biplob Ray ,&nbsp;Md Nurun Nabi ,&nbsp;Mohamed Tolba ,&nbsp;Abdul Md Mazid ,&nbsp;Cheng-Yuan Xu ,&nbsp;Nanjappa Ashwath ,&nbsp;Pavel Dzitac ,&nbsp;Steven Moore","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Modern agriculture is increasingly adopting intelligent technologies to enhance productivity while minimizing production costs and reducing adverse environmental impacts. A prime example of this synergy is the use of image processing to identify weeds, enabling targeted herbicide spraying with autonomous devices such as robots and drones. This approach not only reduces production costs but also ensures sustainable farming while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Designing an intelligent weed management system requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining agriculture, big data processing, machine learning, computer science, robotics, and plant science. Currently, independent studies have focused on some of these aspects, but few have taken a holistic approach to address the issue. This paper highlights the approach taken in developing innovative and ecologically sustainable weed management systems for agriculture. It also presents a comprehensive overview of a weed management system that integrates coordinated weed detection and spraying, detailing its unique components. The paper reviews and contrasts various image analysis techniques used in weed detection, particularly those employing artificial intelligence and imagery captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Furthermore, the paper highlights recent advancements in image processing platforms, such as the shift towards local and edge computing, and the growing need for near-real-time processing in agricultural applications. It also explores the development of commercial weed-spraying drones and discusses various aspects of an autonomous weed control system, including design, navigation, and spraying mechanisms for targeted application. Finally, the paper identifies key research needs for developing an AI-based, targeted herbicide spraying system that could significantly contribute to sustainable, economically viable, and efficient agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107206"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143715340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Model and experiment of target-specific variable spraying based on canopy volume perception","authors":"Dexiong Liu,&nbsp;Lang Chen,&nbsp;Shaoyu Tai,&nbsp;Yunwu Li,&nbsp;Changsu Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the issues of pesticide deposition in non-target areas, pesticide drift leading to environmental pollution, and low pesticide utilization rates associated with traditional orchard spraying methods, a target-specific variable spraying prototype based on LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) canopy profiling was designed. The prototype employed a 3D LiDAR sensor as a detector and utilized the improved α-shape algorithm to extract the canopy contours, allowing for the accurate calculation of canopy volume. Based on the canopy volume, a pulse width modulation (PWM) pesticide dosage calculation model was established. The prototype integrates the offset of the droplets in the wind field to construct a spray-barrel pitch control model that fits the canopy contour. An orchard laser target-specific variable spraying control system and device were developed by incorporating a target-specific spraying control method. This device was mounted on a tracked power chassis to create an integrated target-specific variable-spraying machine prototype. Test results indicated that the droplet deposition density exceeded 80 <span><math><mrow><mtext>droplets</mtext><mo>∙</mo><msup><mtext>cm</mtext><mrow><mo>‐</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></math></span>, achieving effective canopy coverage. In the designated test area, the pesticide solution usage for continuous spraying and target-specific variable spraying was 1.359 and 0.715 L, respectively, saving 47.96 % of pesticide with target-specific variable spraying. This system can achieve precise control of target-specific variable spraying based on changes in the position and volume of the tree canopies. The results of this study contribute to the rapid development and application of precision spraying technology in orchards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107215"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143760624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of temperature and host plants on fitness traits and demographic parameters of Thrips parvispinus (Karny) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)","authors":"Vaddi Sridhar ,&nbsp;Kerur Vishwanath Raghavendra ,&nbsp;Kurubarahalli Bhoothanna Ramesh ,&nbsp;M. Kumaraswamy Sunil ,&nbsp;Subhash Chander","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107209","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defining and forecasting the life cycle and population dynamics of thrips depend on understanding their developmental and reproductive responses to varying temperatures. The goal of this investigation was to gather precise data on biological fitness and demographic parameters of <em>Thrips parvispinus</em> on two selected hosts (Chilli, <em>Capsicum annuum</em>; Solanaceae and Beans, <em>Phaseolus vulgaris</em>; Leguminosae) at four constant temperatures (15, 20, 28 and 30 °C). The total pre-adult duration found longest at 15 °C and shortest at 30 °C on beans, while longest at 20 °C and shortest at 30 °C on chilli. Adult longevity was recorded longest at 15 °C and the shortest at 30 °C on both beans and chilli depicting that 30 °C shortened the adult lifespan of <em>T. parvispinus</em>. Fecundity was documented to be highest on beans and chilli at 30 °C, and lowest at 20 °C on beans and on chilli at 15 °C. The total pre-oviposition period was found to be shortest at 30 °C both on beans and chilli. Significant differences in the population parameters revealed net-reproductive rate and finite rate of increase to be highest at 30 °C on both chilli and beans. The shortest mean generation time was recorded at 30 °C on both chilli and beans. This study is first of its kind in investigating the comparative biology of <em>T. parvispinus</em> on chilli and beans under different temperatures. Since, there exists a lack of knowledge on the fitness traits and demography of <em>T. parvispinus,</em> these findings would prove significant for predicting population responses to climate change and tailoring integrated pest management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inheritance and fitness costs of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac resistance in Brazilian populations of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)","authors":"Juliana G. Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Caroline Izabel R. Sakuno ,&nbsp;Fabricio José B. Francischini ,&nbsp;Karen Missy A. Komada ,&nbsp;Fangneng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sugarcane borer, <em>Diatraea saccharalis</em> (F.), is the main insect pest on sugarcane in the Americas. Recently, transgenic <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> (Bt) sugarcane is planted in Brazil to control <em>D. saccharalis</em>. Resistance development is the greatest challenge for the sustainability of Bt crop biotechnology. Inheritance and fitness costs of resistance are essential information needed in developing effective insecticide resistance management (IRM) programs. In this study, multiple crossings were performed to characterize the inheritance and fitness costs of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac resistance in two Brazilian populations (Cry1Ab_RR and Cry1Ac_RR) of <em>D. saccharalis</em>. Diet-incorporated and plant tissue bioassays showed that both the Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac resistance in the insect is inherited as a single, autosomal, and genetically incompletely recessive gene. Complementation tests showed that the Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac resistance in the two populations shared the same resistance gene. Leaf tissue bioassays suggested that the Cry1Ac sugarcane variety (CTC9001BT) tested in the study most likely meets the ‘high dose’ requirement for <em>D. saccharalis</em> as defined in the ‘high dose/refuge’ IRM strategy for Bt crops, while additional studies are needed to document the ‘high dose’ qualification for the tested Cry1Ab sugarcane variety (CTC20BT). Effective dominance levels of resistance decreased as Bt concentrations increased, suggesting that elevating Bt protein expressions in plants could be an effective strategy to make a ‘non-high dose’ plant become a ‘high dose’ plant. The Bt resistance in Cry1Ab_RR and Cry1Ac_RR was not associated with fitness costs on both non-Bt sugarcane and non-Bt corn/meridic diet. Knowledge generated from this study is useful in resistance risk assessment, monitoring, and development of IRM programs for the sustainable use of Bt sugarcane technology for pest management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107216"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiple effects of indoxacarb on the soybean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis","authors":"Carlos Henrique Batista ,&nbsp;Angelica Plata-Rueda ,&nbsp;Weslei dos Santos Cunha ,&nbsp;José Cola Zanuncio ,&nbsp;José Eduardo Serrão ,&nbsp;Luis Carlos Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107214","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The caterpillar, <em>Anticarsia gemmatalis</em> is one of the most important defoliating pests of soybean crops in the Americas. Control of <em>A</em>. <em>gemmatalis</em>, is primarily achieved with chemical insecticides; however, populations of this species have developed resistance to certain chemical molecules. Therefore, insecticides with different modes of action should be evaluated to control this pest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the insecticide indoxacarb on mortality, respiration, locomotor behavior, and midgut histology in <em>A. gemmatalis</em> caterpillars. After 72 h of exposure, indoxacarb was toxic to <em>A. gemmatalis</em> caterpillars, with 87 % survival in the control group and 54 %, 38 %, 24 %, and 0 % survival in those exposed to indoxacarb at LC₂₅ (2.14 g a.i. L⁻¹), LC₅₀ (3.08 g a.i. L⁻¹), LC₇₅ (4.42 g a.i. L⁻¹), and LC₉₀ (6.39 g a.i. L⁻¹), respectively. With increasing concentrations, the locomotor behavior of <em>A. gemmatalis</em> was altered, with shorter walking distances and longer resting time avoiding the treated area, indicating a strong repellent effect of the insecticide. The respiration rate of <em>A. gemmatalis</em> caterpillars decreased after exposure to indoxacarb. There was a reduction in food consumption by caterpillars treated with the insecticide, indicating a phagoinhibitory effect. In addition, histological changes were observed in the midgut of <em>A. gemmatalis</em>, including cytoplasmic vacuolization, an increased amount of cell fragments with nuclei released into the gut lumen, and degradation of the peritrophic matrix, indicating severe effects of cell degeneration. Indoxacarb caused both lethal and sublethal effects on <em>A</em>. <em>gemmatalis</em>, indicating its potential for the control of this pest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 107214"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143715341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertebrate frugivory in blueberry crops: Patterns across birds and mammals and consequences for yield","authors":"José Javier Jiménez-Albarral ,&nbsp;Daniel García ,&nbsp;Marcos Miñarro","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107213","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107213","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Damage and consumption of crops by vertebrates represent a significant source of conflict between humans and wildlife. This is particularly relevant in the context of small-fruit crops, such as blueberries, which are highly conspicuous, small-sized, and situated close to the ground, allowing a wide range of vertebrate species to swallow them whole and in large quantities. In the present study, we assessed the patterns of blueberry consumption by birds and mammals, and the effect of consumption on crop yield, in blueberry orchards in northern Spain. To this end, we characterised the fruit-eating vertebrate community through direct observation and camera traps in blueberry orchards, and conducted exclusion experiments in blueberry cultivars that ripen at different dates. The study was conducted in eight orchards over two consecutive years. We recorded 14 bird species and four mammal species consuming blueberries, with common blackbird (<em>Turdus merula</em> L.) and wild boar (<em>Sus scrofa</em> L.) accounting for more than 80 % of consumption events. Whereas frugivory by blackbirds was observed across orchards and cultivars, blueberry foraging by wild boar was highly localised. The exclusion experiments evidenced a negative impact of vertebrate frugivory on blueberry production. However, this impact was not homogeneous across sites, ranging from no impact to 74 % of yield loss. Similarly, vertebrate impact depended on the cultivar, with the early ripening cultivar being more susceptible to yield losses than late ripening cultivars. Further research is needed to ascertain what extrinsic (orchard and landscape structure) and intrinsic (abundance and physiological requirements of vertebrates) factors are responsible for the observed variability in yield loss across sites and cultivars. In terms of management, we recommend to prioritise bird deterrent methods to minimise the negative impact of vertebrates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107213"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probing behavior analysis of foxglove aphids on soybean genotypes using the DC-EPG system","authors":"Samuel A. Fasusi ,&nbsp;Bo Yoon Seo ,&nbsp;Hong Min Koh ,&nbsp;Ji-Min Kim ,&nbsp;Sungtaeg Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The foxglove aphid (FA), <em>Aulacorthum solani,</em> is a soybean pest that threatens food security. However, few studies on soybean plant resistance to FAs with resistance to <em>Aulacorthum solani</em> (<em>Raso</em>) genes have been conducted in Korea and Japan. Understanding how FAs infiltrate soybean plant tissues and identifying the location of resistance are crucial for the effective management of insect pests. This study focused on evaluating the probing behavior of FAs that fed on three susceptible and five (moderately and highly) resistant soybean genotypes using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. We used EPG to visualize the movement of the aphid stylet and probing behavior in soybean tissues. We carefully studied the eight distinct waveforms generated during 14 h of feeding. The susceptible genotypes exhibited shorter duration and frequency of non-probing (np) waveforms but higher duration and frequency of E2 waveforms. In contrast, moderately and highly resistant genotypes produced fewer E2 waveforms but more np waveforms. The lower frequency and duration of the E2 waveform values from the resistant genotypes indicated that the resistance factor was located in the phloem. Therefore, phloem defense mechanisms inhibit FA activity. This pioneering study characterized the probing behavior of FAs in various soybean genotypes. Understanding the variations in FA probing behavior across different genotypes is useful for elucidating the mechanism of FA resistance and can guide future research on plant-insect interactions to assist in selecting resistant genotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107210"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of Diaporthe cinerascens from latent and symptomatic fig tree cankers using species-specific primers","authors":"Zeinab Bolboli,&nbsp;Hamed Negahban,&nbsp;Reza Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa","doi":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fig canker is a multi-agent and complex disease, and since its identification, Diaporthe canker, primarily caused by <em>Diaporthe cinerascens</em>, has emerged as one of the most persistent and destructive diseases affecting fig trees in regions such as Iran, California, Canada, and Italy. The economic implications of this disease are considerable, further aggravated by the lack of effective therapeutic interventions. This study presents the development and validation of novel species-specific PCR primers designed to enhance the early and accurate detection of Diaporthe canker in artificially and naturally infected samples with mixed and latent infections. We utilized pure cultures of well-characterized <em>D. cinerascens</em> isolates, whose proven pathogenicity and genetic homogeneity were validated in earlier studies. Among the 82 developed primers, the TUB-Dc1 and HIS-Dc1 pairs were chosen after a thorough analysis of the β-tubulin (<em>tub</em>) and histone 3 (<em>his3</em>) genes, along with the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA (ITS) region. These selected primers successfully amplified target gene sequences in pure cultures and infected tissue samples using direct and nested PCR. The diagnostic sensitivity thresholds achieved were 100 fg μL⁻¹ for direct PCR and 1 ag μL⁻¹ for nested PCR. Notably, nested PCR significantly enhanced detection capabilities by up to 100,000-fold compared to direct PCR. The TUB-Dc1 primer pair effectively identified <em>D. cinerascens</em> in 80 % of samples with Type A canker, 22.7 % with Type C canker, and 8.8 % showing dieback symptoms. In comparison, conventional cultural methods detected the pathogen in only 30 % of Type A canker samples, and 4.4 % of Type C canker samples, with no detections in samples showing dieback. Furthermore, our results underscore the potential utility of our molecular tools for precise identification and detecting latent infections in asymptomatic samples via nested PCR. Our findings indicate that the species-specific assays are highly sensitive, specific, and reliable for detecting <em>D. cinerascens</em> in symptomatic and asymptomatic environmental samples. Additionally, this tool paves the way for future applications aimed at certifying pathogen-free fig saplings, an essential component for sustainable fig cultivation practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":10785,"journal":{"name":"Crop Protection","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 107211"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143697380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}