Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology最新文献

{"title":"Multi-locus analysis of genetic diversity and haplotype structure in Sarocladium spp. causing rice sheath rot in India","authors":"Bharathi K.B. ,&nbsp;Sanath Kumar V.B. ,&nbsp;Abhishek R. ,&nbsp;Prasannakumar M.K. ,&nbsp;Pallavi K.N. ,&nbsp;J. Harish ,&nbsp;Raveendra H.R. ,&nbsp;Vijaykumar L. ,&nbsp;Ashoka K.R. ,&nbsp;Narayanareddy A.B.","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sheath rot poses a significant threat to rice cultivation, potentially leading to substantial yield losses. Understanding its morphological and genetic variability is crucial for effective disease management and resistance breeding. In this study, a total of 33 sheath rot diseased samples were collected from diverse rice-growing regions and subjected to integrated morphological, cultural and molecular characterisation. Significant morphological variability was observed in colony colour and growth rate among isolates. Molecular characterisation using <em>ITS</em>, <em>RPB2</em> and <em>Actin</em> primers confirmed that twenty-one isolates were <em>Sarocladium oryzae</em> and twelve were <em>Sarocladium attenuatum.</em> Phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum likelihood method revealed distinct clades, supported by moderate to high bootstrap values, suggesting significant genetic divergence among isolates. Haplotype analysis based on 30 polymorphic sites identified 17 unique haplotypes, with Hap_4 being the most prevalent. Nucleotide diversity (π = 0.22) and average pairwise differences (k = 6.61) indicated substantial genetic variation, while demographic inference suggested a possible recent population expansion. The Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of <em>Sarocladium</em> populations revealed that the majority of genetic variation (84.99 %) resides within populations, while 15.00 % was attributed to variation among populations. The current study represents the first comprehensive multilocus (<em>ITS</em>, <em>RPB2</em> and <em>Actin</em>) analysis of <em>Sarocladium</em> populations associated with rice sheath rot in Karnataka, India, integrating morphological, cultural and molecular data. The findings provide novel insights into the coexistence of <em>S. oryzae</em> and <em>S. attenuatum</em> within the same rice ecosystems and reveal substantial haplotype diversity, indicating ongoing evolutionary divergence and offers a baseline information for the development of sheath rot-resistant rice varieties and for designing region-specific disease management programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103042"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622647","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":"Surfactin production and induced systemic resistance drive Bacillus velezensis IBUN 2755 to biocontrol of Burkholderia glumae in rice plants","authors":"Luz Adriana Pedraza ,&nbsp;Camilo Ernesto López Carrascal ,&nbsp;Freddy Alejandro Ramos ,&nbsp;Daniel Uribe Velez","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103033","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103033","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> isolate IBUN 2755 exhibits biocontrol activity against <em>Burkholderia glumae</em> in rice plants under field conditions. This study aimed to identify the potential mechanisms of action of IBUN 2755 against <em>B. glumae</em>. Therefore, random mutants were generated via UV irradiation and screened using an <em>in vitro</em> dual antagonism assay. Of the 830 mutants evaluated, one (130B) completely lost detectable antagonistic activity in both biomass and culture supernatant. This mutant also showed no activity against <em>B. glumae</em> in a substrate model assay using rice seedlings. Mutant 130B also showed altered biofilm formation compared to the wild-type isolate. The wild-type isolate induced systemic resistance, as shown by reduced disease symptoms and increased <em>NPR1</em> gene expression compared with the non-inoculated control, whereas mutant 130B lacked this ability. Notably, mutant 130B showed a significant reduction in both the weight and yield of acid precipitated extracts from culture supernatants, compared to the wild-type IBUN 2755. It also lost the ability to produce surfactin-like compounds, as confirmed by HPLC analysis. Finally, the 130B mutant was sequenced using the Illumina platform, revealing five SNPs as putative mutated genes, compared to wild-type genome of the isolate. Among these, a mutation in the <em>zwf</em> gene is linked to the loss of surfactin production, as this gene is associated with the synthesis of antimicrobial precursors. In conclusion, surfactin-like compounds and the induction of plant resistance are suggested as key biocontrol mechanisms of the IBUN 2755 isolate against <em>B. glumae</em> in rice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103033"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622722","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":"Enhancing RNAi efficiency in Phytophthora infestans using cell-penetrating peptide TAT","authors":"Kaloyan Kostov ,&nbsp;Mihail Georgiev ,&nbsp;Aneta Lyubenova ,&nbsp;Marina Alekseeva ,&nbsp;Tzvetelina Zagorcheva ,&nbsp;Guy Smagghe","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can be used to control plant pests and pathogens by inducing RNA interference (RNAi) in the cells of the target organism. However, this could be challenging especially in species with naturally lower dsRNA uptake capabilities, such as the late blight pathogen <em>Phytophthora infestans</em>. Short peptides that readily cross the cell membrane, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have been explored as molecular carriers for the delivery of therapeutic molecules, including proteins and nucleic acids. Here, we investigate the possibility of using CPPs to facilitate the uptake of dsRNA and increase the RNAi efficiency in <em>P</em>. <em>infestans</em>. We compared the penetration efficiency of four well-known CPPs in sporangia and hyphae and found that the cationic peptide derived from the transactivator of transcription protein (TAT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is internalized efficiently, rapidly, and in an energy-independent manner. The TAT peptide also interacts with dsRNA electrostatically by forming particles with increased affinity towards the cell walls of <em>P. infestans</em>. In hyphae treated with TAT/dsRNA complex, the accumulation of high quantities of TAT peptide was observed, however, only a limited amount of dsRNA was detected. Nonetheless, TAT/dsRNA complex proved functional by triggering RNAi response by silencing the G-protein β-subunit gene (<em>Pigpb1</em>) in <em>P. infestans</em> in contrast to the naked dsRNA. Additionally, we found that the TAT peptide has a moderate ability to penetrate plant leaves and can move through the xylem. Our results indicate that CPPs can improve the efficiency of dsRNA-induced RNAi in <em>P. infestans</em> and have potential in the development of novel plant protection formulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103048"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622643","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":"Enhanced nematicidal efficacy of plant-based nanoemulsions for sustainable management of rice root-knot nematode","authors":"Suman Panja ,&nbsp;Mansi Machal ,&nbsp;Virendra Singh Rana ,&nbsp;Prashant Kaushik ,&nbsp;Ashish Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Najam A. Shakil ,&nbsp;Mahender Singh Saharan ,&nbsp;Partha Chandra Mondal ,&nbsp;Pankaj","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.), a global dietary staple, suffers severe yield losses due to infestations by the rice root-knot nematode (<em>Meloidogyne graminicola</em>). Essential oil-based nanoemulsions provide enhanced stability and bioactivity compared to conventional formulations, making them a promising tool for nematode management. In the present study, essential oils from garlic, citronella, and annona were extracted and characterized using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS), followed by nanoemulsion formulation with surfactants and characterization via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The nematicidal potential of these nanoemulsions was evaluated through both in vitro and <em>in vivo</em> assays. <em>In vitro</em> bioassays demonstrated significant, concentration- and time-dependent juvenile mortality and egg-hatching inhibition, with garlic nanoemulsion showing the strongest activity, as evidenced by the lowest LC₅₀ values. Application of garlic nanoemulsion significantly reduced galling per plant (1.2 ± 0.33 p &lt; 0.05) compared to the untreated control (19 ± 0.8, p &lt; 0.05). These results were consistent across three independent biological replicates, demonstrating the reproducibility and reliability of the nematicidal effect. Molecular docking of key garlic-derived compounds (diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, diallyl tetrasulfide, and methyl allyl tetrasulfide) revealed strong binding affinities with nematode target proteins, supporting their mechanistic role in nematicidal activity. Collectively, these results highlight garlic oil nanoemulsion as a potent, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative for managing <em>M. graminicola</em> in rice, reducing dependence on synthetic nematicides and advancing environmentally sound nematode management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103029"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622719","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":"Artificial intelligence applications in abiotic and biotic plant stress management: A comprehensive bibliometric and literature review","authors":"Furkan Ulaş ,&nbsp;Rachid Lahlali ,&nbsp;Salah-Eddine Laasli ,&nbsp;Muhammad Aasim ,&nbsp;Abdelfattah Dababat ,&nbsp;Muhammad Sameeullah ,&nbsp;Mustafa İmren","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abiotic and biotic stress factors pose a significant threat to plant productivity and global food security. This review uses bibliometric analysis and literature synthesis to comprehensively examine the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques in plant stress management. A total of 5369 publications retrieved from the Web of Science database between 2010 and 2024 were analysed using VOSviewer to evaluate publication trends, countries, institutions, and keywords. China, the US, and India were identified as the leading countries, with deep learning, convolutional neural networks, and image-based diagnostic methods emerging as key areas. The second phase revealed that DL architectures such as YOLO, EfficientNet, and Transformer, as well as methods like remote sensing and hyperspectral imaging, can accurately detect abiotic (drought, salinity, water, and heavy metals) and biotic (fungal, bacterial, and viral) stress. Machine learning (ML) algorithms such as support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and artificial neural network (ANN) have also been found to be effective in stress prediction. However, challenges such as data imbalance, model interpretability, and high computational requirements persist. To address these issues, open-access datasets, low-cost and transparent models, multimodal sensing systems, and ethical AI approaches are recommended. This review contributes to the field by highlighting strategic and technical gaps in the development of scalable and sustainable AI-supported plant stress management systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103098"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839501","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":"Identification of the biosynthetic gene cluster for desmethylmensacarcin, a phytotoxic polyketide produced by Streptomyces niveiscabiei ST1015","authors":"María Inés Lapaz ,&nbsp;Sofia Zeballos-Gorón ,&nbsp;Valentina Croce ,&nbsp;José Carlos Huguet-Tapía ,&nbsp;Martín Pérez-Baldassari ,&nbsp;Andrés López ,&nbsp;Donald Hudson ,&nbsp;Sarah Forester ,&nbsp;Rosemary Loria ,&nbsp;Guillermo Moyna ,&nbsp;María Julia Pianzzola ,&nbsp;María Inés Siri ,&nbsp;Isolde M. Francis","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work reports the first functional characterization of the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) responsible for the production of the phytotoxic polyketide desmethylmensacarcin (dmsn) in <em>Streptomyces niveiscabiei</em> ST1015, a potato common scab pathogen. Using genome sequencing and comparative analysis, a 22-gene type II polyketide synthase (PKS) cluster was discovered with high identity to the mensacarcin (msn) cluster from <em>Streptomyces bottropensis</em> but lacking the three methyltransferase genes (msnM1–M3), confirming dmsn as the final product. Dmsn production was detected only in plant-based media and correlated with phytotoxic activity in radish seedling and potato tuber assays. Quantitative analysis based on seedling length ratios relative to the water control showed a ∼90 % reduction in the phytotoxic effect of culture supernatants from the mutants lacking the core ketosynthase genes (<em>dmsnK1–K2</em>) compared to the wild type (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Genetic complementation of the mutants restored the phytotoxicity to wild-type levels. Surprisingly, the mutant strains remained virulent on potato, suggesting that dmsn is not the sole determinant of pathogenicity in ST1015. BiG-SCAPE analysis revealed that msn/dmsn-like BGCs are more widely distributed among pathogenic <em>Streptomyces species</em> than previously recognized, although some strains carry non-functional clusters due to premature stop codons or possible regulatory divergence. These findings suggest that multiple potentially redundant phytotoxic pathways may contribute to common scab pathogenesis. This work highlights the widespread occurrence and functional diversity of dmsn-like clusters and provides new insights into the ecological and genetic complexity underlaying common scab pathogenesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103072"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883496","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":"Durable stripe rust resistance and stability analysis of Egyptian wheat genotypes carrying the Yr29 gene across multi-environmental trials","authors":"Ola I. Mabrouk ,&nbsp;Khadeja M.A. Najeeb ,&nbsp;Reda I. Omara ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Gad ,&nbsp;Badawy R. Mohdly ,&nbsp;Eman Elagamey ,&nbsp;Mohamed I.M. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Wael F. Shehata ,&nbsp;Najat Marraiki ,&nbsp;Mohamed A. Abou-Zeid","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2026.103137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2026.103137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stripe rust, caused by <em>Puccinia striiformis</em> f. sp. <em>tritici</em>, poses a major threat to global wheat production, causing significant yield losses. This study aimed to evaluate the durable resistance and stability of twenty Egyptian wheat genotypes against stripe rust across multiple environments from 2023 to 2025. The genotypes were assessed under controlled greenhouse conditions, and multi-location field trials were conducted in five key wheat-growing regions of Egypt. Disease progression was quantified using epidemiological parameters, including final rust severity (FRS%), area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and infection rate (r-value). Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to analyze genotype-by-environment interactions and determine genotype stability. Molecular marker analysis using SSR markers targeted the presence of the adult plant resistance gene <em>Yr29</em>, known for conferring durable resistance. Results identified nine genotypes, including Giza 171, Giza 168, Misr 3, and Sakha 94, exhibiting significantly prolonged incubation and latent periods, reduced pustule density, and consistently low FRS%, AUDPC, and r-values across all tested environments, indicating durable resistance. These genotypes also demonstrated high stability in AMMI and PCA analyses. Molecular assays confirmed the presence of <em>Yr29</em> in all resistant genotypes, while susceptible cultivars lacked this gene. The findings highlight the potential of these genotypes and the <em>Yr29</em> locus for breeding programs focused on sustainable stripe rust management. Incorporating such durable resistance into wheat cultivars can reduce reliance on chemical controls, enhance yield stability, and contribute to food security in regions prone to rust.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103137"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188039","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":"Molecular insights into cotton defense and stress regulation: CRISPR-Cas9 mediated editing of key genes in biotic and abiotic stress pathways","authors":"Suraj Prakash ,&nbsp;Radha ,&nbsp;Shubham Punia ,&nbsp;Manoj Kumar ,&nbsp;Baohong Zhang ,&nbsp;Sangram Dhumal ,&nbsp;Marisennayya Senapathy ,&nbsp;Sunil Kumar ,&nbsp;Sunil Puri","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103097","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cotton (<em>Gossypium sp.</em>) is world's leading natural fiber crop and contribute to textile and oil industries, generating an estimated worldwide annual economic impact of USD 600 billion. Global cotton production is projected to rise from 126.5 million bales (2022-23) to approximately 141 million bales (2031-32) at annual growth rate of 1.6 %. Despite its economic importance, yield is affected by climate change, pest outbreaks and soil degradation. Traditional breeding and transgenic approaches have improved cotton yield and insect tolerance but remain slow and limited by the species complex allotetraploid genome, extensive gene redundancy, low transformation efficiency. Genome editing tools, especially CRISPR-Cas9 offer targeted modification in yield and stress response related genes. This can help to increase improvement in yield, drought, salinity stress and pest resistance while minimizing off target effects and regulatory concerns associated with conventional genetically modified (GM) crops. This review discuss the recent advancements of CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing in cotton, showing how specific gene editing (<em>GhPDS</em>, <em>GhCLA1</em>, <em>GhAOC2</em>, <em>Gh14-3-3d</em>) have revealed functional links between stress response pathways and plant defense signaling. It also include mechanistic insights into salicylic acid (SA) - jasmonic acid (JA) - ethylene (ET) cross talk, ROS regulation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and outline emerging strategies to overcome transformation and off-target limitations. Future research should integrate multi-omics, prime editing and pathogen-effector interaction studies to increase the molecular breeding of resilient cotton cultivars.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103097"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924610","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":"Magnetic cell capture and DNA-based colorimetric methods for early detection of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl. in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)","authors":"Marynold Purificacion ,&nbsp;Analiza Dote ,&nbsp;Fe Dela Cueva ,&nbsp;Dionisio Alvindia ,&nbsp;Evangelyn Alocilja ,&nbsp;Divina Amalin ,&nbsp;Lilia Fernando","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2026.103116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2026.103116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Lasiodiplodia theobromae</em> is a causal pathogen of pod rot and dieback symptoms in cacao. One strategy to improve the management of cacao diseases is by early detection of its causal pathogen. In this study, we optimized a sequential magnetic cell capture using functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNP-F1) that can be used for rapid screening of infected cacao samples. Afterwards, we developed and compared three colorimetric methods for DNA-based detection of <em>L. theobromae</em> using: (a) dextrin-capped gold nanoparticles (d-AuNPs) with unmodified oligonucleotide probe (Clr1), (b) AuNPs conjugated with thiolated oligonucleotide probe (AuNP-SH probe) (Clr2), and (c) AuNPs functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (AuNP-MUDA) with aminated probe (Clr3). The three methods showed that the presence or absence of <em>L. theobromae</em> can be detected visually. In the presence of target DNA, the color of the solution after the reaction remained red. In contrast, in the absence of target DNA, the solution changed from red to purple/clear color. The selectivity and sensitivity of the developed methods were also determined and compared. The results showed that even though all the methods are selective to <em>L. theobromae</em>, Clr3 showed the highest linearity and lowest limit of detection. Thus, Clr3 was used for the genomic DNA detection of <em>L. theobromae</em> isolated from infected cacao samples. This study proved that Clr3 can be used for the fabrication of a DNA-based nanobiosensor for <em>L. theobromae.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924706","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":"Comparative efficacy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and anti-Ganoderma fertilizer in managing early-stage Ganoderma boninense infection in oil palm (Elaies guineensis Jacq.)","authors":"Mohammad Hafizuddin Halwi ,&nbsp;Siti Nor Akmar Abdullah ,&nbsp;Adibah Mohd Amin ,&nbsp;Mohd Hefni Rusli ,&nbsp;Khairulmazmi Ahmad","doi":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.103108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ganoderma boninense</em> causes devastating basal stem rot in oil palm. This study integrates ultrastructural, molecular, and physiological analyses to compare how two control strategies influence early-stage infection mechanisms in infected palms. Roots of oil palm seedlings inoculated with <em>G. boninense</em> and treated with <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> (T2) or anti-<em>Ganoderma</em> organic fertilizer (T3) were harvested at 5-, 9-, 14-, and 20-days post inoculation (dpi). Untreated <em>G. boninense</em> inoculated seedlings (T1) served as positive control with uninoculated seedlings included as negative controls. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination revealed severe cell wall degradation and fungal hyphae proliferation in T1. Both T2 and T3 demonstrated reduced damage albeit T3 offered superior cell wall protection. Pathogen DNA quantification confirmed significantly lower <em>G. boninense</em> DNA levels in T3. RT-qPCR analysis on selected defense response genes revealed that treatment with endophytic bacteria potentially led to earlier activation of ethylene/jasmonate defense signaling pathway while utilization of the anti-<em>Ganoderma</em> fertilizer extended the biotrophic defense response. Enhanced <em>EgGAMYB</em> expression suggests cell wall strengthening in T2 and T3. Ca²⁺-signaling shift promoted early and more effective defense response in T3. Physiological assessments (chlorophyll index and stomatal conductance) indicated stability in treated seedlings compared to the rapidly degrading T1. Phenotypic observations after 25 weeks showed necrotic roots and leaves in T1, while T2 and T3 resembled healthy controls. Overall, this study extends earlier <em>Pseudomonas</em>-focused studies by directly comparing endophytic bacteria and anti-<em>Ganoderma</em> fertilizer using different evidence, demonstrating their protective effects of and how they differentially modulate biotrophic-to-necrotrophic defense phase transition in oil palm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20046,"journal":{"name":"Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology","volume":"142 ","pages":"Article 103108"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924708","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}