A recent study uses machine learning to rapidly discover bacterial isolates with antifungal properties, identifying promising new compounds for crop protection. The approach analyzes thousands of microbial genomes at once, allowing researchers to identify novel beneficial microbes and bypass traditional screening tactics.
A freely available protist culture collection supports a deeper understanding of the plant microbiome, with key findings indicating that beneficial microorganisms feed on bacteria and fungi.
A complex microbial community comprising bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes is beneficial for plant growth. Inactivation of the plant innate immune system shifts this balance, making the fungal load a primary cause of disease. Bacterial partners residing in roots provide an additional layer of protection.
A $7 million project aims to advance new therapies for citrus greening disease by employing technologies developed in the past. The team will work on two main types of treatment to overcome the challenges of reaching infected inner parts of trees and testing treatments in groves already infected with the disease-causing bacteria.
A new diagnostic guide for pythium damping-off and root and stem rot of cucurbits has been published, providing a concise resource for growers, diagnosticians, and plant pathologists. The guide summarizes techniques for isolating, identifying, and testing Pythium isolates to combat these diseases.
Scientists have investigated the sporulation potential of Phytophthora ramorum on common California plant species. Most species produced spores, with bay laurel and tanoak producing significantly more than others. This study helps predict disease trajectories and informs forest treatment plans.
Plant pathologists have developed a set of Nursery Phytophthora Best Management Practices to eradicate the harmful organisms from nursery stock. Through testing and accreditation programs, nurseries that comply with the guidelines have shown no detectable Phytophthora infection in their stock, enabling habitat restoration plantings.
To combat basil downy mildew, researchers recommend using resistant basil varieties, as well as environmental modifications like keeping leaves dry and dehumidifying the air. Fungicides are also effective in controlling the disease, but their use must be alternated to prevent resistance development.
A large-scale study characterized 585 strains of the Xanthomonas perforans bacterium in Florida commercial tomato fields, finding associations between farms and transplant facilities as key points of pathogen spread. This research provides insights into the diversity of the pathogen population and potential control strategies for farmers.
Researchers have successfully used double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules as a bio-fungicide to suppress the production of a toxin in soybean plants. The study found that dsRNAs produced in bacterial cells can effectively manage fungal diseases, reducing the need for toxic chemicals and potentially mitigating fungicide resistance.
Researchers discovered that bacteria enter corn plants through natural openings at the leaf's edge, causing Goss's wilt. High concentrations of bacteria lead to freckles and disease symptoms.
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered that ants excrete chemical compounds that effectively inhibit plant pathogens, offering an alternative to current pesticides. The study suggests that applying ants and their chemical defenses could protect agricultural plant production.
Researchers investigate Pseudomonas cannabina pv. alisalensis (Pcal) interaction with cabbage and oats, discovering coronatine (COR) suppresses salicylic acid to aid pathogen growth. This finding opens doors to new disease control strategies.
Research reveals that stronger lettuce stems are a key part of disease resistance against Sclerotinia spp., the causative agent of lettuce drop. The study found that wild lettuce species exhibit increased stem strength and reduced symptom development, while modern commercial cultivars are susceptible to rapid basal stem rot.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that coating soybean plant leaves with cellulose nanofiber offers resistance to infection by Asian soybean rust pathogen, changing leaf surface from water repellent to water absorbent and suppressing disease-causing gene expression.
Scientists are still unraveling how pathogens adapt to changing conditions, including climate change and global trade. Genome sequencing and big data technologies have revealed that dramatic events like hybridization between pathogen species can lead to rapid evolution of virulence on new host plants.
A study found that palm phytoplasmas in Florida were transmitted by the American palm cixiid bug, originating from Jamaica. The research revealed a network of movement across the Caribbean basin, with distinct groups of insects found in different countries.
Researchers identified a key mechanism by which Xanthomonas bacteria infect crops, allowing them to hijack plant immune systems. Understanding this process is crucial for developing methods to prevent bacterial infections and produce crop-resistant varieties.
A team of researchers from the University of York has identified a new class of enzymes that enable crop pathogens to break through plant cell walls and infect plants. The discovery could lead to effective disease control technologies and protect crops from devastating diseases such as potato late blight.
Research suggests climate change will increase disease pressure in some regions and reduce it in others. Model projections indicate that rising temperatures will boost yields in temperate areas while having little effect on tropical regions.
Research from Utah State University finds that large trees in western forests benefit from mycorrhizal connections to fungi, which enhance nutrient uptake and provide defense against pathogens. Diverse forest networks offer greater protection for these giant trees.
A new light-producing bacterial reporter is being used to quantify plant resistance levels through imaging, allowing for the simultaneous analysis of over 30 Arabidopsis mutants. This novel method shows a high correlation with conventional culture-based techniques, demonstrating its robustness and potential applications.
A group of corn smut proteins, known as the Pleiades, launch a battle against maize immunity by targeting key defense mechanisms. The study reveals that eight of the ten Pleiades inhibit reactive oxygen species production, while two others promote flowering by dampening immunity.
Plants use metabolites, chemical signals, and dual receptor recognition to distinguish beneficial microbes from pathogens. A plant cell follows a flowchart to determine the response needed based on microbe type and lifestyle.
Plant diseases can spread rapidly across borders and oceans, threatening global food security. Researchers call for integrated surveillance, detection systems, and predictive modeling to prevent future outbreaks.
Researchers discovered that the ZAR1 resistosome forms pentameric oligomers in plant cell membranes, triggering sustained calcium ion influx and immune signaling events. This activation initiates cell death and is dependent on the activity of the calcium-permeable ion channel.
Lemon trees showed a lower molecular response to the citrus greening disease pathogen Liberibacter asiaticus compared to orange trees. This may be due to accumulated micronutrients and upregulated protease inhibitors in lemons, which hinder photosynthesis. The study's findings could aid in developing resistant citrus varieties.
A recent study found that silencing SDIR1 reduces growth of host-specialized and nonhost Pseudomonas syringae strains, while overexpressing it enhances disease resistance to both biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens. Higher levels of ABA and jasmonic acid are also detected in SDIR1-overexpression plants.
Researchers at Earlham Institute created a new automated workflow using liquid handling robots to identify the genetic basis of preventing plant pathogens. The new technology screened 2,880 mutants in just 11 hours, identifying a gene cluster linked to growth inhibition of the common potato pathogen.
Researchers developed a new heat-based treatment that eliminates pathogens without harming plants, using a two-step process involving conditioning and lethal temperatures. This method reduces phytotoxicity and dispersal of pathogens, increasing fruit quality and yield while minimizing pesticide applications.
Scientists explore why some plants resist certain pathogens while others are susceptible. Recent advances in technology will aid in understanding the molecular basis of nonhost resistance, enabling improved disease control strategies.
Research reveals Xylella fastidiosa transmission peaks in July and August, affecting grapevine Pierce's disease in California. The study suggests late-season infections are more likely to persist, highlighting the need for regionally specific data.
The causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, has two genetically distinct host-adapted clades, with Clade 1 infecting squash, pumpkin, and watermelon, and Clade 2 impacting cucumber and cantaloupe. Wild cucurbits serve as reservoirs for the pathogen.
A team of plant pathologists developed a comprehensive guide for diagnosing cucurbit downy mildew, caused by the obligate pathogen Pseudoperonospora cubensis. The guide provides written and graphic material to help identify symptoms and diagnose the disease using DNA testing and microscopy.
Researchers discovered that plant pathogens like Phytophthora infestans reorder the physical structures of effectors to escape plant recognition. This allows them to persist in plants and evade integrated resistance strategies.
Researchers found that prior exposure to powdery mildew makes plants more susceptible to subsequent disease. In experiments and in the wild, early infection facilitated later infection, with some pathogen strains promoting infections from later-arriving strains. The findings highlight the importance of understanding interactions among ...
A German-Argentinean doctoral program has borne its first fruits with a joint publication in the renowned journal Plant Physiology. Dr. Regina Mencia's research on increasing plant resistance to pathogens via the salicylic acid pathway has shown promising results.
A multidisciplinary team of scientists will use data from NASA's Earth Observing Satellites to identify areas of potential disease and track plumes of dust that traverse the globe. By predicting the origins and landing spots of specific pathogens, farmers can be advised on practices to avoid increasing their spread.
Researchers found that many plant pathogens can specialise on particular temperatures or host plants, but also have wide temperature or host ranges. This study provides key insights into the co-evolution between pathogens and their hosts, allowing scientists to better understand where and when pathogens could strike next.
The PaNDiv experiment reveals that increased nitrogen application shifts the plant community towards fast-growing species, leading to faster litter decomposition. This change has a feedback loop effect, producing more nitrogen in the soil, which further accelerates decomposition.
Researchers identified a blueprint for plant immunity against rapidly evolving disease-causing pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. They found that nearly all strains of certain crops carry immune-eliciting effectors, which can be recognized by plant immune receptors.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a way to apply genetic sequencing technologies to identify plant pathogens, down to the strain level. This new approach uses an Oxford Nanopore Sequencing MinION device and computer algorithms to quickly and precisely diagnose diseases in crops.
Scientists discovered a new protein, Mai1, that plays a central role in plant immunity by linking host recognition of pathogens to defense mechanisms. The protein is involved in activating the cell death response, ensuring only a few host cells die when attacked.
Researchers found that plants use the same transcription factor to regulate growth and defense, but require different levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) for each process. This incompatibility leads to a trade-off between growth and defense, with implications for plant biomass production and disease resistance.
A team of biologists has shed new light on a crucial aspect of the plant immune response, revealing how plant resistance proteins trigger localized cell death. By understanding this mechanism, scientists may develop strategies for engineering disease-resistant crops.
A team of scientists analyzed microbial communities within sclerotia of soilborne fungal pathogens, discovering specific bacterial communities that produce volatile compounds with the potential to reduce pathogen viability. Combining different beneficial microorganisms can effectively counteract pathogens.
Researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that ascaroside compounds from nematodes can protect rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans from numerous pathogens. The compounds helped increase resistance against bacterial, fungal, viral, and oomycete pathogens in major crops.
A new study reveals that non-native tree species thrive in areas where their close relatives do not, thanks to the lack of soil pathogens. This 'enemy-release' effect gives invasive species a competitive advantage over native species, leading to their rapid spread and dominance.
Scientists discovered a suite of microbe-responsive gene families that date back to early land plant evolution in distantly related plants. These genes are often associated with stress-response in flowering plants and provide increased protection against biotic stresses.
A team of scientists used population genetics to analyze root rot pathogen populations in Michigan greenhouses and found similar populations regardless of plant type or location. The study confirms that infected plant material is likely moved within the state, leading to the development of fungicide-resistant populations.
A new detection tool has been developed to identify quarantine tree pathogens, reducing analysis time and enabling prompt reactions. The tool can be used by non-scientists and is crucial in preventing the spread of devastating pathogens like Xylella fastidiosa, Ceratocystis platani, and Phytophthora ramorum.
Research found that microbes specialize at the genotype level, promoting diversity by killing common species and making room for rare ones. This leads to increased seed dispersal, creating landscapes that allow pathogens to effectively promote diversity.
A study reveals that raindrop impact liberates thousands of dry dispersed spores, increasing their height and exposure to wind. This phenomenon enables the transport of plant pathogens beyond leaf boundaries and across several kilometers.
A UC Berkeley team found that four out of five native plant nurseries in Northern California harbor exotic Phytophthora pathogens, which are more aggressive and resistant to fungicides. New management techniques and detection methods can help limit the spread of these pathogens.
Researchers have identified a key step in how plant cells respond to pathogens, revealing an enzyme called SIK1 that connects detection and action. The discovery opens up new avenues for treating plant diseases and breeding resistant crops.
A recent study has unveiled the intricate molecular mechanisms behind plant immunity, allowing researchers to unravel bespoke defence solutions against different variants of the rice blast pathogen. The findings have significant implications for engineering disease resistance against a range of crop pathogens.
A new defensive feedback control system has been developed to enable plants to strengthen their defenses against deadly pathogens, reducing crop waste globally. The system mimics an aircraft autopilot, detecting pathogen attacks and preventing weakening of the plant's immune response.
A study analyzing a New Zealand database found that targeted biosecurity measures can slow the introduction and spread of fungal plant pathogens. The research showed an exponential increase in pathogens over time, but a decline after the implementation of specific measures around the 1980s.
Biosecurity measures have been shown to effectively curb invasive plant pathogen introductions, even as trade and travel increase. The study found that targeted biosecurity interventions can reduce the establishment of non-native pathogens in agricultural sectors, slowing their spread.
Researchers at UCR discover how plants package and deliver small RNAs to fight plant pathogens. The study found that plants transfer sRNAs into fungi, inhibiting their ability to cause disease, through a process called cross-kingdom RNA interference.