plant-pathology

Researchers have uncovered a hidden world of viruses and viroid-like RNAs lurking in grapevine downy mildew lesions—a discovery that could reshape how viticulture manages this costly disease. In a study published in *Virus Research*, led by Stefania

Tomato blight is a fungal disease that attacks leaves, stems, and fruit, and it can cut a season’s yield dramatically. The two main forms, early blight and late blight, weaken plants and reduce production; late blight can kill plants outright and spread for miles in wet weather. Good garden habits lower the risk, and smart […] The post Tomato Blight: How to Identify, Prevent, and Treat the Diseas…

IntroductionBacterial wilt of ginger, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (RS), significantly impacts ginger production. Probiotics, such as antagonistic bacteria, offer a safe and effective approach to disease control.MethodsThis study investigated the effects of two antagonistic endophytes (AEs), Enterobacter asburiae PA16 and Pseudomonas indica PA2457, on the ginger root-associated bacteria and e…

Sugarcane is an important sugar crop, and smut disease caused by Sporisorium scitamineum poses a severe threat with limited control measures. This study is based on transcriptome sequencing data from two distinct pathogenic strains of Sporisorium scitamineum generated in our laboratory. Among the significantly differentially expressed genes, we identified a gene predicted to encode a monocarboxyl…

Sugarcane is the most important sugar crop in China. In recent years, a disease characterized by white rash symptoms has become endemic in sugarcane fields in the coastal area of Guangxi Province, China. A fungal species was consistently isolated from diseased leaves of sugarcane plants, and the pathogenicity assays were consistent with its etiology, reproducing symptoms identical to those observ…

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74504-z Here the authors report a pair of identical effector genes in different fungal pathogens that cause vascular wilt diseases to cause defoliation in crops. Removing these genes stops disease, and mobile DNA elements appear to spread this virulence trait between fungal pathogens.

Spot blotch, incited by Bipolaris sorokiniana, is one of the serious foliar diseases affecting wheat productivity worldwide, significantly. The cultural, morphological, pathogenic, and molecular variability were studied comprehensively among 51 B. sorokiniana isolates collected from diverse wheat-growing regions of India. Regarding cultural variability, the highest radial growth rate was observed…

Nature Communications, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73123-y This study shows that the TaMPK3 signaling pathway regulates wheat resistance to Fusarium crown rot (FCR) and reveals TaMPK3-mediated synergistic damage from FCR and drought, thereby providing a mechanistic basis for drought-aggravated FCR severity.

IntroductionFusarium wilt of chickpea, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC), is a major soil-borne disease that severely affects chickpea production worldwide. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria from different plant species and evaluate their antagonistic potential against FOC.MethodsEndophytic bacteria were isolated from leaves, stems, and roots …

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…