Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology最新文献

{"title":"Translocation, metabolism and distribution of multi-pesticides in rats","authors":"Kai Cui ,&nbsp;Liping Fang ,&nbsp;Ruiyan Ding ,&nbsp;Wanru Su ,&nbsp;Shuai Guan ,&nbsp;Jingyun Liang ,&nbsp;Teng Li ,&nbsp;Junhua Liu ,&nbsp;Jian Wang ,&nbsp;Zhan Dong ,&nbsp;Xiaohu Wu ,&nbsp;Yongquan Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106954","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106954","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of pesticides has led to their widespread presence in food, making it unavoidable for the public to be exposed to pesticides through diet. However, few studies have focused on the in vivo distribution of pesticides after exposure. This study comprehensively investigated the residual behavior of nine pesticides and their five metabolites in rats after oral exposure and elucidated the relationship between their physicochemical properties and tissue-specific distribution. During the initial exposure, all tested pesticides and metabolites were detected in the serum and different tissues, with the highest concentration of 3294.03 μg/kg observed in the liver. However, after 48 h of exposure, a majority of the pesticides were undetectable. Correlation analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between pesticide residues detected in the serum, brain, heart, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, and urine as well as physicochemical properties such as molecular weight (Mw) and octanol–water partition coefficient (log Kow). Conversely, a positive correlation was observed between the residues and aqueous solubility (As). Pesticides with lower Mw and log Kow and higher As, such as acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, showed higher solubility in serum and higher residual deposition across different tissues. Water-soluble pesticides, such as acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam, were predominantly excreted through urine, thereby achieving relatively rapid systemic clearance. However, fat-soluble pesticides, such as azoxystrobin, chlorantraniliprole, and pyraclostrobin, were primarily eliminated through the fecal route, which is a comparatively slow process. This study helps in understanding the residual behavior of pesticides in mammals, thereby providing valuable insights for pesticide safety evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106954"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biocontrol efficacy and mechanism of Bacillus subtilis PL5 against root rot of sweet potato: Insights into antifungal activity and metabolite function","authors":"Yushun Liu ,&nbsp;Zhenlin Han ,&nbsp;Xinyu Li ,&nbsp;Yinuo Tang ,&nbsp;Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Zunyang Song ,&nbsp;Jingying Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106947","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Fusarium solani</em> causes sweet potato root rot disease under optimal temperature conditions. Biocontrol using antagonistic microorganisms offers a sustainable and eco-friendly management strategy through dual mechanisms: direct pathogen suppression and induction of systemic plant resistance. <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> PL5 culture broth significantly reduced the plaque diameter of <em>F. solani</em>, impaired spore germination, and curtailed germ tube length. Furthermore, it triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, initiating apoptosis and membrane integrity disruption. In vivo experiments demonstrated that spraying with <em>B. subtilis</em> PL5 culture broth mitigated root rot incidence in sweet potato. It enhanced the activities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD), thereby strengthening the antioxidative capacity of roots and balancing ROS levels, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion radical (O₂^.-). Concurrently, <em>B. subtilis</em> PL5 culture broth modulated polyamines (PAs) metabolism, leading to significant elevations in putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) levels, as well as enhanced activities of arginine decarboxylase (ADC), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and PA oxidase (PAO) and decline in diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. Natural disease occurrence studies showed that <em>B. subtilis</em> PL5 widely suppressed the disease progression in sweet potatoes. In addition, non-targeted metabolic and “Pearson” correlation analysis showed the metabolites in <em>B. subtilis</em> PL5 were closely related to the levels of ROS and PAs. Collectively, these findings elucidate the mechanism basis by which <em>B. subtilis</em> PL5 mediates pathogen suppression and enhances resistance, providing novel insights for developing sustainable sweet potato protection agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106947"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Divergent impacts of conventional and biodegradable microplastics on pesticide fate and toxicity in a soil–chive system, underscoring a soil-plant-microbe disruption","authors":"Jing Yang ,&nbsp;Guy Smagghe ,&nbsp;Xiaomao Wu ,&nbsp;Wanping Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiangsheng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106971","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106971","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) and pesticides increasingly co-occur in agricultural soils, yet their combined effects on soil biology and plant–soil interactions remain poorly understood. Here we provide the evidence that biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MPs, despite their eco-friendly reputation, fundamentally reshape soil microbial and biochemical dynamics under pesticide stress. In a soil–chive system, PLA, but not conventional polyethylene (PE), significantly delayed iprodione (IPR) degradation (up to 7.7-fold), increased the persistence of its toxic metabolite 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA), and enhanced plant uptake of 3,5-DCA (up to 59%). Mechanistically, PLA disrupted beneficial bacterial enrichment, altered microbial community composition, and interfered with plant detoxification pathways, notably glutathione metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. These interactions intensified phytotoxicity, stunted plant growth, and reduced soil–plant resilience. Our findings reveal a previously overlooked ecological trade-off: biodegradable MPs can amplify pesticide risks by destabilizing soil microbial processes and stress-response mechanisms. This work advances understanding of how novel contaminants interact in soils and highlights the importance of integrating soil biological functions into sustainability assessments of alternative plastics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106971"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Breaking the trade-off: Trichoderma effector Tahfb1 dual-targets growth and defense pathways via Hsp70L","authors":"Yaping Yin,&nbsp;Yuhang Fu,&nbsp;He Wu,&nbsp;Liping Feng,&nbsp;Lijuan He,&nbsp;Runmao Lin,&nbsp;Rui Wang,&nbsp;Zhengbin Tang,&nbsp;Baoping Zhu,&nbsp;Jumei Hou,&nbsp;Jing Zhao,&nbsp;Tong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Beneficial microbes like <em>Trichoderma</em> can help plants balance growth and defense, but the key signaling molecules and mechanisms underlying this balance remain unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that <em>Trichoderma asperellum</em> promotes tomato growth and enhances resistance to <em>Botrytis cinerea</em>. Interaction transcriptomics revealed a 156-fold upregulation of <em>Tahfb1</em>, a gene encoding a class II hydrophobin. Application of exogenous Tahfb1 protein increased lateral root growth and reduced lesion area on tomato leaves. A CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of <em>Tahfb1</em> resulted in a 32% reduction in lateral roots and a 39% increase in lesion size. Conversely, overexpression strains significantly enhanced lateral root growth by 97% and decreased lesion area by 40%. Pot experiments further confirmed that <em>Tahfb1</em> increased the number of lateral roots by 42% and reduced lesion area by 58%. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) confirmed that Tahfb1 directly interacts with the tomato heat shock protein Hsp70L. RNAi silencing of <em>Hsp70L</em> significantly compromised <em>Tahfb1</em>-induced lateral root development by 53% and increased lesion size by 62%. Quantitative analysis indicated that <em>Tahfb1</em> modulates auxin signaling pathway (<em>ARF19</em>/<em>PIN1</em>/<em>CYCB1;2</em>), and the jasmonic acid/ethylene pathway (<em>LOX</em>/<em>ETR1</em>) to synergistically promote growth and immunity. Our results identify the Tahfb1-Hsp70L module as a key mediator of the synergistic enhancement of growth and defense in <em>Trichoderma</em>-plant interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106972"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146090468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbicidal activity mechanism and ecotoxicological study of novel triazolinone PPO inhibitors based on plant-derived allelochemical cinnamic acid","authors":"Li-Xia Zhao ,&nbsp;Xian-Da Guo ,&nbsp;Jia-Xiao Li ,&nbsp;Yue-Li Zou ,&nbsp;Shuang Gao ,&nbsp;Ying Fu ,&nbsp;Fei Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chemical herbicides are crucial for weed control, affecting crop growth and yield. Yet, their extended use has caused environmental harm and resistance concerns. Developing novel, highly efficient, low-toxicity herbicides with unique mechanisms is imperative. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) is vital for chlorophyll and heme synthesis, while targeted PPO inhibitors are favoured for their low toxicity to mammals. In this study, 44 phenyltriazolinone-cinnamoyl derivatives were synthesised from cinnamic acid using an active substructure splicing strategy to explore their herbicidal activity and ecotoxicity as PPO inhibitors. Most compounds were more effective against broadleaf weeds than against grass weeds. Compound VII-6 notably inhibited various weeds by over 80% at 37.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹, displaying superior in vitro <em>Echinochloa crus-galli</em> PPO (<em>Ec</em>PPO) inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.180 ± 0.003 μM) compared to sulfentrazone. VII-6 was safe for soybean, maize, and other crops but caused slight injury to cotton, and it exhibited a broad herbicidal spectrum against 24 weeds species, comparable to that of sulfentrazone. ADMET predictions indicated pharmacokinetic properties of VII-6 akin to sulfentrazone. Predicted ecotoxicity showed VII-6 to be relatively low toxicity to several species of animals, non-toxicity to bees and low environmental persistence. Molecular studies showed stable interactions of VII-6 with <em>Nt</em>PPO, forming hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions with lower binding free energy than sulfentrazone. In this study, compound VII-6 was initially developed as a novel PPO inhibiting herbicide molecule with low ecotoxicity and sustainable green agriculture prospect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106945"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Precision pest management: Genome editing tools, specifically CRISPR/Cas9 and future prospects","authors":"Ankush Saini ,&nbsp;Neha Sharma ,&nbsp;Nidhi Sharma ,&nbsp;Neha Kumari ,&nbsp;Muskaan Sharma ,&nbsp;Brajesh Singh ,&nbsp;Ajay Kumar Thakur","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing resistance to synthetic insecticides and Bt toxins, alongside persistent crop losses despite heavy pesticide application, highlights the urgent need for safer, sustainable and efficient pest management strategies. This review presents genome editing as a precise and versatile approach to reduce pest impact by altering fertility, feeding patterns or vulnerability, while protecting beneficial organisms. Among the genome editing tools, CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) is one of the most promising genome editing techniques in insects. It facilitates targeted functional studies, integration with RNAi and dual-expression systems and gene drive applications. Deployment is envisioned in two phases, initial laboratory modification followed by regulated field release, with a strong emphasis on biosafety through terminator genes, marked individuals for gene flow monitoring, optimized dosages, stringent screening and long-term ecological surveillance, along with transparency and adherence to international safety protocols. Significant challenges encompass delivery efficiency, identification of edits, off-target mutations, dose-related efficacy and sterility, unstable transmission and resistance development. Innovations such as base and prime editing minimize unintended mutations by circumventing double-stranded breaks (DSBs), while paratransgenic strategies targeting gut symbionts offer supplementary avenues; plant-mediated insect gene editing emerges as a promising frontier. Overall, carefully regulated trials aligned with policy frameworks and stakeholder involvement are vital to assess effectiveness in natural environments and achieve targeted, dependable and ecologically responsible pest control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106941"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antagonistic interaction of chlorpyrifos and cadmium in diamondback moth: Metabolic and toxicological insights","authors":"Yi-Jun Wu ,&nbsp;Kelai Kang ,&nbsp;Quangen Wu ,&nbsp;Xiaohua Song ,&nbsp;Qilian Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106933","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106933","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The management of the diamondback moth (<em>Plutella xylostella</em>; Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a major pest of cruciferous vegetables, relies heavily on the use of insecticides. Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used insecticide in agriculture, is usually used for the control of pest insects including <em>P. xylostella</em>. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal widely presented in industry and some agrochemicals like fertilizers, which can persist in the environment. Despite the frequent co-occurrence of CPF and Cd as environmental pollutants, the combined toxicity of the two chemicals to insects has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we investigated the interactive effects of CPF and Cd on <em>P. xylostella</em> larvae using toxicity bioassays, biochemical analyses, and GC–MS-based metabonomics. The results showed that both chemicals inhibited the antioxidant enzyme activity with an antagonistic effect. In addition, CPF and Cd exposure altered a range of metabolites including valine, isoleucine, threonine, tyrosine, tryptophan, malic acid, butanoic acid, α-glycerophosphoric acid, pentanedioic acid, and deoxyribose. Metabolomic analysis further revealed that D-galactofuranose may serve as a biomarker for the co-exposure to CPF and Cd. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that both CPF and Cd induce oxidative damage in <em>P. xylostella,</em> and they interact in an antagonistic manner by suppressing antioxidant capacity and disrupting energy and amino acids metabolism. Environmental Cd likely interferes with CPF toxicity through antagonistic effects on oxidative stress and key metabolic pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106933"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Both target-site and non-target-site resistance mechanisms confer mesosulfuron-methyl resistance in Silene conoidea L.” [Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 218(2026) 106905]","authors":"Xinhui Xue ,&nbsp;Hailan Cui ,&nbsp;Shen'ao Hu ,&nbsp;Hong Ma ,&nbsp;Shouhui Wei ,&nbsp;Hongjuan Huang ,&nbsp;Xiangju Li ,&nbsp;Zhaofeng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106964","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.106964","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106964"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146106749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rice husk ash-derived nano-silica: A sustainable carrier for Kasugamycin to combat rice blast disease","authors":"Ziqi Cui ,&nbsp;Zhihao Li ,&nbsp;Yufeng Wu ,&nbsp;Huiyan Li ,&nbsp;Xueping Guo ,&nbsp;Aisha Khalfan Nassor ,&nbsp;Zhi Chen ,&nbsp;Xiong Guan ,&nbsp;Xiaohong Pan ,&nbsp;Yujiao Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nano-sized silicon dioxide (SiO₂ NPs) is widely employed as a pesticide carrier in agricultural systems. However, its high production cost significantly limits large-scale adoption. In this study, we developed an economical and environmentally benign nano-pesticide (KSM@SiO₂) by loading kasugamycin (KSM) onto SiO₂ NPs synthesized from rice husk ash (RHA). The optimized synthesis parameters were determined as follows: 6 h calcination, 1.5 mol/L NaOH, and a SiO₂:KSM mass ratio of 1:2—yielding 25.3 % SiO₂ and a KSM loading efficiency of 16.1 %. KSM@SiO₂ exhibited robust antifungal efficacy against <em>Magnaporthe oryzae</em>, with an EC₅₀ value of 0.19 mg/mL, nearly double the potency of pure KSM (0.35 mg/mL). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis verified the formation of •OH, •O₂⁻, and ¹O₂. These reactive oxygen species (ROS) subsequently induced oxidative stress, hyphal disruption, DNA fragmentation, and enhanced membrane permeability. The nanoformulation demonstrated superior leaf adherence, as evidenced by a contact angle of 94.22° and a 20 % improvement in retention compared with free KSM. FITC tracing further confirmed its systemic translocation from roots to leaves within 24 h. Biosafety assessments revealed no adverse effects on rice seed germination or root development. Instead, KSM@SiO₂ promoted antioxidant enzyme activities and exhibited no significant toxicity to earthworms. Economic analysis showed that its production cost was reduced by 72.5 % relative to commercial SiO₂.Overall, this work provides a sustainable and cost-efficient nanocarrier strategy for rice blast management. It also demonstrates a viable route for converting agricultural waste into high-value nano-fungicidal materials, thereby supporting the advancement of circular bioeconomy practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106902"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145842446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing biological control and advanced technologies for sustainable wheat rust management: An integrated approach","authors":"Johannes Mapuranga,&nbsp;Wenxiang Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106931","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pestbp.2025.106931","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wheat rusts caused by biotrophic fungi of the genus <em>Puccinia</em> continuously threaten global wheat production and food security. The rapid evolution of virulent races, and the limitations of chemical fungicides, including environmental contamination, human health concerns, and resistance development, necessitate a shift towards integrated management strategies. This review explores biocontrol agents (BCAs), including fungal (<em>Trichoderma</em> spp., <em>Cladosporium cladosporioides</em>), bacterial (<em>Bacillus subtilis</em>, <em>Pseudomonas</em> spp.), and actinomycetes (<em>Streptomyces</em> spp.), as foundational components of wheat rusts management. We highlight their modes of action such as mycoparasitism, antibiosis, competition, and the induction of systemic resistance. Additionally, we explore how cutting-edge adjunct technologies can enhance the efficacy and sustainability of BCAs. These include nano-formulations, for targeted antimicrobial actions and plant defense potentiation; plant extracts and antimicrobial peptides as natural defense elicitors; and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, for presymptomatic detection, severity quantification, epidemic forecasting, and early warning systems that enable precise application of BCAs and nano-formulations. While BCAs, nanoformulations, plant extracts and AI-driven tools offer powerful, environmentally benign alternatives capable of significantly reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals, chemical fungicides remain an essential component of current wheat rusts management, particularly during severe epidemics or when rapid knockdown of inoculum is required. A truly integrated and sustainable strategy therefore combines these novel approaches with the judicious, resistance-management-oriented use of effective chemical fungicides applied according to economic thresholds and in rotation or mixture to delay resistance development, thereby maximizing durability and minimizing environmental impact. However, the successful translation of this strategy to the field hinges on overcoming key challenges in formulation stability, scalable production, and seamless integration into existing and chemical-based agricultural practices to mitigate the impact of wheat rusts and safeguard global wheat yields and food security.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19828,"journal":{"name":"Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106931"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}