plant-pathology

Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are leading an effort to decode a complex "arms race" between plants and the evolving pathogens that threaten them.

BackgroundLily bulb rot, which is mainly caused by Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), is a destructive soil-borne disease that significantly reduces lily yield and quality. Biocontrol strategies are preferable for counteracting the threats associated with pathogens.MethodsConfrontation assays were used to screen antagonistic rhizosphere bacteria against F. oxysporum and evaluate their antifungal …

The genus Sarocladium has traditionally been associated with plant endophytism and phytopathogenicity, and entomopathogenic activity has not previously been reported in this genus. In this study, two fungal strains isolated from soil samples collected in China were examined using morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses to determine their taxonomic positions. Their insecticidal ac…

Potato dry rot leads to significant losses during storage and postharvest handling, making management of this disease critically important for potato farmers. Colorado State University researchers in the San Luis Valley – one of the top regions for potato production in the U.S. – have identified multiple fungal species causing dry rot in Colorado. By analyzing structural and molecular features, p…

A destructive plant pathogen has long puzzled scientists with its ability to move swiftly through crops and cause sudden, fatal wilting. A plant disease that can wipe out crops in a matter of days turns out to rely on something surprisingly simple: a sticky, flowing substance that behaves more like slime than a solid. New [...]

Early warning system being developed by universities may slow the plant pathogen.

In August 2024, nurseries sounded the alarm that Neopestalotiopsis-infected strawberry tips were likely to emerge from Prince Edward Island, Canada and be shipped to plug producers and growers in the....

Black knot disease is a fungal infection caused by Apiosporina morbosa. This disease primarily affects plums, with the potential to infect other prunus species such as cherry and peach. Black....

Gnomonia leaf blotch, caused by the fungal pathogen Gnomonia comari, is a disease affecting strawberry plants in the Southeast. This pathogen primarily targets the foliage; however, it has the potential....

The article below is based on a podcast interview with Dr. Kelsey Wood. Have you ever noticed yellowish patches or fuzzy white growths on your lettuce? These could be signs of downy mildew, a plant disease that weakens lettuce and other leafy greens, making them vulnerable to other problems. Downy mildew is a plant pathogen … The post Downy Mildew: A Plant Pathogen Targeting Your Lettuce appeared…

Introduction  Pulses are crucial crops of Indian agriculture as they are rich in protein and maintain the cropping systems by sustainable production.1 Chickpea is a high value pulse crop, commonly known as Gram or Chana (Cicer aritinum), and is a member of the Leguminaceae subfamily and only domesticated species of Cicer spp.2 Due to great nutritional […]

Growers across the state are beginning to prepare the ground for strawberry planting, which typically begins late in September and continues through mid-October—depending on the location in the state. Plants....

Cotton leafroll dwarf disease (CLRDD), caused by the aphid-transmitted Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (US-CLRDV), was first identified in the US in samples collected from Barbour County, Alabama in 2017. In....

Phytoplasmas are known causal agents of hundreds of diseases in various plants. They are microscopic plant pathogens, which live in the vascular system of plants and are spread by sap-feeding insects, including leafhoppers and planthoppers. There are several diseases of grapevine caused by phytoplasmas: Flavescence dorée Bois noir (black wood, vergilbungskrankheit) Grapevine yellows. All Vitis vi…