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Climate change is reshaping the interactions between plants and pathogens, exerting profound effects on global agricultural systems. Elevated tropospheric ozone levels due to climate change hinder plant photosynthesis and increase vulnerability to biotic invasion. The prevailing atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, profoundly influence fungal pathogenesis, as each stage of a pathogen's life cycle is intricately linked to temperature variations. Likewise, climate change alters bacterial behaviour, fostering increased production of extracellular polysaccharides by plant‐pathogenic bacteria in warmer temperatures. Heat‐adapted bacteria, such as Burkholderia glumea and Ralstonia solanacearum, are emerging as significant global threats as temperature rise. Viruses, too, respond dynamically to climate shifts, with certain species favouring warmer climates for replication, resulting in expanded geographical ranges and modified transmission patterns. Nematodes, formidable constraints in crop production, exhibit temperature‐dependent life cycles and would have potentially accelerated proliferation and distribution as global warming progresses. Molecular‐level changes in pathogenesis, induced by temperature fluctuations, influence various pathogens, thereby impacting their virulence and interactions with host plants. Modelling studies predict changes in disease risks and distributions under future climate scenarios, highlighting the necessity of integrating climate data into crop disease models for accurate forecasts. Mechanistic and observational models illustrate pathogen behaviours amidst changing environmental conditions, providing crucial insights into future disease dynamics. In addition, controlled experiments study disease responses under simulated climate scenarios, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive research to devise effective resistance strategies against severe plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants typically interact with multiple, co‐occurring symbionts, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi which can form networks, connecting neighbouring plants. A characteristic aspect of the mycorrhizal symbiosis is the bidirectional exchange of nutrients between host plants and fungal partners. Concurrent interactions with competing organisms such as aphids or potato cyst nematodes (PCN) can disrupt the carbon‐for‐nutrient exchange between plants and AM fungi. However, the role of mycorrhizal networks (MNs) in mediating these interactions remains unclear. Using isotope tracing in multi‐plant experimental systems, we investigated the movement of plant photosynthates and fungal‐acquired soil phosphorus through MNs and the interactive effects of PCN infection on this. We found evidence of preferential allocation of fungal‐acquired phosphorus to plants that were not infected by PCN compared with infected neighbours. Contrary to previous findings using single plants, we did not detect a PCN‐induced reduction in the amounts of plant carbon delivered to AM fungi in multi‐plant systems. However, the MN(s) moved plant‐fixed carbon away from PCN‐infected host plants, regardless of the PCN infection status of the neighbouring plant host. Our work highlights the responsiveness of MNs to interactions with below‐ground organisms. It also strengthens the argument for a more mycocentric view of AM–plant symbioses. Experimental designs of increasing ecological complexity are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of the carbon‐for‐nutrient dynamics in AM fungi–plant networks. This will, in turn, elucidate the role of AM fungi in terrestrial carbon cycling and their function in agricultural systems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary The root‐parasitic plant Striga hermonthica can cause severe crop failure, leading to significant agricultural and economic losses in Africa. Despite the promising target offered by the Striga seed germination mechanism for developing control methods, effective control methods have yet to be established. For seed germination, Striga must undergo an incubation under warm and humid conditions, a process termed conditioning, which allows it to germinate. Here, we report that the plant hormone gibberellin stimulates the conditioning process in Striga seeds. Our findings suggest that the quantitative control of gibberellin in plants is a promising approach for controlling Striga infestations and may help alleviate substantial threats to food security. The root‐parasitic plant S. hermonthica is a serious agricultural threat in Africa. Although a number of control methods have been employed to combat Striga, there is still a need to develop more effective control methods. Striga seeds germinate only in the presence of host plants, owing to the need for host‐released stimulants, primarily strigolactone. To detect signals from the host, Striga seeds must be exposed to a specific warm, dark, and moist environment, which is known as conditioning. Gibberellin directly promotes germination in many nonparasitic plants, but Striga seeds are insensitive to exogenous gibberellin. Consequently, the role of gibberellin in the germination of Striga seeds is unclear. We demonstrated that the effect of the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol was higher in seeds during the conditioning, compared with those already conditioned, suggesting that gibberellin primarily regulates conditioning rather than germination. The content of an active form gibberellin, gibberellin A4 (GA4) exhibited an increase throughout the conditioning period, and we quantified the elevated expression levels of some gibberellin biosynthesis genes. The GA4 treatment shortened the conditioning period required for strigolactone‐induced seed germination. We also discovered that gibberellin upregulated ShACO1, the gene responsible for ethylene synthesis, during conditioning, and that the inhibition of GR24‐induced germination by the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor α‐aminoisobutyric acid was gradually alleviated by GA4. Our findings demonstrate that gibberellin is critical for conditioning and germination processes but acts as a minor stimulant in Striga seeds. This study demonstrates the potential of quantitative endogenous gibberellin control for Striga management, providing valuable insights for alleviating food security issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAP (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen5, pathogenesis-related proteins) superfamily proteins are widely distributed, can be subdivided into 11 subfamilies, and form a unique branch in fungi, named PRY proteins. Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungal pathogen of vascular plants that causes plant Verticillium wilt. However, the roles of CAP superfamily proteins in this fungus is unclear. Here, four CAP superfamily members with a conserved domain were identified in V. dahliae: VdPRY1, VdPRY2, VdPRY3, and VdPRY4. VdPRY1 and VdPRY3 were found to be key in suppressing plant immune responses. Moreover, these four members are highly expressed during early infection of cotton by V. dahliae. Deleting VdPRY1, VdPRY2, or VdPRY3 reduced the fungus’s ability to cause disease, but VdPRY4 deletion did not affect virulence. Deletion of any of four members did not impact fungal growth or carbon source use. Yeast two-hybrid experiments suggest that these proteins may function through interactions with each other. This investigation has, for the initial time, elucidated the pivotal roles of V. dahliae CAP superfamily proteins in inhibiting plant immunity and exerting virulence during interaction with the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes play a pivotal role in protecting host plants from both biotic and abiotic stresses, promoting the production of active components (AC) and plant growth. However, the succession of the endophyte community in Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides), particularly the community assembly and function, has not been extensively investigated. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools to analyze endophyte diversity across different tree ages, parts, and periods. We examined the population differences, correlations, community assembly mechanisms, and functional roles of these endophytes. Functional predictions via PICRUSt2 revealed that most endophytic fungal functions were linked to biosynthesis, with significant differences in biosynthetic functional abundance across parts and periods. In contrast, the metabolic activity of endophytic bacteria remained stable across different periods and parts. Correlation analysis further confirmed a strong positive relationship between ACs and certain endophytic fungi. Among them, the fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were identified as key contributors to the metabolism of chlorogenic acid (CA), while Aucubin was significantly positively correlated with several endophytic bacteria. These findings provide valuable insights into the functional roles and community assembly mechanism of E. ulmoides endophytes, as well as their symbiotic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant microbiota appear more and more as potential sources of antagonistic microorganisms. However, the seed microbiota associated with wild plant species has rarely been explored. To identify fungal antagonists to the seed-borne pathogen Alternaria brassicicola , seeds were collected in natural populations of three Brassicaceae species, Arabidopsis thaliana , Capsella bursa-pastoris and Draba verna. A large number of fungal strains reduced the growth of A. brassicicola. The most antagonistic strains belonged to Alternaria , Apiospora , Trichoderma and Aspergillus. Seed-associated fungi tolerated host plant defenses and exhibited lower sensitivity compared to A. brassicicola to indolic compounds such as the phytoalexin camalexin and the glucosinolates (GLS)-breakdown compound indole-3-carbinol. By contrast, antagonistic strains were as inhibited as A. brassicicola in presence of allyl-isothiocyanates (ITC) derived from aliphatic GLS, and more inhibited by benzyl-ITC derived from aromatic GLS. However, all defense compounds could enhance the antagonistic effects of some of the isolated strains on A. brassicicola. The observed potential synergistic effects between defense compounds and seed-associated antagonistic strains emphasize the need for further studies to elucidate the molecular bases of the interactions. A better understanding of the interactions between host plants, pathogens and fungal endophytes is also needed to develop sustainable biocontrol strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are crucial components of the plant microbiota and can form symbioses with 72% of land plants. Researchers have long known that AM symbioses have dramatic effects on plant performance and also provide multiple ecological services in terrestrial environments. The successful establishment of AM symbioses relies on the host plant recognition of the diffusible mycorrhizal (Myc) factors, lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and chitooligosaccharides (COs). Among them, the short-chain COs such as CO4/5 secreted by AM fungi are the major Myc factors in COs. In this review, we summarize current advances, develop the concept of mycorrhizal biceptor complex (double receptor complexes for Myc-LCOs and CO4/5 in the same plant), and provide a perspective on the future development of mycorrhizal receptors. First, we focus on the distinct perception of two Myc factors by different host plant species, highlighting the essential role of Lys in- M otif (LysM)-type mycorrhizal receptors in perceiving them. Second, we propose the underlying molecular mechanisms by which LysM-type mycorrhizal receptors in various plants recognize both the Myc-LCOs and -COs. Finally, we explore future prospects for studies on the biceptor complex (Myc-LCO and -CO receptors) in dicots to facilitate the utilization of them in cereal crops (particularly in modern cultivated rice). In conclusion, our understanding of the precise perception processes during host plant interacting with AM fungi, where LysM-type mycorrhizal receptors act as recruiters, provides the tools to design biotechnological applications addressing agricultural challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetics has emerged as a potent field of study for understanding the factors influencing the effectiveness of human disease treatments and for identifying alternations induced by pathogens in host plants. However, there has been a paucity of research on the epigenetic control of the proliferation and pathogenicity of fungal plant pathogens. Fungal plant pathogens such as Magnaporthe oryzae , a significant threat to global rice production, provide an important model for exploring how epigenetic mechanisms govern fungal proliferation and virulence. In M. oryzae , epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs, regulate gene expression patterns that influence the pathogen's ability to infect its host. These modifications can enhance fungal adaptability, allowing the pathogen to survive in diverse environments and evade host immune responses. Our primary objective is to provide a comprehensive review of the existing epigenetic research on M. oryzae and shed light on how these changes influence the pathogen's lifecycle, its ability to invade host tissues, and the overall severity of the disease. We begin by examining the epigenetic alterations occurring in M. oryzae and their contributions to the virulence and proliferation of the fungus. To advance our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in M. oryzae and similar plant diseases, we emphasize the need to address unanswered questions and explore future research directions. This information is crucial for developing new antifungal treatments that target epigenetic pathways, which could lead to improved disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic fungi are a crucial microbial resource that can influence plant growth and development through their interactions with host plants. Gentiana straminea Maxim. is an important traditional Tibetan herb used to treat a range of diseases in the Qinghai-Tibetan region. However, the diversity and community structure of endophytic fungi in the species remain poorly understood. In this study, a total of 944 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from the roots, stems, and leaves of G. straminea from four different altitudes. A total of 87 OTUs were identified through sequence alignment, comprising 6 classes, 15 orders, 25 families, and 44 genera. The colonization rate and diversity of endophytic fungi were affected by tissue type and altitude. With the exception of Xining, the endophytic fungi colonization rate of tissues was roots>leaves>stems. Moreover, the α -diversity of endophytic fungi among different tissues was leaves>stems>roots. Notably, the phylogenetic diversity index in leaves was significantly higher than that in roots. In addition, the colonization rate and diversity of endophytic fungi in leaves and stems demonstrated a decline with the increasing altitude. The β -diversity analysis revealed significant differences in the endophytic fungi of G. straminea at varying altitudes. In roots, geographical factors, such as latitude and longitude, were the primary drivers of variation, whereas environmental factors, including temperature and precipitation, had a greater influence on endophytes in leaves and stems. In addition, the results of the endophytic fungi association preference, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), and co-network analysis indicated that these differential endophytic fungi may play a significant role in the authenticity and stress resistance of G. straminea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropeptide F (NPF) and short neuropeptide F (sNPF) are important neuropeptides and mainly affect feeding behaviour of insects. However, the regulation of insect feeding behaviour by NPF and sNPF appears to differ between species, and it is not clear how NPF and sNPF regulate the food intake of the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens). Therefore, the functions of NPF and sNPF in regulating food intake and affecting the growth and antioxidant levels of N. lugens fed on host rice plants were investigated by knocking down NPF and sNPF respectively and simultaneously knocking down both of them by RNA interference. The results showed that NPF and sNPF were mainly expressed in the head of N. lugens, and N. lugens increased food intake after NPF and sNPF were knocked down, which was reflected in the prolonged duration of N4a and N4b waves in the electrical penetration graph (EPG) experiment after knocking down NPF and sNPF. In addition, knocking down NPF and sNPF led to the increase of body weight and mortality of N. lugens, and also led to the increase of antioxidant level of N. lugens. So it was concluded that NPF and sNPF could regulate food intake, maintain body weight stability and oxidative balance in N. lugens. Our study clarified the molecular mechanism of NPF and sNPF regulating feeding behaviour and affect the growth and antioxidant level of N. lugens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antagonist and mutualist organisms mediate the long‐standing, classical Janzen‐Connell effects and yet they are rarely investigated, especially when they share plant species hosts. Here, we propose that plant species create an “antagonists‐ and mutualist‐scape” which, coupled with seed dispersal mechanisms, will govern the relative survival rates of juveniles within the landscape and influence their later life stages. We combined data on fully stem mapped plots of woody plant species in two Mediterranean forests (Mixed Forest of Segura [MFS] and Mixed Forest of Jaen [MFJ]) with data on the associated communities of leaf epiphytic fungi, leaf pathogens, sap‐sucking insects and chewer insects hosted by each woody plant species. This allowed us to indirectly test the Janzen‐Connell hypothesis by investigating the placement of plant species with contrasting seed dispersal mechanisms (fleshy fruited vs. dry‐fruited plant) within the antagonists‐ and mutualist‐scapes. More specifically, we determined the degree of host‐specificity of plant‐associated organisms and defined the antagonist‐ or mutualist‐scapes for focal plants as the mean number of antagonist‐ or mutualist species the focal plant shares with its (sapling or adult) plant neighbours, respectively. We then applied multivariate spatial point pattern analysis to test whether saplings and adults of the focal species tended to be located in favourable sites of the antagonist‐scapes (i.e. were neighboured by fewer antagonist species than expected) or were distributed independently of the antagonist‐scapes. A substantial proportion of organisms was associated with more than one plant species, with organisms at MFJ being more “host‐specific” than organisms at MFS. Our spatial analyses revealed spatial patterns that differed strongly between fleshy‐fruited and dry‐fruited species and were, in most cases, consistent with our expectations. For example, saplings of dry‐fruited species were placed in favourable sites in the saplings antagonist‐scapes, whereas saplings of fleshy‐fruited species were independently placed with respect to the saplings antagonist‐scapes. Our results show how the placement of plant species within the antagonist‐scapes changes during the ontogeny, and how this is influenced by Janzen‐Connell effects and the seed dispersal mechanisms. We provide a new approach and indications about the importance of generalist antagonists and mutualists as drivers of the spatial assembly of plant communities. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (e.g., Rhizophagus species) recruit specific bacterial species in their hyphosphere. However, the chemical interplay and the mutual benefit of this intricate partnership have not been investigated yet, especially as it involves bacteria known as strong producers of antifungal compounds such as Bacillus velezensis. Here, we show that the soil-dwelling B. velezensis migrates along the hyphal network of the AM fungus R. irregularis , forming biofilms and inducing cytoplasmic flow in the AM fungus that contributes to host plant root colonization by the bacterium. During hyphosphere colonization, R. irregularis modulates the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in B. velezensis to ensure stable coexistence and as a mechanism to ward off mycoparasitic fungi and bacteria. These mutual benefits are extended into a tripartite context via the provision of enhanced protection to the host plant through the induction of systemic resistance. [Display omitted] • B. velezensis colonizes the entire mycelial network more efficiently than roots • Bacillus uses fungal hyphae as highways for soil invasion and to colonize new plant • The lipopeptide surfactin plays key roles in the chemical ecology of the interaction • The microbial partnership enhances the systemic resistance of tomato against Botrytis Anckaert et al. investigate the dynamics of Rhizophagus hyphae colonization by B. velezensis. Reduced production of bacterial toxic metabolites triggered by the fungus leads to an unsuspected stable coexistence. This interaction brings benefits to both microbes and provides positive effects to the host plant, which is more resistant to disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key question in insect community ecology is whether parasitoid assemblages are structured by the food plants of their herbivore hosts.Tritrophic communities centred on oak‐feeding cynipid gallwasps are one of the best‐studied tritrophic insect communities. Previous work suggests that host plant identity is a much stronger predictor of oak–cynipid interactions than of cynipid–parasitoid interactions. However, these relationships have not been formally quantified.We reason that the potential for 'bottom‐up' effects should increase with host plant phylogenetic diversity. We, therefore, generated quantified interaction network data for previously unstudied tritrophic cynipid communities in Sichuan, China, where, in addition to Quercus, cynipid host plants include Castanea, Castanopsis and Lithocarpus. We characterise these communities taxonomically and compare the extent to which host plant taxonomy predicts plant–herbivore and plant–parasitoid associations.We sampled 42,620 cynipid galls of 176 morphotypes from 23 host plant species, yielding over 4500 specimens of 64 parasitoid morphospecies. Many parasitoids were identifiable to chalcidoid taxa present in other Holarctic oak cynipid communities, with the addition of Cynipencyrtus (Cynipencyrtidae). As elsewhere, Sichuan parasitoid assemblages were dominated by generalists.Gallwasp–plant interaction networks were significantly more modular than parasitoid–plant association networks. Gallwasps were significantly more specialised to host plants (i.e. had higher mean d' values) than parasitoids. Parasitoid assemblages nevertheless showed significant plant‐associated beta diversity, with a dominant turnover component.We summarise parallels between our study and other Fagaceae‐associated cynipid communities and discuss our findings in light of the processes thought to structure tritrophic interactions centred on endophytic insect herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool for trait improvement in various crops; however, enhancing mutation efficiency using CRISPR/Cas9 in watermelon and melon remains challenging. We designed four CRISPR systems with different sgRNA expression cassettes to target the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in melon. The constructed vectors were delivered to host plants using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses of the edited melon seedlings revealed that the CRISPR systems with tRNA and Csy4 spacers driven by the Pol II-type promoter significantly improved mutation efficiency, reaching 25.20% and 42.82%, respectively. Notably, 78.95% of the mutations generated by the Csy4 system involved large-fragment deletions (LDs) between the two target sites. In watermelon, the Csy4 system achieved a PDS editing efficiency of 41.48%, with 71.43% of the edited seedlings showing LD between the two target sites. Sequencing analysis indicated that the edited melon seedlings exhibited heterozygous, three-allele mutation and chimeric events; the edited watermelon seedlings included 2/14 homozygous mutations. Compared to the commonly used Pol III promoter, using the Pol II promoter to drive sgRNA expression cassettes containing Csy4 showed the best improvement in CRISPR/Cas9 editing efficiency in melon; this system was also effective in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae; Atta spp., Acromyrmex spp.) cut off pieces of leaves and other plant tissue and feed it to their symbiotic fungi. As this foraging behavior poses an imminent threat to agriculture, leaf-cutting ants are considered as pests of huge ecologically and economically importance. Consequently, research on leaf-cutting ants focused on their foraging decisions and interactions with their cultivated symbiotic fungi, whereas their effect on the attacked plants, apart from the loss of plant tissue, remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the consequences of an attack by leaf-cutting ants and analyzed the plants' defense responses in comparison to chewing caterpillars and mechanical damage. We found that an attack by leaf-cutting ants induces the production of jasmonates in several host and non-host plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Vicia faba, Phaseolus lunatus, Tococa quadrialata). Additionally, we showed in the natural host plant lima bean (P. lunatus) that leaf-cutting ant damage immediately leads to the emission of typical herbivory-induced plant volatiles, including green leaf volatiles and terpenoids. Further data exploration revealed clear differences in the defense-related phytohormone profile in plant species of Neotropical and Eurasian origin. Taken together, we show that leaf-cutting ant infestation and their way of clipping the plants' tissues induce jasmonate and jasmonates-mediated responses and do not differ from those to mechanical injury or larval feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zoophytophagous mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis and the ectoparasitoid Stenomesius japonicus are important biological control agents for several agricultural pests including the invasive leafminer, Phthorimaea absoluta, a destructive pest of Solanaceous crops especially tomato in sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about how feeding by N. tenuis can influence the tritrophic interactions in the tomato plant. Here, we tested the hypothesis that N. tenuis phytophagy would influence the tritrophic olfactory interactions between the host plant tomato and pest, predator, and parasitoid. In olfactometer assays, P. absoluta females and N. tenuis adults were both attracted to constitutive volatiles released by the tomato plant. Whereas females of P. absoluta avoided volatiles released by N. tenuis-infested plants, S. japonicus females and N. tenuis adults were attracted to the induced volatiles. In coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) recordings of intact and N. tenuis-infested plant volatiles, antennae of P. absoluta and S. japonicus females both detected eight components, whereas N. tenuis adults detected seven components which were identified by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as terpenes and green leaf volatiles (GLVs). Dose-response olfactometer bioassays revealed that the responses of P. absoluta, N. tenuis, and S. japonicus varied with the composition and concentration of blends and individual compounds tested from N tenuis-induced volatiles. Females of P. absoluta showed no preference for an eight-component blend formulated from the individual repellents including hexanal, (Z)-3-hexenyl butanoate, and δ-elemene identified in the volatiles. On the other hand, S. japonicus females were attracted to an eight-component blend including the attractants (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, methyl salicylate, β-phellandrene, and (E)-caryophyllene. Likewise, N. tenuis adults were attracted to a seven-component blend including the attractants β-phellandrene, δ-elemene, and (E)-caryophyllene identified in the volatiles. Our findings suggest that there is potential for the use of terpenes and GLVs to manage the insects in the tritrophic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on endophytes is focused on understanding the complex microbiome compositions, their interactions with host plants and their bioactive potential. Our study provided an overview of the diversity, distribution and bioactivities of culturable endophytic fungi associated with fungal endophytes of Dioscorea bulbifera L. The phylogenetic analysis depicted the evolutionary relationship among taxa of endophytic fungal isolates. The isolated fungal endophytes belonged to twenty-five genera and thirty-eight species. Further, diversity indices demonstrated significant diversity of fungal endophytes in the different tissues: stem, leaf, tuber and bulbil. A higher consistency of endophytic fungal isolates in the bulbils was found using Shannon index. Furthermore, Simpson's index revealed that the leaf tissue harboured highly diverse fungal endophytes. Likewise, Margalef's index depicted high taxonomic richness in bulbils. The isolates such as Acrocalymma medicaginis, Curvularia lycoperscii, Talaromyces macrospora, Fusarium laceratum, Paecilomyces formosus and Microascus cirrosus isolated in this study have been reported as endophytes for the first time from any plant. In-vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the ethyl acetate extracts revealed that Nigrospora oryzae (Z2) effectively inhibited α-glucosidase activity with IC 50 value of 0.6 µg/ml whereas IC 50 value of the acarbose, the positive control was reported to be 0.040 µg/ml. The results of antioxidant activity demonstrated that H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) and BD5 (Phomopsis longicolla) could be used as potential sources of antioxidant agents. Moreover, H15A (Acrocalymma medicaginis) was reported to produce 687.1 ± 0.17 µg GAE/mg of TPC and 78.55 ± 0.29 µg QE/mg of TFC quantitatively. These findings suggest that the potential endophytes could be explored using systematic bio-guided investigations to further discover novel natural products. Our study provides an important resource for a deeper understanding of endophyte-plant interactions at molecular and genetic levels. [Display omitted] • First report on the exploration of the culturable fungal endophytes from Dioscorea bulbifera L., an essential ethnomedicinal plant. • The isolated endophytic fungi showed abundant diversity in various tissues of the plant. • Six fungal endophytes obtained in this study have been reported as endophytes for the first time. • Nigrospora oryzae (Z2) exhibited potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. • Acrocalymma medicaginis (H15A) could be used as a potential source of antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A perennial pseudometallophyte Arabidopsis halleri is frequently infected with cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in its natural habitat. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of CMV infection on the environmental adaptation of its natural host A. halleri. The CMV(Ho) strain isolated from A. halleri was inoculated into clonal virus-free A. halleri plants, and a unique plant-virus system consisting of CMV(Ho) and its natural wild plant host was established. In a control environment with ambient zinc supplementation, CMV(Ho) infection retarded growth in the above-ground part of host plants but conferred strong drought tolerance. On the other hand, in an excess zinc environment, simulating a natural edaphic environment of A halleri, host plants hyperaccumulated zinc and CMV(Ho) infection did not cause any symptoms to host plants while conferring mild drought tolerance. We also demonstrated in Nicotiana benthamiana as another host that similar effects were induced by the combination of excess zinc and CMV(Ho) infection. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the host plant recognized CMV(Ho) as a mutualistic symbiont rather than a parasitic pathogen. These results suggest a resilient mutualistic interaction between CMV(Ho) and its natural host A. halleri in its natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic pheromones formulated for Acossus centerensis Lintner, 1877 led to the discovery of a new taxonomically cryptic species, Acossus boreocryptus Schmidt & Jaeger sp. nov. Adult males were active only during the daytime, exceptional among cossid moths, and the first documented case of diurnality in New World Cossidae. Males were attracted to lures baited with (E,E) 3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate (EE-TDDA). The larval host plant of A. boreocryptus is trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., but the immature stages remain undescribed. Acossus boreocryptus is the smallest species in the genus, distinguished from its sister species A. centerensis by adult morphology, mtDNA barcode, male diurnal activity, and seasonal phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: In plants, RNA silencing constitutes a strong defense against viral infection, which viruses counteract with RNA‐silencing suppressors (RSSs). Understanding the interactions between viral RSSs and host factors is crucial for elucidating the molecular arms race between viruses and host plants. We report that the helicase motif (Hel) of the replicase encoded by apple stem grooving virus (ASGV)—the main virus affecting pear trees in China—is an RSS that can inhibit both local and systemic RNA silencing, possibly by binding double‐stranded (ds) siRNA. The transcription factor related to ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3/VIVIPAROUS1 from pear (PbRAV1) enters the cytoplasm and binds Hel through its C terminus, thereby attenuating its RSS activity by reducing its binding affinity to 21‐ and 24‐nt ds siRNA, and suppressing ASGV infection. PbRAV1 can also target p24, an RSS encoded by grapevine leafroll‐associated virus 2 (GLRaV‐2), with similar negative effects on p24's suppressive function and inhibition of GLRaV‐2 infection. Moreover, like the positive role of the PbRAV1 homolog from grapevine (VvRAV1) in p24's previously reported RSS activity, ASGV Hel can also hijack VvRAV1 and employ the protein to sequester 21‐nt ds siRNA, thereby enhancing its own RSS activity and promoting ASGV infection. Furthermore, PbRAV1 neither interacts with CP, an RSS encoded by grapevine inner necrosis virus, nor has any obvious effect on CP's RSS activity. Our results identify an RSS encoded by ASGV and demonstrate that PbRAV1, representing a novel type of RAV transcription factor, plays a defensive role against viral infection by targeting viral RSSs. Significance Statement: Our results demonstrate that the helicase motif (Hel) of the replicase encoded by apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) can suppress RNA silencing, and reveal that PbRAV1, a novel type of RAV transcription factor, targets two unrelated viral RSSs—ASGV Hel and GLRaV‐2 p24—to attenuate their RSS activity, thereby suppressing viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The life table parameters provide the most extensive information on the biological features of pests and natural enemies, facilitating the potential employment of biological agents in pest management programs. This study investigated how cucumber, strawberry, eggplant, and tomato plants influence the reproduction and life-table parameters of Tetranychus urticae Koch and its predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot under laboratory conditions. It also explored the relationship between these parameters and leaf trichome density and the levels of polyphenol compounds. The mites’ biological properties varied based on the morphological and chemical differences in host plant leaves. Both T. urticae and P. persimilis exhibited higher development and reproduction rates on strawberry and cucumber leaves compared to eggplant and tomato plants. Eggplant leaves had the highest polyphenol content (3826.99 mg/kg), followed by tomato leaves (2406.86 mg/kg). The lowest total amount of polyphenol compounds was (704.34 mg/kg) and (273.743 mg/kg) in strawberry and cucumber leaves, respectively. The life table parameters of P. persimilis significantly differed when it fed on T. urticae that had been reared on strawberry, cucumber, eggplant, and tomato leaves. Overall, the results showed that the net (R0) and gross (GRR) reproductive rates were reduced when the predator preyed T. urticae that had been reared on eggplant and tomato leaves. Consequently, the intrinsic (rm) and finite (λ) rates of increase were affected. As a result, the performance of P. persimilis was negatively affected on these plants. The availability of information on the biological performance of P. persimilis is necessary for promoting biological control implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary generalist herbivorous insects are widespread and often occur in a variety of environments. Across their geographic range, herbivorous insects may encounter variable plant traits as they feed on high‐quality or low‐quality plants. Herbivorous insect larvae experience both bottom‐up (host plant) and top‐down (parasitoid) factors that affect survival. Host plant quality may affect larval growth and survival in that larvae feeding on low‐quality plants often suffer reduced fitness. However, herbivores on different host plants are also subject to different levels of parasitism. High‐quality plants confer stronger larval performance (higher survival, more offspring), but larvae may also face higher parasitism. In some herbivore species, diet mediates larval immune response. The generalist insect herbivore fall webworm (FW), Hyphantria cunea Drury (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a moth native to North America, and its larvae have considerable variance in their performance when reared on different host plants. We investigated whether diet affects the immune response in FW larvae when they are reared on different host plant species known to vary in food quality. We measured immune response by melanization of a nylon filament. We found significant differences in immune response across host plants, indicating that diet mediates immune response in FW larvae. Our study helps elucidate the factors that cause variation in immune response in a generalist herbivore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factors that mediate insect herbivore sabotaging behaviour of host plant latex defences remain under debate. The most prominent hypothesis suggests that the anatomy of the host plant's laticifers determines trenching or vein‐cutting behaviour, but there are inconsistencies in the literature. In addition to latex, other plant defences have been shown to affect plant natural enemies, but experimental studies comparing the effects of multiple defences on herbivore performance and behaviour are scarce. In this study, we investigated the anatomy of the laticifers of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton (Apocynaceae), an exotic milkweed of southeastern Brazil, as well as the sabotaging behaviour of larvae of southern monarch, Danaus erippus (Cramer), and queen butterfly, Danaus gilippus (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on this host plant. We also reviewed the sabotaging behaviour of larvae reared on the native milkweed Asclepias curassavica L. (Apocynaceae) from previous studies, as well as the description of the anatomy of its laticifers. As we found no correspondence between sabotaging behaviour of southern monarchs and queens and the anatomy of the host plants' laticifers, we tested whether structural defences of C. procera leaves (latex, waxes and trichomes) affected sabotaging behaviour and larval performance of southern monarch larvae. The structural barriers of this well‐defended host affected larvae in different ways: Southern monarchs developed more slowly on control leaves than on leaves from which wax had been removed, and only latex removal reduced the frequency of sabotaging behaviour. Regardless of the defence removal treatment, frequencies of trenching behaviour decreased and vein‐cutting behaviour increased as larvae developed. Overall, our results show that several factors in addition to the anatomy of laticifers affect sabotaging behaviour of southern monarchs and queens, including larval ontogeny, danaine species and latex outflow. This evidence suggests a behavioural plasticity in the sabotaging behaviour of larvae of both southern monarchs and queens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can sequester different potentially toxic elements, such as trace elements (TEs), within their structures to alleviate the toxicity for its host plant and themselves. To elucidate the role of AM fungi in TEs immobilization in the rhizosphere of host plants, it is important to know the TEs distribution in AM fungal structures. In the present study, we investigated the distribution and concentration of TEs within extraradical spores and mycelium of the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices, collected from the rhizosphere of Senecio bonariensis plants grown in a soil polluted with multiple TEs, by using Particle-Induced X-ray Emission with a micro-focused beam (micro PIXE). This technique enabled the simultaneous micrometric mapping of elements in a sample. The calculated values were compared with those in the polluted substrate, measured by the Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence technique. The highest concentrations of Fe, P, Ti, Mn, Cr, Cu and Zn were found in AM fungal spores, where they were accumulated, while extraradical mycelium was enriched in Cu. Finally, we demonstrated that AM fungi can simultaneously accumulate high amounts of different TEs in their structures, thus reducing the toxicity of these elements to its host plant. • Micro PIXE analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal structures. • Chemical elements distribution maps. • Trace elements association with spores wall and polyphosphate granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic pathogen causing smut disease in maize. It secretes a cocktail of effector proteins, which target different host proteins during its biotrophic stages in the host plant. One such class of proteins we identified previously is TOPLESS (TPL) and TOPLESS‐RELATED (TPR) transcriptional corepressors.Here, we screened 297 U. maydis effector candidates for their ability to interact with maize TPL protein RAMOSA 1 ENHANCER LOCUS 2 LIKE 2 (RELK2) and their ability to induce auxin signaling and thereby identified three novel TPL‐interacting protein effectors (Tip6, Tip7, and Tip8).Structural modeling and mutational analysis allowed the identification of TPL‐interaction motifs of Tip6 and Tip7. In planta interaction between Tip6 and Tip7 with RELK2 occurs mainly in nuclear compartments, whereas Tip8 colocalizes with RELK2 in a compartment outside the nucleus. Overexpression of Tip8 in nonhost plants leads to cell death, indicating recognition of the effector or its activity.By performing infection assays with single and multideletion mutants of U. maydis, we demonstrate a positive role of Tip6 and Tip7 in U. maydis virulence. Transcriptional profiling of maize leaves infected with Tip effector mutants in comparison with SG200 strain suggests Tip effector activities are not merely redundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane white leaf disease associated with sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) phytoplasma is an important disease in sugarcane resulting in significant losses in production in Asian countries including the major regional producing countries of India and Thailand. In this study the morphological and biochemical traits in SCWL phytoplasma infected sugarcane plants, both asymptomatic (AS) and symptomatic (S1-S3) and their corresponding to phytoplasma loads, were investigated. This study found that as symptom development progressed, cane statues including plant height, leaf length, and leaf width, were reduced and corresponded with declines in both chlorophyll and dietary fiber content. Total soluble solids (TSS) were less in AS cane plants, being 16.83 ± 1.0 °brix compared to 20.58 ± 1.6 °brix in healthy plants, declining further with the progression of symptoms. This feature could be potentially used in the identification of AS sugarcanes. Phytoplasma titres increased from 2.36E + 05 copies/µg plant DNA in AS infected leaves, peaking at 1.20E + 08 copies/µg plant DNA in S3 infected leaves, before declining in severely (S4) infected leaves. AS infected plants also exhibited a peak in total phenolic compounds. By tracking the development of symptoms in sugarcane white leaf disease and the corresponding increases in titres of SCWL phytoplasma, decline in chlorophyll and dietary fiber, decrease in TSS, and a peak in total phenolic compounds at the asymptomatic stage, this study confirmed that SCWL phytoplasma significantly impacts the sugarcane host plants as early as the AS stage, this stage is potentially the focus point for early detection and interventions for controlling proliferation SCWL disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial wilt caused by strains of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex is a severe disease affecting plants. The type III secretion system delivers type III effectors (T3Es) from the pathogen to the host plant and is one of the main virulence determinants of R. solanacearum strains. However, the functions of most T3Es, including the R. solanacearum effectors RipAX1 and RipAX2, are not completely understood. In this study, we determined that RipAX1 and RipAX2 share a potential but highly conserved M91 metalloenzyme structural domain. Heterologous overexpression of RipAX1 or RipAX2 neither caused nor inhibited the hypersensitive response (HR) of plant tissues, and their expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not inhibit yeast growth. RipAX1 and RipAX2 localized to the cytoplasm of Nicotiana benthamiana leaf epidermal cells and Arabidopsis thaliana protoplasts. The two effectors interacted with specific members of the plant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. However, RipAX1 and RipAX2 did not directly cleave MAPKs, despite their predicted metalloenzyme activity, although RipAX1 inhibited the phosphorylation of plant MAPKs. These results elucidate a novel aspect of the molecular mechanism underlying the repression of host immunity by T3Es from R. solanacearum species complex strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane white leaf (SCWL) disease, caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari, poses a significant threat to sugarcane cultivation. An obligate parasite, phytoplasma is difficult to culture in laboratory conditions, making the isolation of its DNA from the massive amount of plant host DNA extremely challenging. Yet, the appropriate amount and quality of plant microbiome-derived DNA are key for high-quality DNA sequencing data. Here, a simple, cost-effective, alternative method for DNA isolation was applied using a guanidine-HCl-hydroxylated silica (GuHCl-Silica)-based method and microbiome DNA enrichment based on size-selective low-molecular-weight (LMW) DNA by PEG/NaCl precipitation. qPCR analysis revealed a significant enrichment of phytoplasma DNA in the LMW fraction. Additionally, the NEBNext Microbiome DNA enrichment kit was utilized to further enrich microbial DNA, demonstrating a remarkable increase in the relative abundance of phytoplasma DNA to host DNA. Shotgun sequencing of the isolated DNA gave high-quality data on the metagenome assembly genome (MAG) of Ca. Phytoplasma sacchari SCWL with completeness at 95.85 and 215× coverage. The results indicate that this combined approach of PEG/NaCl size selection and microbiome enrichment is effective for obtaining high-quality genomic data from phytoplasma, surpassing previous methods in efficiency and resource utilization. This low-cost method not only enhances the recovery of microbiome DNA from plant hosts but also provides a robust framework for studying plant pathogens in complex plant models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have substantial involvement in the existence of plants under heavy metal (HM)-stressed conditions. An overwhelming number of studies are there which advocate for the AM fungi as a future tool for remediation and revegetation of HM-polluted soils. One of the major complications associated with AM fungi facilitated phytoremediation is that the AM association is very much host as well as HM specific. Diverse strains of AM fungi behave differently with diverse hosts and HMs. AM fungi in association with host plants enhance the tolerance of HMs to the host. It enhances the absorption of nutrients in deficient soil, whereas it decreases the accumulation of HMs in polluted soils. AM fungi enhance the biomass production and, thus, dilute the HM concentration in plants. The association of AM fungi also protects the host roots from exposure of HMs by trapping them in the extracellular polymeric substances and the glomalin secreted by the AM fungal hyphae. The hyphal components also contain hydroxyl and carboxyl ligands that can bind the positively charged HMs and immobilize them outside the soil. In hyperaccumulator plants, AM fungi contribute differently as the transporters of HMs increase the uptake of HMs from the substrates. In this way, it enhances the accumulation of HMs beyond the permissible level. Inside the AM fungi as well as in the host cell, these HMs are either converted to the less toxic forms or conjugated with Metallothionein (MT), Glutathione (GSH), and Phytochelatin (PC) and safely stored in the vacuole. All these functions are specifically controlled by a number of transporters of HMs localized in the AM fungal hyphae, inside the AM fungi and inside the host cell. GintABC1 is one of the most studied transporters in AM fungi regulating the Zn. In this review, a deeper insight into the all-possible mechanisms of AM fungi facilitated HM stress alleviation in plants is summarized and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has invaded Asia, whether it uses local weeds as alternative hosts remains understudied. This knowledge gap is significant as alternative hosts may facilitate fall armyworm expansion. Here we conducted three experiments to investigate the potential use of Asteraceae weeds (Emilia sonchifolia var. javanica [E. sonchifolia hereafter] and E. praetermissa) by fall armyworm in Taiwan: (1) The feeding experiment examined fall armyworm performance on the two Emilia species against the control (artificial diet). (2) The host-plant shift experiment tested if fall armyworm can survive on the Emilia species after depleting its primary host (maize). (3) Spatial analysis mapped current fall armyworm invasions, maize production areas, and the distribution of Emilia host plants (if confirmed) to demonstrate the potential of Asteraceae weeds as fall armyworm's untapped resource. The results indicated that fall armyworm could complete its life cycle on E. sonchifolia but not E. praetermissa. Compared to the control, both sexes of fall armyworms on E. sonchifolia performed similarly in survivorship, larval weight, larval and pupal duration, but worse in pupal length and weight. In addition, larvae can switch to E. sonchifolia after depleting maize, reaching adult emergence and producing fertile eggs. The spatial analysis demonstrated hotspots of fall armyworm invasions and a large area of E. sonchifolia as potential food resource for future fall armyworm expansion. Overall, our results raise concerns that overlooking the use of weeds from the Asteraceae family may lead to an underestimation of future fall armyworm expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are small soft bodied plant lice, their number rapidly rise above economic threshold level in suitable climatic condition due to parthenogenetic development. They have great agricultural importance due to polyphagism, polymorphism, parthenogenetic viviparity and remarkable ability to transmit various pathogenic viruses. They damage the crops directly by sucking the nutrients that cause devitalisation of plants. Many coccinellids are predators and major biological control agents of hemipteran pests such as aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, white flies, as well as thrips and mites and other soft bodied insects. Due to predaceous nature, seasonal synchromy with their specific preys, high foraging performance, immense predation potential and high reproductive efficacy, they possess the potential to be effectively employed in Integrated Pest Management. Globally, more than 6000 ladybird beetle species are known to us, out of which, 261 predaceous species belonging to 57 genera reported from India. In biological control programme, several coccinellids predators are reported as effective bioagent against aphids viz., Aphidecta obliterata on Adelges piceae, Cheilomenes lunata on Aphis craccivora, Coccinella sexmaculata on Aphis aurantii and Myzus persicae, Coccinella transversalis on Aphis aurantii and Myzus persicae, Coccinella undecimpunctata on several aphids. In India, 13 species of coccinellids viz., Coccinella krikkeni Iablokoff-Khnzorian, Coccinella lama Kapur, Coccinella luteopicta (Mulsant), Coccinella magnopunctata Rybakow, Coccinella marussii Kapur, Coccinella nigrovittata Kapur, Coccinella repanda Thunberg, Coccinella saucerottei Mulsant, Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus, Coccinella transversalis Fabricious, Coccinella transversoguttata Faldermann, Coccinella undecimpunctata Linnaeus and Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptiaca Reiche are reported. Among these, C. septempunctata and C. transversalis are very common and widely distributed in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycorma delicatula, the spotted lanternfly, is a highly successful invasive phloem‐feeding planthopper native to southern China. It has invaded South Korea, Japan, and the United States, where it continues to expand geographically, but it remains absent from Europe. We investigated two key ecological factors influencing the risk of its establishment: climate suitability and the availability of compatible host plants. We developed an ensemble species distribution model using three algorithms to assess the potential geographic range of L. delicatula under current and future climate conditions. We reviewed the literature to evaluate its host repertoire and identified host species present in Europe. Current climate conditions are highly suitable for L. delicatula across much of Europe. Climate change is expected to only slightly alter climate suitability by 2060. Numerous known host plants are also widely distributed throughout Europe. We conclude that neither climate conditions nor the availability of compatible host plants pose a barrier to the establishment of L. delicatula in Europe. Both current and future climate suitability, along with the list of potential host species, can provide valuable guidance for surveillance efforts and enhance the preparedness of phytosanitary authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungi from the Pyricularia genus cause blast disease in many economically important crops and grasses, such as wheat, rice, and Cenchrus grass JUJUNCAO. Structure variation associated with the gain and loss of effectors contributes largely to the adaptive evolution of this fungus towards diverse host plants. A telomere-to-telomere genome assembly would facilitate the identification of genome-wide structural variations through comparative genomics. Here, we report a telomere-to-telomere, near-complete genome assembly of a Pyricularia penniseti isolate JC-1 infecting JUJUNCAO. The assembly consists of eight core chromosomes and two supernumerary chromosomes, named mini1 and mini2, spanning 42.1 Mb. We annotated 12,156 protein-coding genes and identified 4.54% of the genome as repetitive sequences. The two supernumerary chromosomes contained fewer genes and more repetitive sequences than the core chromosomes. Our genome and results provide valuable resources for the future study in genome evolution, structure variation and host adaptation of the Pyricularia fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant viruses exist in a broader ecological community that includes non-vector herbivores that can impact vector abundance, behavior, and virus transmission within shared host plants. However, little is known about the effects of non-vector herbivore infestation on virus transmission by vector insects on neighboring plants through inter-plant airborne chemicals. In this study, we investigated how volatiles emitted from tomato plants infested with the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) affect the infection of neighboring plants by tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). Exposure of neighboring tomato plants to volatiles released from T. urticae -infested tomato plants reduced subsequent herbivory as well as TYLCV transmission and infection, and the jasmonic acid signaling pathway was essential for generation of the inter-plant defense signals. We also demonstrated that (E)-β-ocimene and methyl salicylic acid were two volatiles induced by T. urticae that synergistically attenuated TYLCV transmission and infection in tomato. Thus, our findings suggest that plant–plant communication via volatiles likely represents a widespread defensive mechanism that substantially contributes to plant fitness. Understanding such phenomena may help us to predict the occurrence and epidemics of multiple herbivores and viruses in agroecosystems, and ultimately to manage pest and virus outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a devastating invasive pest recently introduced in India in 2018. The fall armyworm infestation has significantly impacted maize cultivation in the country. Identifying the host plant volatiles (kairomones) that are attractive to S. frugiperda from its highly preferred host plant, i.e. maize will help developing eco-friendly management strategies against this nefarious pest. Gas chromatography electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD) analysis revealed that a total of 18 compounds in maize headspace volatiles and 17 in maize leaf extract elicited an antennal response in female moths of S. frugiperda. Olfactometer bioassays of GC-EAD active plant volatile compounds revealed that heptanoic acid, 2,5-ditert butyl-1,4-benzoquinone and n-hexadecane were the most preferred plant volatile compounds and 50: 50 ratio blend of heptanoic acid and 2,5-ditert butyl-1,4-benzoquinone was found to be the most attractive kairomone blend for S. frugiperda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sorghum anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum sublineola, is the most destructive disease of sorghum, which causes up to 80% grain yield loss in susceptible varieties. The use of resistance varieties is an effective, durable, and eco-friendly strategy for anthracnose control. Knowledge of the phenotypic and genetic variation in C. sublineola is vital for designing appropriate anthracnose management strategies. Methods: The present study examined the morphology and virulence of 25 C. sublineola isolates recovered from various sorghum-producing regions of Ethiopia against 18 known sorghum anthracnose differentials, 6 Ethiopian sorghum landraces, and a variety of Bonsa. Results: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among sorghum genotypes, C. sublineola isolates, and their interactions. There was a significant difference between the isolates in virulence, with each isolate exhibiting virulence in 8-72% of the sorghum genotypes tested. Among the 25 tested isolates, the top four most virulent isolates were from Pawe, suggesting that this area is suitable for pathogen diversity studies and host plant resistance screening. The sorghum genotypes IS_18760, Brandes, and Bonsa showed resistance to all tested isolates. Consequently, they may provide potential sources of resistance genes for sorghum breeding programs to develop cultivars resistant to different C. sublineola pathotypes. However, the resistant check SC748-5 was susceptible to isolates NK73_F37, while another resistant check SC112-14 was susceptible to isolates PW123_F47 and PW122_F47. Cluster analysis grouped 22 isolates into seven clusters based on their morphological characters, whereas 24 pathotypes were identified among 25 isolates that were tested on 25 sorghum genotypes. Discussion: Hence, this study revealed high variation in C. sublineola in Ethiopia suggesting the need for broad-spectrum resistance to control the disease. Sorghum genotypes resistant to various C. sublineola isolates were identified in this study, which can be used in sorghum breeding programs aiming to develop resistant cultivars to anthracnose. Highly virulent C. sublineola isolates were also identified which could be used in sorghum germplasm resistance screening. The report is the first to show the existence of C. sublineola pathotypes in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and microorganisms have been co-evolving and interacting for billions of years. Prior researchers have explored the plant's immune system responses and interaction with diverse microbes, but several ambiguities need further explanation. This review provides insight into mechanisms underlying plant–microbe interaction and knowledge dearth domains, along with possibilities to use beneficial microbes to improve plant growth, disease resistance, nutritional value, and productivity. Microorganisms in the phyllosphere and the rhizosphere could be beneficial or pathogenic. Host plants use their innate immune system and the antagonistic competence of plant-growth-promoting microbes against pathogens. The innate immune system of plants has two paramount protection forms involving different types of immune receptors, which assist in recognizing non-self-components. The first group of receptors is membrane-resident pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which are responsible for sensing microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The second group consists of intracellular immune sensors, specifically resistance (R) proteins, astute in recognizing the structure or function of strain-specific pathogen effectors injected into host plant cells. Plants activate their pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) defense mechanisms to counter the infection. Plants benefit from certain microbes by promoting their growth, disease resistance, and resilience under various stress conditions in exchange for shelter and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Genomics has emerged as a great tool in enhancing our understanding of the biology of Verticillium species and their interactions with the host plants. Through different genomic approaches, researchers have gained insights into genes, pathways and virulence factors that play crucial roles in both Verticillium pathogenesis and the defense responses of their host organisms. This review emphasizes the significance of genomics in uncovering the mechanisms that underlie pathogenicity, virulence, and host resistance in Verticillium fungi. Our goal is to summarize recent discoveries in Verticillium research highlighting progress made in comprehending the biology and interactions of Verticillium fungi. The integration of genomics into Verticillium studies has the potential to open avenues for developing strategies to control diseases and produce crop varieties resistant to verticillium, thereby offering sustainable solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The underlying assembly processes of surface microbial communities are crucial for host plants and ecosystem functions. However, the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping epiphytic microbes remains poorly understood in both the phyllosphere and rhizosphere. Here, we compared the spatial variations in epiphytic microbial communities of two dominant grasses along a 1400 km transect on the Tibetan Plateau and assessed the assembly processes between the phyllosphere and rhizosphere. We found significant variations in epiphytic microbial community compositions between plant compartments and host species. Stochastic processes (drift and homogenizing dispersal) predominantly shaped microbial communities in both the phyllosphere and rhizosphere, with a greater contribution of stochastic processes in the phyllosphere. As environmental heterogeneity intensified, we found a transition from stochasticity to determinism in affecting the microbial assembly. This transition to homogeneous or variable selection depended on plant compartments and host species. Our study is among the first to compare the contribution of stochastic versus deterministic processes to epiphytic community assembly between the phyllosphere and rhizosphere on the Tibetan Plateau. These findings advance our knowledge of epiphytic microbial assembly and disentangle how host plants exploit the microbiome for improved performance and functioning in stressful alpine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of phytophagous insects is often attributed to the success of land plants in the framework of ecological speciation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain host plant driven insect diversification in a phylogenetic context and have mostly been explored using Lepidoptera. We posit that Miridae are a great system to examine these hypotheses because they are one of the largest primarily phytophagous insect families and include many species with narrow host repertoire. Focusing on the species‐rich Phylinae (>2700 spp.), we generate the most taxon‐rich phylogeny published to date and for the first time estimate divergence times and trace the evolution of host plant associations across the group. Focusing on two clades of oak‐associated phylines, we further examine if diversification in these insects and their hosts coincided or if the insects tracked their hosts. We find that Phylinae diverged from their orthotyline sister group before the end of the Cretaceous, tribal‐level taxa diversified throughout the Paleogene, and diversification within genera mostly occurred in the Neogene. Host plant repertoire reconstructions at the family level show transitions from stenophagy to polyphagy are more common than the reverse. We reconstructed the ancestral phyline host as ambiguous, followed by Asterales throughout most of the deep splits. Species‐level divergences in the two oak‐associated clades coincide with those in oaks, a pattern is that is consistent with the hypothesis that these plant bugs may have cospeciated with their hosts. Our study shows that Phylinae are a suitable system to further test hypotheses on ecological speciation of plants and insects but will require more robust phylogenetic hypotheses of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal endophytes are known to produce bioactive chemicals and secondary metabolites that are often identical to those produced by their host plants. The main objective of the current study was to isolate and identify endophytic fungi associated with the medicinal plant Anethum graveolens, and to investigate their potential antibacterial and anticancer properties. The ethyl acetate extracts from the isolated endophytic fungi, as well as the host plant A. graveolens, were subjected to bioactivity assays to evaluate their antibacterial and anticancer potential against multi-drug resistant bacterial strains and the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. The endophytic fungi isolated and identified from the A. graveolens samples included Diaporthe, Auxarthron, Arthrinium, Aspergillus, Microsporum, Dothiorella, Trichophyton, Lophiostoma, Penicillium, and Trichoderma species. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay revealed that the A. graveolens extract exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, with an MIC value of 4 µg/ml, followed by the Trichoderma sp. (5 µg/ml) and Penicillium sp. (6 µg/ml) extracts. Additionally, the crude extracts of Trichoderma sp., Penicillium sp., and Fusarium sp. demonstrated high anticancer activity against HepG2 cells, with inhibition rates ranging from 89 to 92% at a concentration of 50 µg/ml. Interestingly, the A. graveolens extract showed the most potent anticancer activity, with a 95% inhibition rate against HepG2 cells at the same concentration. These findings highlight the significant potential of endophytic fungi associated with A. graveolens, as a source of bioactive compounds with promising antibacterial and anticancer properties. The results reinforce the hypothesis that medicinal plants and their endophytic fungi can serve as an attractive alternative for the development of novel therapeutic agents, potentially offering a more sustainable and less harmful approach to disease management compared to traditional chemical-based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The excavation and utilization of endophytic fungi from medicinal plants is highly important for the development of new drugs. The endophytic fungus Aspergillus tamarii TPD11, which was isolated and obtained by the authors in the previous stage, can produce a variety of polyphyllins with important potential applications in hemostasis, inflammation and antitumor activities; however, the genomic information of TPD11 is still unknown. Results: In this study, we sequenced and assembled the whole genome of the endophytic fungus A. tamarii TPD11, resolved the genome evolutionary relationships of 24 Aspergillus strains, and phylogenetic analysis of the genomes of 16 strains revealed the evolutionary differences between Aspergillus and Penicillium and the mechanisms of genome expansion and contraction. CAZy annotation analysis revealed that TPD11 obtains nutrients mainly by ingesting starch from the host plant. TPD11 has a biosynthesis-related gene cluster for the synthesis of squalestatin S1, and the silencing of this biosynthesis-related gene cluster might increase the content of polyphyllin. Annotation of 11 UDP-glycosyltransferase genes helps to further reveal the biosynthetic pathway of polyphyllin. In addition, secondary metabolism gene cluster and CAZy analyses confirmed the potential probiotic, insecticidal and antimicrobial activities of TPD11 on host plants. Conclusions: This study reveals the intrinsic mechanism by which endophytic fungi increase the content of polyphyllin, which provides a basis for the synthetic synthesis of the natural product polyphyllin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of the first fossil of an Australian species of Pergidae, Baladi warru gen. et sp. n., found at McGraths Flat, a newly discovered Miocene Konservat‐Lagerstätte in central New South Wales. Using morphological data from the well‐preserved fossil, along with a previously published molecular dataset of 59 taxa and a newly generated molecular dataset for 8 taxa, we constructed a data matrix and generated the first chronogram for Pergidae that incorporates internal calibration points. Our data reveal that Baladi warru belongs to the subfamily Perginae and is closely related to the Australian genera Cerealces and Xyloperga (tribe Cerealcini). According to our analysis, the origin of Pergidae appears slightly younger than previously hypothesised; however, additional calibration points are needed for a more detailed age constraint. Furthermore, ancestral character reconstruction indicates four independent adaptations to toxic Myrtaceae as host plants, while biogeographic analyses suggest that sympatry followed by founder events were the primary processes shaping the current disjunct distribution of pergids. Two significant founder events correspond with transitions to utilising Myrtaceae as host plants. With the approval of the Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council, Wiradjuri words were used to name the newly described species. ‘Baladi’ means ‘saw’ and ‘warru’ means ‘wasp’. This name honours the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the fossil was collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a field survey of eriophyoid mites in Dogijan village (Marand county, East Azerbaijan province, Iran) in late spring 2023, one new eriophyid species (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) on Chardinia orientalis (L.) Kuntze (Asteraceae) was discovered, illustrated, described, and named as Aceria dogijaniensis sp. nov. The mites cause tight leaf edge rolls of different length with pale blotches on their type host plant. In addition, a population of similar mites was collected on Centaurea sp. (Asteraceae) with leaf galls made by Subanguina sp. (Nematoda: Secernentea: Tylenchida: Anguinidae) at the same locality on the same date. Few quantitative and qualitative differences were found between the two populations collected on the two host plants. In this study, we provided a list of Aceria spp. associated with Asteraceae in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In addition to their role as endosymbionts for plant roots, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) engage in complex interactions with various soil microorganisms, the rhizosphere, and the root endosphere of host plants. They also host diverse prokaryotic groups within their mycelia, contributing to what is termed multipartite symbiosis. In this study, we examined the impact of three AMF species—Rhizophagus irregularis, R. clarus, and R. cerebriforme—combined with microbial bioaugmentation on the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in the mycelia and hyphosphere. Using a microcosm design to separate the influence of host plant roots from AMF mycelia and Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing to analyze the bacterial communities. Results: Our results revealed that, while AMF identity and microbial bioaugmentation did not affect the structure of bacterial communities in the hyphosphere soil, they significantly altered the communities associated with their mycelia. Although all three AMF species belong to the same genus, with R. irregularis and R. clarus being closely related compared to R. cerebriforme, we observed variations in the bacterial communities associated with their mycelia. Interestingly, the mycelial bacterial community of R. cerebriforme contained 60 bacteriome core taxa exclusive to it, while R. clarus and R. irregularis had 25 and 9 exclusive taxa, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that organismal phylogeny influences the bacterial communities associated with AMF mycelia. These findings provide new insights into AMF and bacterial interactions, which are crucial for the successful deployment of AMF inoculants. The taxonomic diversity of AMF inoculants is important for engineering the plant microbiome and enhancing ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are in intimate association with taxonomically structured microbial communities called the plant microbiota. There is growing evidence that the plant microbiota contributes to the holistic performance and general health of plants, especially under unfavorable situations. Despite the attached benefits, surprisingly, the plant microbiota in nature also includes potentially pathogenic strains, signifying that the plant hosts have tight control over these microbes. Despite the conceivable role of plant immunity in regulating its microbiota, we lack a complete understanding of its role in governing the assembly, maintenance, and function of the plant microbiota. Here, we highlight the recent progress on the mechanistic relevance of host immunity in orchestrating plant‐microbiota dialogues and discuss the pluses and perils of these microbial assemblies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Fusarium oxysporum, an important soilborne fungal pathogen that causes serious Fusarium wilt disease, secretes diverse effectors during the infection. In this study, we identified a novel secreted cysteine‐rich protein, FolSCP1, which contains unknown protein functional domain. Here, we characterized FolSCP1 as a secreted virulence factor that promotes the pathogen infection of host plants by inhibiting diverse plant defence responses. FolSCP1 interacted with the pathogenesis‐related 5 (PR‐5) protein SlPR5, a positive regulator of tomato plant immunity against multiple tomato pathogens, and effectively attenuated the antifungal activity of the tomato PR‐5 protein. FoSCP1, a homologue of FolSCP1, was secreted by a F. oxysporum isolate from infected tobacco and targeted the tobacco PR‐5 protein NtPR5 to suppress plant defence for further infection. In summary, our study revealed a fungal virulence strategy in which F. oxysporum secrete effectors that interfere with plant immunity by binding to the PR‐5 protein of the host plant and inhibiting its biological activity, thereby promoting fungal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aromia bungii is a serious wood borer damaging Prunus persica and other numerous economic tree species. Host plant volatiles play a key role in pest population monitoring and trapping. To ascertain the influence of volatile organic compounds emitted by P. persica at varying physiological statuses on the host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults, we initially collected and identified the volatiles emitted by P. persica leaves infested with A. bungii using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Subsequently, we evaluated the behavioural response of A. bungii adults to the crude extracts, single compounds and blends of these compounds by Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay. Results showed that volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade I were more attractive to females, but males were more attracted to volatiles from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae at Grade IV. Five compounds were identified and showed relatively high levels from both infested plants at Grade I and Grade IV. Among them, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol and cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate were attractive to females, and a blend of the three volatiles in a ratio of 3:91:6 for Grade I infestation was more attractive to females than a ratio of 3:83:14 from Grade IV infestation. The compounds, 3‐carene, cis‐3‐hexenyl acetate, cis‐3‐hexene‐1‐ol and benzaldehyde, were attractive to males and a blend in a ratio of 3:81:13:3 from Grade IV infestation was more attractive to males than a ratio of 3:89:6:2 from Grade I infestation. The results show that the kinds and ratios of volatiles emitted from P. persica infested with A. bungii larvae play important roles in host‐searching behaviour of A. bungii adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot is one of the common diseases of Lycium barbarum. Pathogens can cause devastating disasters to plants after infecting host plants. This study investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus intraradices inoculation on phenylpropane metabolism in L. barbarum and evaluated its resistance to root rot. The experiment was set up with AMF inoculation treatments (inoculated or not) and root rot pathogen-Fusarium solani inoculation treatments (inoculated or not). The results showed that AMF was able to form a symbiosis with the root system of L. barbarum, thereby promoting plant growth significantly and increasing plants' resistance to disease stress. The plant height of AMF-colonized L. barbarum increased by 24.83% compared to non-inoculated diseased plants. After inoculation with AMF, the plant defense response induced by pathogen infection was stronger. When the enzyme activity of the leaves reached the maximum after the onset of mycorrhizal L. barbarum, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumaric acid-CoA ligase increased by 3.67%, 31.47%, and 13.61%, respectively, compared with the non-inoculated diseased plants. The products related to the lignin pathway and flavonoid pathway downstream of phenylpropane metabolism such as lignin and flavonoids were also significantly increased by 141.65% and 44.61% compared to nonmycorrhizal diseased plants. The activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase increased by 36.00% and 57.96%, respectively. The contents of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid were also 17.7% and 31.63% higher than those of nonmycorrhizal plants in the early stage of plant growth, respectively. The results indicated that AMF significantly promoted plant growth and enhanced disease resistance by increasing enzyme activities and the production of lignin and flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]