Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology最新文献

{"title":"Functional role of Trichoderma asperellum in inducing systemic resistance and suppressing southern blight (Agroathelia rolfsii) in cowpea","authors":"Praveen Vijayakumar,&nbsp;Sudha Appusami","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102909","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102909","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cowpea cultivation is severely impacted by southern blight, a destructive disease caused by the soil-borne pathogen <em>Agroathelia rolfsii</em> (syn. <em>Sclerotium rolfsii</em>). Conventional chemical control methods are unsuitable for organic systems and pose environmental hazards and risks of resistance development. <em>Trichoderma</em> spp. are well known for their antagonistic effects against various soil-borne pathogens and their ability to promote plant growth. In this study, <em>Trichoderma asperellum</em> was evaluated against the pathogen using a dual plate assay. A liquid formulation was developed, and its efficacy was tested through seed bio-priming, roll towel assays, enzyme activity measurement, pot culture, and field trials. The results showed that</div><div><em>T. asperellum</em> inhibited about 70.00 % of pathogen growth. Seed treatment at 5 ml/kg enhanced root and shoot lengths to 19.42 cm and 26.04 cm respectively, with 100 % germination and a vigour index of 4546.00. Amylase and dehydrogenase activities were recorded as 12.42 mg maltose and 2.10, respectively. In greenhouse and field conditions, disease incidence was significantly reduced in treated plants (8.87 %) compared to control (80.82 %), along with improved growth and yield. Moreover, treated plants showed higher induction of defense-related enzymes like peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Thus, the formulation effectively enhances growth and suppresses southern blight through defense induction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102909"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145018650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative nanoparticle strategies in crop disease control: Comparative antimicrobial mechanisms, regulatory insights, and future pathways","authors":"Jafar Fathi Qarachal,&nbsp;Mehrdad Alizadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102906","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102906","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating threat of plant pathogens to global food security necessitates the development of innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable control strategies. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier in agricultural science, particularly through the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as novel antimicrobial agents capable of enhancing plant defense and disease management. This review offers a comprehensive and comparative synthesis of current knowledge on various classes of NPs, including metallic, carbon-based, and polymeric types, evaluating their underlying antimicrobial mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, membrane disruption, and gene modulation. We further examine their modes of application, dosage efficiency, and performance in both laboratory and field contexts. In contrast to prior reviews, this work provides a critical analysis of key trade-offs associated with NP use, including phytotoxicity, environmental persistence, formulation challenges, and scalability for commercial agriculture. A conceptual framework is introduced to link specific NP types to their biocidal mechanisms, target pathogens, and practical deployment pathways. The review also highlights gaps in regulatory oversight and presents emerging concerns regarding ecotoxicological impacts on soil microbiota, non-target organisms, and ecosystem health. Finally, we identify actionable research priorities that include the need for long-term field validation studies, advancement of green synthesis technologies, and integration of NP-based approaches into holistic crop management systems such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and precision agriculture. By aligning laboratory innovation with field-level feasibility, this review advances the scientific foundation and real-world applicability of nanoparticle-based strategies in sustainable plant protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102906"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Secondary metabolite and antioxidant enzyme dynamics underpin resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in rice genotypes of the Kashmir Valley","authors":"Heena Altaf ,&nbsp;Fayaz A. Mohiddin ,&nbsp;Asif Bashir Shikari ,&nbsp;M. Ashraf Ahangar ,&nbsp;Fehim J. Wani ,&nbsp;Zakir Amin ,&nbsp;Tabasum Manzoor ,&nbsp;Raheel Shafeeq Khan ,&nbsp;Noor-Ul-Ain ,&nbsp;Mohammad Saleem Dar ,&nbsp;Hattan A. Alharbi ,&nbsp;Rajesh N. Udavant","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102901","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102901","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice blast is one of the most destructive diseases affecting rice cultivation globally, with the Kashmir Valley experiencing significant yield losses due to frequent outbreaks. The disease can reduce rice yields by up to 50 % under favorable conditions, posing a major threat to food security and livelihoods in the region. Despite advances in breeding for blast resistance, the underlying biochemical mechanisms that confer durable resistance remain poorly understood, limiting the effectiveness of resistance breeding programs. This study aimed to elucidate the biochemical basis of blast resistance by comparing the accumulation of key secondary metabolites and antioxidant enzymes in 40 japonica rice genotypes (20 resistant and 20 susceptible) following inoculation with a dominant <em>M. oryzae</em> strain. Quantitative analyses revealed that resistant genotypes exhibited significantly higher levels of phenolic compounds (ranging from 0.235 to 1.807 mg/g), condensed tannins, flavonoids, proteins, and proline compared to their susceptible counterparts. These secondary metabolites are known to strengthen plant cell walls, scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), and directly inhibit pathogen growth. Enzymatic assays further demonstrated that resistant lines accumulated greater activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), enzymes critical for ROS detoxification and signaling during pathogen attack. In contrast, catalase (CAT) activity did not differ significantly between resistant and susceptible genotypes. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive associations between protein and hydrogen peroxide (r = 0.674), as well as phenols and proline (r = 0.408), emphasizing the coordinated activation of biochemical defense in resistant plants. Molecular docking analyses further revealed that predominant rice defense metabolites, particularly phenolics and flavonoids, exhibited strong binding affinities to the MPG1 hydrophobin protein of <em>M. oryzae</em>, a key factor in fungal adhesion and infection. These <em>in silico</em> findings support the experimental results, suggesting that secondary metabolites not only accumulate in resistant genotypes but may also directly interfere with pathogen virulence mechanisms. The integration of biochemical assays and molecular docking provides a comprehensive understanding of the coordinated defense strategies in rice, offering valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at developing cultivars with durable resistance to blast disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102901"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant immunity and resistance mechanisms: an editorial","authors":"Tariq Mukhtar","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102903","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102903","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plants possess a dynamic and multilayered immune system to counteract a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. These defenses encompass both constitutive barriers and induced responses. Upon pathogen attack, plants recognize conserved microbial signatures via PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI), which can be further enhanced by effector-triggered immunity (ETI) and systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Key signaling molecules, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, ethylene, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide, coordinate these defenses. The special issue “Plant Immunity and Resistance Mechanisms” in <em>Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology</em> presents cutting-edge research covering molecular screening, gene expression, induced resistance, biocontrol, microbiome engineering, and pathogen characterization. Highlights include the identification of resistance loci in major crops, the role of transcription factors like WRKY and trihelix proteins, and transcriptomic profiling during host-pathogen interactions. Several studies demonstrated enhanced resistance through induced metabolic pathways, bioelicitors, and beneficial microbes such as <em>Trichoderma asperellum</em> and <em>Beauveria bassiana</em>. Investigations also revealed how antioxidant defense and partial resistance mitigate oxidative damage during infection. Pathogen-focused research unraveled virulence factors and host adaptation mechanisms, offering molecular targets for sustainable disease management. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive insights into the physiological and molecular basis of plant immunity and support the development of durable, eco-friendly crop protection strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102903"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"YUCCA gene expression modulates Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) resistance, Leaf regeneration: A comparative analysis of sugar content and root yield in different Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)","authors":"Xiao Yin ,&nbsp;Guangzhou Ding ,&nbsp;Chunlei Zhao ,&nbsp;Yanli Li","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Auxin is one of the main endogenous plant hormones, playing a key role in regulating plant growth and development as well as stress responses. It is particularly noteworthy that the auxin plays a significant role in biotic stress. <em>Cercospora leaf spot</em> (CLS) is one of the three major diseases in sugar beet growth, which can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis and even cause leaf death. When sugar beet is infected with CLS, in order to maintain its normal growth, new leaves continue to germinate and grow from the root of sugar beet for photosynthesis, which must have auxin participation. The YUCCA gene family, belonging to class B flavin-dependent monooxygenases, catalyzes the rate-limiting step in endogenous auxin biosynthesis and plays a crucial role in plant growth regulation and stress responses. Effective regulation of auxin synthesis and accumulation is a crucial objective for enhancing both total yield and sugar production in sugar beet, as well as a key focus in sugar beet breeding. Therefore, this study identified nine YUCCA genes in sugar beet (<em>Beta vulgaris</em> L.). Additionally, transcriptomic analysis revealed two significantly differentially expressed YUCCA genes, that exhibited significant differential expression in sugar beet before and after CLS infection. These YUCCA genes are key genes in the indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA) pathway, which is involved in one of the auxin biosynthesis pathways in sugar beet. And field experiment analysis revealed that susceptible sugar beet varieties exhibited higher root yield but lower sugar content, while resistant varieties showed higher sugar content but lower yield.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102902"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metaviromic analysis of cucumber reveals diverse viral infections and development of LAMP assays for their rapid detection","authors":"S Anupama ,&nbsp;Vamsidhar Reddy Netla ,&nbsp;H.D. Vinay Kumar ,&nbsp;Shridhar Hiremath ,&nbsp;Mantesh Muttappagol ,&nbsp;Prasanna S. Koti ,&nbsp;N Nagesha ,&nbsp;K.S. Shankarappa ,&nbsp;V. Venkataravanappa ,&nbsp;Devaraja ,&nbsp;C.N. Lakshminarayana Reddy","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cucumber production has been significantly threatened by numerous viruses, resulting in a decrease in both the quality and quantity of the produce. However, conventional methods for identifying viruses may not provide a complete picture of co-infections of different viruses. The advent of high-throughput sequencing has made identifying known and novel viruses easy. Hence, we collected 25 cucumber samples exhibiting diverse kinds of virus-disease-like symptoms from the farmer's field, where 25.50–40 % viral disease incidence was also recorded. RNA extracted from the collected samples was used for mRNA and sRNA library preparation using pooled RNA and subjected to Illumina NOVASEQ 6000 platform to obtain the raw sequence data. The obtained raw data was analyzed using bioinformatics, revealing several virus-associated sequences in the assembled reads. Complete or near-complete genomes of five different viruses were identified, which include tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), tobacco streak virus (TSV), melon yellow spot virus (MYSV), and cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CAbYV). A partial genome of cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV) was also assembled. The estimation of viral abundance using Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million (FPKM) mapped reads revealed that CMV (∼96 % of total FPKM) and MYSV (∼2.85 %) were the most prevalent among the identified viruses. Further phylogenies were constructed using reference sequences from the NCBI database, providing additional evidence of conformity for the identified viruses. The L genomic segment of MYSV exhibited the highest variation, with 345 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Further recombination analysis of the detected viruses revealed both intra and interspecific recombinants in CMV, TSV, and MYSV. The identified viruses were validated through PCR and RT-PCR assays. Additionally, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) diagnostic assays were successfully developed for future use in screening viruses in field-collected samples. This study reports the first complete/near-complete genomes of MYSV, TSV, and CAbYV from cucumber, representing significant genomic advances from India. Overall, this study advances the virome profiling of cucumber in India and delivers complete genome data that underpin the development of rapid, field-deployable diagnostics, with potential applications in seed certification, quarantine inspection, and farm-level virus management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102900"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morpho-molecular characterization of Agroathelia rolfsii causing leaf blight of sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands","authors":"Shivannegowda Mahadevakumar ,&nbsp;Attihalli Shivalingegowda Savitha ,&nbsp;Chalasani Danteswari ,&nbsp;PullabhotlaV.S.R.N. Sarma ,&nbsp;Madapati Renuka ,&nbsp;Kadaiah Ajithkumar ,&nbsp;Madappa Mahesh ,&nbsp;Patro Thanuku Samuel Sampath Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Nelumbo nucifera</em> Gaertn., (Nelumbonaceae) is a culturally and medicinally significant, aquatic plant in India, was observed to exhibit a characteristic leaf spot and blight symptoms at the Dhanikhari Experimental Garden cum Arboretum and Interpretation Centre, Forest Department, Shri Vijaya Puram. The disease severity was ranged from 16 % to 23 %. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected, and the associated fungal pathogen was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Based on a combination of morphological, cultural, and micro-morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as <em>Agroathelia rolfsii</em>. The ITS-rDNA region and <em>TEF-</em>1α gene were amplified from genomic DNA of two representative isolates and were sequenced. BLAST analysis revealed high sequence similarity with known <em>A. rolfsii</em> reference sequences from GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-rDNA confirmed the identity, placing the isolates within a clade containing authenticated <em>A. rolfsii</em> strains. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated symptom development within 3–5 days post-inoculation, and the pathogen was successfully re-isolated, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Based on morphological, molecular, and pathological evidence, this study confirms <em>A. rolfsii</em> as the causal agent of leaf spot and blight in <em>N. nucifera</em>. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of <em>A. rolfsii</em> infecting <em>N. nucifera</em> in India.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102899"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering interspecific genetic diversity and detecting gene exchange in Cochliobolus sativus","authors":"Mst Sabiha Sultana ,&nbsp;Nusrat Jahan ,&nbsp;Chhoa Mondal ,&nbsp;Joyanti Ray ,&nbsp;S.M. Abdullah Al Mamun ,&nbsp;Md Rezve","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Throughout fungal evolutionary history, interspecific gene exchange has significantly influenced rapid adaptation and the emergence of new pathogenic species. We enhanced the need to explore interspecific genetic diversity and gene flow in <em>Cochliobolus sativus</em> through both sexual and asexual stages. Morphological and genotypic identification revealed isolates in both morphs exhibited 99 % identity in NCBI BLAST. Multi-locus sequence analysis (ITS and GAPDH) confirmed all tested isolates as <em>Bipolaris sorokiniana</em> (teleomorph <em>Cochliobolus sativus</em>) with &gt;98 % similarity to reference sequences, and phylogenetic analysis placed parental isolates (BS-65 and BS-134) in a strongly supported clade with <em>Bipolaris sorokiniana</em>, clearly separated from other genera such as <em>Alternaria</em> and <em>Colletotrichum</em>. DNA fingerprinting exhibited polymorphic fragments in 88.3 % of asexual and 77.73 % of sexual isolates. Genetic distances of maternal and offspring isolates varied from 5 % to 71 % and isolate CS-01 CS2 were at ancestral nodes. Identical parent-genetic similarity (94 %) was detected for CS 24 and CS22, CS1 and CS11, CS3 and CS11. Phylogenetic analyses, using Tamura-Nei ML models in MEGA X with 1000 bootstraps reproducibility, indicated two distinct genetic clusters, confirming gene flow and introgression between F1 and F2 generations. F1-derived F2 isolates showed intermediate genotypes, supporting sexual recombination and allele segregation. Genetic diversity parameters estimated by DnaSP6 software indicated a high number of haplotypes (Hd = 1.0), a high number of nucleotide polymorphisms (Pi = 0.68152) and average nucleotide differences (K = 413) for the F1s, and moderately high values for the F2s, indicating recombination-based diversity. Chi-square and Hudson's tests did not reveal significant differences between F1 and F2, while Nei's Gst and DeltaSt indicated relatively moderate to very high levels of gene flow (2.15 ≤ Nm ≤ 231.94) and Fst and Nst were negative and indicated extensive sharing of alleles. Haplotype network analysis employing PopART (version 1.7) identified six haplotypes, and none of the F2 isolates had the same haplotype as the parents, visually showing meiotic recombination. These results are the first molecular evidence of gene flow via sexual reproduction and demonstrate that hybridization reshuffled alleles, which led to new genotypes and a contribution to genetic diversity. These results indicate that <em>Cochliobolus sativus</em> could possess evolutionary capacity by recombination in sexual and asexual phases that may be able to affect pathogenicity and prepare the emergence of new genotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102892"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144894765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of chitosan on root knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp. and root pathogenic fungus, Fusarium spp.","authors":"R. Mouniga,&nbsp;B. Anita","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pests, diseases and nematodes are examples of biotic stressors that are reducing agricultural output. <em>Meloidogyne incognita</em>, <em>Meloidogyne javanica</em>, and <em>Meloidogyne arenaria</em> are the most common nematode pests. Root-knot nematodes and root-pathogenic fungi are controlled with a variety of chemicals. Searching for safe chemical substitutes is essential because of the lingering effects of chemicals on the environment. Using biopolymers to treat plant diseases is one such option. Biopolymers are naturally occurring substances produced by bacteria, fungus, plants, and animals during their life cycles. Chitosan is one such polymer that is derived from the natural polysaccharide, chitin. Chitosan induces a hypersensitive response at the infection site of a pathogen or nematode that leads to cause programmed cell death.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metabolic optimization of endophytic bacteria from aromatic ginger (Kaempferia galanga), and black turmeric (Curcuma caesia), for enhanced biocontrol of Pythium myriotylum","authors":"Fathima Dilkush ,&nbsp;C. Sarathambal ,&nbsp;P.V. Alfiya ,&nbsp;R. Praveena ,&nbsp;D. Prasath","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioactive compounds from plant and microbial sources are known for their wide-ranging pharmaceutical properties, particularly antibacterial and antifungal effects. Secondary metabolite production is highly responsive to environmental variables. This study aimed to optimize nutritional and environmental conditions to optimize metabolite production by endophytic bacteria isolated from selected <em>Zingiberaceae</em> species, specifically for biocontrol of the soft rot pathogen <em>Pythium myriotylum</em>. Four isolates exhibiting <em>in vitro anti</em>-<em>Pythium</em> activity—<em>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</em> CC11, <em>B. pumilus</em> KG6, <em>Pseudacidovorax intermedius</em> NCC15, and <em>Rhizobium</em> sp. NCC17—were selected for detailed analysis. The influence of carbon, nitrogen sources, minerals, pH, and temperature on bacterial growth and metabolite production was assessed. Among the tested strains, <em>B. pumilus</em> KG6 and <em>P. intermedius</em> NCC15 were identified as the most effective isolates, exhibiting the highest inhibition of <em>P. myriotylum</em> growth. Glucose significantly enhanced both biomass and metabolite yield, while sodium nitrate (NaNO₃) and ammonium oxalate (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ further improved pathogen inhibition by <em>B. pumilus</em> strain KG6 and <em>P. intermedius</em> strain NCC15, respectively. The addition of the mineral salt dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) was found to enhance the synthesis of bioactive metabolites. Optimization using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) revealed optimal conditions as pH 7 and an incubation temperature of 32 °C for <em>B. pumilus</em> KG6, and 31.7 °C for <em>P. intermedius</em> NCC15. <em>In vitro</em> validation of the model showed strong agreement between predicted and observed values. Comparative metabolomic analysis confirmed enhanced production of <em>anti</em>-<em>Pythium</em> compounds under optimized conditions. These findings underscore the critical role of specific nutrient sources in activating secondary metabolism and promoting the synthesis of bioactive compounds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"140 ","pages":"Article 102898"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}