Plant Protection Research Articles

Chemical Composition, Antifungal Activity, and Plant-Protective Potential of Rosa damascena Mill. Essential Oil Against Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium graminearum is a common plant pathogen among cereals worldwide. The application of chemical antifungal compounds is the most frequently used method in controlling F. graminearum. However, its excessive use and the genomic plasticity of the fungal genome lead to increased resistance levels to these chemical antifungal compounds. In this context, plant-derived compounds might play a role in protecting against Fusarium head blight (FHB) and crown rot (CR) as an alternative. In this study, we aimed to examine the antifungal effects of an essential oil obtained from Rosa damascena Mill. on the plant pathogen F. graminearum using molecular and analytical methods. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC-MS. The half effective concentration (EC50) value of R. damascena essential oil (REO) for F. graminearum was determined as 604.25 µg mL−1. Water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) analyses revealed that REO caused cytotoxicity in F. graminearum. The potential oxidative stress and autophagic cell death capacity of REO towards F. graminearum was revealed via gene expression analysis and fluorescence microscopy. It was also revealed that, due to the plant-protective effect of REO, the disease severity of treated plants decreased by up to 27.78% in juvenile wheat seedlings infected by F. graminearum. Our data show that R. damascena essential oil might be used as an alternative natural ingredient in the field of plant protection.

Leveraging precision agricultural tools for enhanced crop protection in rice cultivation

Rice production is crucial for meeting the food demand of the ever-growing global population. However, it is impeded by biotic stressors viz., insect pests, diseases and weeds. Traditionally, farmers and plant protection experts rely on conventional crop protection measures to combat these challenges. These measures have various drawbacks including intensive labour requirement, higher cultivation costs, untimely pest detection and indiscriminate agrochemical use which adversely affects the consumers and the environment. Precision tools and technologies can address all these issues to benefit the farmers and agricultural ecosystem on a sustainable basis. Remote sensing technologies aid in weed mapping and detecting disease and pest incidence in rice fields by evaluating the changes in crop reflectance brought about by biotic stressors. Agricultural robotic systems are multifunctional and have attained more than 80 % correct image classification, 96 % weed control and less than 10 % crop damage. Unmanned aerial vehicles for pesticide spraying are cost-effective substitutes for manual spray and can reduce spray volume by more than 20 times besides good application efficiency and effective control. Artificial intelligence offers precise solutions for biotic stress identification and control. Biosensors have also been developed for aiding in detecting rice blast, false smut, tungro incidence and bacterial leaf blight. Apart from highlighting the utilization of precision agriculture tools and technologies for plant protection and weed control in rice, this article also reviews the challenges and prospects related to its application and its feasibility for the stakeholders utilising them to gain sustainable rice production.

Recombination, phylogenetic insights and co-existence dynamics of begomoviruses and satellite DNAs: implications for tomato viral disease management.

Tomato leaf curl viral disease (ToLCV) is a major biotic stress, threatening tomato cultivation. However, limited information exists on the prevalence and diversity of ToLCV in Tamil Nadu, India and hence this study focused on identifying and characterizing such begomoviruses. Tomato samples with infected symptoms were collected from major tomato-growing tracts of Tamil Nadu during 2023 to 2024 and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate primers specific to ToLCV. Further, by employing rolling circle amplification (RCA), full-length sequences of viral genomes (∼2.7kb), alphasatellites and betasatellites (∼1.35kb each) were also obtained for three samples collected from different locations of Tamil Nadu (Dharmapuri (DPI-03), Krishnagiri (KGI-01) and Salem (SLM-01)). Diverse begomoviruses, including tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBaV), and tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus (ToLCGUV) were identified in these three samples. Additionally, an alphasatellite (cotton leaf curl Multan alphasatellite, CLCuMuA), and two betasatellites (tomato leaf curl Bangalore betasatellite, ToLCBaB and tomato leaf curl Gujarat betasatellite, ToLCGUB) were also identified in KGI-01 and SLM-01. Evaluation of phylogenetic relationship and genetic variability revealed distinct clustering of begomoviruses and satellite sequences with high nucleotide diversity. In addition, recombinant analysis predicted inter- and intra- species recombination events. This study identified the co-occurrence of ToLCNDV with ToLCPalV, ToLCBaV with CLCuMuA and ToLCBaB, and ToLCGUV with ToLCGUB within the same plants. These findings underscore the diverse nature of the begomovirus-satellite complex infecting tomatoes in Tamil Nadu and emphasize the urgent need to develop effective plant protection strategies.

The effect of some biopesticides on the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) damaging tomato plants

In recent years, biopesticides have been widely investigated for the control of plant parasitic nematodes (PPN). In this study, the effects of Bacillus-based biopesticides on the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) (Kofoid & White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949 (Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae) were investigated. The study was conducted at the Nematology Laboratory and Growth Room of the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University in 2023. The efficacy of Bacillus subtilis (Biopesticide-I), Bacillus licheniformis strain RTI184 (Biopesticide-II) and Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (Biopesticide-III) was compared with chemical nematicides and an untreated control. Treatments were applied at different times: (A) 5-7 days before transplanting, (B) at transplant by drench, (C) just after transplanting, and (D) 14 days after transplanting (DAT). The lowest gal formation was observed in Biopesticide-III + Nematicide-II (CD) treatment (0.40±0.24), followed by Nematicide-I (CD) (3.40±0.24) and Biopesticide-I (BD) (4.20±0.37), while the highest was observed in Biopesticide-I (CD) (5.00±0.31). The number of second-stage juveniles was significantly reduced by Biopesticide-III + Nematicide-II (CD) (99.76%), Nematicide-I (CD) (70.29%) and Biopesticide-I (BD) (57.36%). The results indicate that Bacillus-based biopesticides are effective in reducing root-knot nematode damage and can be used to control M. incognita in tomato plants.

Photoreceptors Are Involved in Antioxidant Effects of Melatonin Under High Light in Arabidopsis

The beneficial role of melatonin (MT) as a potent broad-spectrum antioxidant and hormone-like regulator in plant protection against adverse environmental conditions is indisputable. However, the molecular networks underlying its unique scavenging capabilities are still far from understood. Herein, we show the ability of MT to maintain physiological functions under high light stress (HL) is mediated by photoreceptors. Melatonin treatment (50 μM) of the photoreceptor mutants phyA/B and cry1/2 augmented the deleterious effects of excess light (600 μmol m−2 s−1, 24 h), as evidenced by increased TBARs levels and electrolyte leakage, as well as decreased photosynthetic efficiency, in contrast to their parental form, Landsberg erecta, in which these parameters were significantly improved. The reduced stress resistance of the mutants was also confirmed by analysis of the transcript accumulation of ROS markers and enzymatic scavengers. Moreover, the increase in melatonin content in the mutants exposed to HL + MT contributed to increased ROS accumulation; therefore, the deleterious effect of MT could not be explained by an imbalance in ROS production below the cytostatic level. We hypothesize that the light-sensitive phenotypes of photoreceptor mutants under MT treatment may be due to the misregulation of stress-related genes that are targets for melatonin action.

Polyfloral nutritional resources promote bumble bee colony development after exposure to a pesticide mixture.

Polyfloral nutritional resources promote bumble bee colony development after exposure to a pesticide mixture.

Harnessing Natural Defenses Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) and Biocontrol in Sustainable Plant Protection

This research explores the integration of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and biological control as sustainable alternatives to chemical-dependent approaches in plant protection. The study examines the molecular mechanisms of SAR, including pathogen recognition through pattern recognition receptors, MAPK signaling cascades, salicylic acid biosynthesis, and NPR1-mediated defense gene activation. SAR immune memory involves sophisticated epigenetic reprogramming, particularly histone modifications and DNA demethylation. Biocontrol agents operate through direct antagonism (e.g., Bacillus lipopeptides), nutrient competition (e.g., Pseudomonas siderophores), and niche exclusion (e.g., Trichoderma cell wall degradation). Despite their potential, both strategies face technical challenges: SAR efficacy varies with environmental conditions and genetic backgrounds, exhibits tissue-specific limitations, and triggers growth-defense trade-offs; biocontrol implementation suffers from poor field colonization, inter-strain antagonism, and scalability barriers. Recent innovations include nano-encapsulated SAR inducers that enhance induction efficiency by 40-60%, CRISPR-Cas9 fine-tuning of immune regulators, and intelligent molecular switches for precise defense activation. In biocontrol, synergistic Bacillus-Trichoderma consortia improve disease suppression by >50%, advanced formulation technologies enhance field persistence, and microbiome engineering systematically reshapes rhizosphere architecture. A three-phase technology roadmap proposes integrating these approaches through: (1) advanced formulations and screening platforms (short-term); (2) precision-engineered microbial communities and sophisticated molecular switches (medium-term); and (3) AI-driven plant health management platforms (long-term). This interdisciplinary research bridges fundamental science with practical applications, supporting sustainable agriculture and contributing to global food security and environmental goals.

МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЙ ИНСТРУМЕНТАРИЙ ОЦЕНКИ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ СУБСИДИРОВАНИЯ АГРОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ В ОТРАСЛИ РАСТЕНИЕВОДСТВА РЕГИОНА

Subsidizing the production of crop products, as well as all agriculture in general, is one of the most important factors for the successful growth and development of the regional agro-industrial complex, as well as the main condition for achieving and maintaining the country’s food security. Considering the riskiness and seasonality of production in the crop production industry, most agricultural producers experience real financial difficulties when carrying out agrotechnological activities. Therefore, the decrees of the governments of individual constituent entities of the Russian Federation on subsidizing agricultural producers provide for budgetary allocations to compensate for part of the costs of implementing agrotechnological measures in the crop production sector, including the purchase and use of fuels and lubricants, fertilizers, plant protection products and planting material, which, on the one hand, serve as a gratuitous source of financing and an instrument for stimulating the required full implementation of current expenses in crop production for the increase in yields of the current and future years. On the other hand, budgetary expenditures to compensate for current costs must be effective and selective, that is, ensure the achievement of the state's target setting for a direct increase in the volume of crop production, both raw materials for food production and feed for the livestock sector, as well as indirect preservation and support of the level of soil fertility, increased sustainability, solvency and efficiency of agricultural producers, income and attractiveness of life of the rural population. In accordance with the target expectations of the state, authors propose to evaluate the effectiveness of budget expenditures on agrotechnological measures using four groups of criteria (costs, results, effect and efficiency) in the context of three types of efficiency - economic, social and ensuring efficiency. The gradation and interpretation of the efficiency indicators values, presented in the work, as well as the assessment of their significance in calculating the coefficients of the integral and gross efficiency of subsidizing agrotechnological measures in the Udmurt Republic conditions can be clarified and adjusted taking into account the financing objectives and regional characteristics of the crop production sector development of the Russian Federation corresponding subject.

Structural Features of Coumarin-1,2,4-Triazole Hybrids Important for Insecticidal Effects Against Drosophila melanogaster and Orius laevigatus (Fieber)

Although the present use of pesticides in plant protection has limited the occurrence and development of plant diseases and pests, resistance to pesticides and their environmental and health hazards indicates an urgent need for new active ingredients in plant protection products. Recently synthesized coumarin-1,2,4-triazole hybrid compounds have been proven effective against plant pathogenic fungi and safe for soil-beneficial bacteria. Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, has been used as a model organism for scientific research. Additionally, it is considered a pest since it damages fruits and serves as a carrier for various plant diseases. On the contrary, Orius laevigatus is a beneficial true bug that biologically controls harmful arthropods in agricultural production. In the present study, we performed an adulticidal bioassay against D. melanogaster and O. laevigatus using coumarin-1,2,4-triazole hybrids. Quantitative structure–activity relationship studies (QSARs) and in silico ecotoxicity evaluation elucidated the structural features underlying the compounds’ insecticidal activity. The derivative of 4-methylcoumarin-1,2,4-triazole with a 3-bromophenyl group showed great insecticidal potential. A molecular docking study indicated that the most active compound probably binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels.

Marine and terrestrial biostimulant elicitors of tolerance to cold stress

The increasing frequency of adverse environmental events, driven by ongoing climate change, has intensified the search for new technological alternatives in crop production and plant protection. Thermal stress can limit plant adaptation and negatively impact metabolism, physiology, morphology, and yield. Cold stress in plants has been extensively studied and can affect various stages of plant’s life cycle, from seed formation to development, causing damage to cell membranes, impairing cell division, and disrupting water absorption. Consequently, researchers have focused on mitigating the impacts of abiotic stress by investigating bioactive molecules and biostimulants derived from various organisms, which enhance tolerance mechanisms in plants. In aquatic environments, macro- and microalgae have emerged as key sources of plant elicitors, providing extractable molecules such as polysaccharides, polyamines, polyphenols, and amino acids that enhance plant defense responses. Similarly, certain terrestrial plants have shown potential as sources of biostimulant compounds. Thus, this study aims to highlight advancements in crop systems by emphasizing the potential of algae-based and terrestrial biostimulant elicitors in enhancing tolerance to cold stress. Ultimately, the goal is to improve understanding of promising biological models for food production, fostering innovative developments that can contribute to economically and ecologically sustainable technologies.

Plant Protection Strategies for Ecosystem Restoration in the Horqin Desert

Desert ecosystems characterized by extreme aridity and fragile ecological balance face the dual threat of climate change and escalating anthropogenic activities. Restoration of these ecosystems requires strategic plant protection approaches, particularly drought-tolerant and disease-resistant species selection. This paper focuses on current research on plant protection strategies for restoring desert ecosystems, with the discussion focusing on the selection of drought-resistant vegetation in the Horqin Sand. The main findings of this paper reveal that species such as and Artemisia halodendron exhibit superior drought adaptability, with significant variations in leaf traits (e.g., specific leaf area, dry matter content) influencing their survival. Soil potassium dynamics and microbial interactions further modulate plant resilience. Community succession studies highlight the transition from annual to perennial dominance over 30 years, enhancing ecosystem stability. However, challenges persist in balancing ecological restoration with agricultural demands. This study underscores the integration of multi-disciplinary insights to optimize species selection to ensure sustainable desert rehabilitation.

Effect of Silicon Sulphate and Silicic Acid Rates on Yield and Quality of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The utilization of silicon (Si) sources is a crucial agricultural tool that requires optimization to promote sustainable practices. The application of Si provides the implementation of biological mechanisms of plant nutrition, growth promotion, and protection. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the relative efficacy of Si sources and levels on the growth and yield of wheat. The study examined the effects of silicon sulphate and silicic acid levels on growth, spike characteristics, yield parameters, and macro- and micronutrient concentrations of wheat during the 2-season. The entire above-indicated parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing levels of silicon sulphate and silicic acid compared to the control. Foliar applications of silicon sulphate 150 ppm and silicic acid 60 ppm statistically (p < 0.05) enhanced grain N concentration and the grain yield by 136.14 and 77.85%, 43.49 and 34.52% in the 1st season, and by 78.62 and 54.40%, 43.53 and 33.18% in the 2nd season, respectively, as compared with control. Overall, foliar applications of silicon sulphate at 150 ppm and silicic acid at 60 ppm were greatly efficient amongst all Si levels and sources in improving growth and spike characters, increasing yield parameters, and elevating grain nutrients. Finally, the treatment of silicon sulfate at 150 ppm was more effective than the treatment of silicic acid at 60 ppm in increasing growth, grain nutrients, and productivity of wheat and attaining agricultural sustainability under experiment conditions.

Study of the Relationship Between the Structures and Biological Activity of Herbicides Derived from Phenoxyacetic Acid

Chloroderivatives of phenoxyacetic acid are a group of compounds commonly used as plant protection products. Differences in the molecular structure of these compounds are related to varying substitution and the number of chlorine atoms in the aromatic ring. Different molecular structures may affect the activity of these compounds, their physicochemical properties, as well as their toxicity and biological effects. A group of 6 chemical compounds derived from phenoxyacetic acid was tested. The molecular structure was analysed using spectroscopic methods (FTIR, FTRaman, UV-VIS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR) and quantum chemical computational methods (DFT). The reactivity of the tested compounds was determined using DFT calculations and experimentally in reaction with a hydroxyl radical. The electronic charge distribution of NBO, CHelpG and ESP was analysed and aromaticity indices were calculated for theoretically modeled structures and structures examined by X-ray diffraction (data obtained from the CSD database). Phenoxyacetic acid derivatives were tested for antimicrobial activity on soil bacterial strains. Cytotoxicity tests were performed on normal human skin fibroblasts (BJ CRL-2522) and the human prostate cancer cell line (DU-145 HTB-81). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the molecular structure of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and their reactivity and biological activity.

Productivity of corn hybrids, economic and energy efficiency of their cultivation in the Krasnodar Territory

Introduction. The development of modern technologies for growing corn grain is a complex task that requires the use of adaptive approaches and highly productive, stress-resistant hybrids with individually selected sets of agrotechnical techniques. The goal of the research is to study the influence of hybrid composition, chemical plant protection products against weeds, sowing dates and the number of inter-row cultivations on plant height, leaf surface area, grain yield, economic and energy efficiency when growing crops in the Krasnodar Territory. The Methods. The bookmark, mathematical processing of experimental data, economic and energy analysis were carried out according to the methodology of experimental work in agronomy. The Results. The DKC 4590 corn hybrid has shown the best results in the studied productivity parameters - plant height, leaf area, yield. Thus, the maximum grain productivity at the level of 77.2 c/ha has been obtained when growing this hybrid with an early sowing date, using the Titus Plus herbicide and carrying out two cultivations. On average, early sowing dates and inter-row cultivations significantly have increased the yield and plant height. The Titus Plus herbicide also has shown a positive effect on the productivity indicators of corn. Economic analysis has established that the highest net income (38.8-45.3 thousand rubles/ha) is provided by the DKC 4590 hybrid with its weed protection by the Titus Plus herbicide, early sowing date and two inter-row cultivations. Energy assessment has proven the advantage of growing Ladozhskiy 291 and DKC 4590 hybrids; their energy efficiency coefficient has increased up to 1.58-1.63. Conclusion. Thus, it has been established that when growing corn for grain in the Krasnodar Territory, the best results with a yield of more than 77 c/ha and a net income of more than 45 thousand rubles/ha are provided by the DKC 4590 hybrid with an early sowing date, the use of the Titus Plus herbicide and two inter-row cultivations.

Survey of fungal endophytes in barley under Fusarium Head Blight infection

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a devastating fungal disease caused by Fusarium graminearum which affects barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and other small cereal grains. Fungal endophytes are micro-organisms that reside inside tissues and considered that may have been involved in various roles of the plants. This study involved the comparison of fungal endophytes between ‘non-infected/clean’ and ‘FHB-infected’ barley genotypes in various tissues collected at different plant developmental stages and were grown under different conditions (i.e., greenhouse, research field, and FHB-field nursery). We hypothesized that fungal endophytes diversity and abundance may differ between plant tissues in various barley genotypes that were non-infected and FHB-infected. The 18S-Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing analysis revealed a greater number of fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and endophyte species in FHB-infected barley compared to clean barley. A one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s Pairwise Comparison test (p≤0.05), was performed to test significant differences. Higher seed endophyte diversity was found in FHB-infected (120 OTUs) compared to non-infected (113 OTUs) harvested in 2021. The increase in diversity of endophytes that contributes to different roles in plant protection and defense, such as biocontrol agents may prevent the growth of Fusarium species and decrease FHB-infection.

Using Environmental DNA as a Plant Health Surveillance Tool in Forests

Plant pests (including pathogens) threaten forests, reduce carbon sequestration, disrupt trade, and are costly to manage. Traditionally, forest surveys involve the visual inspection of trees for symptoms of disease; however, this process is time consuming and by the time symptoms are observed, the disease may be widespread. New methods of surveillance are needed to help plant health authorities monitor and protect forests from disease. Previous research has shown that metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to identify plant pests. This study collected rainwater samples from five forest sites across Northern Ireland every month for a year to examine whether eDNA metabarcoding could help authorities detect plant diseases in forests. Metabarcoding of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was used to determine the fungal and oomycete profile of rainwater samples that passed through the canopy of spruce, pine, oak, and ash trees, along with a non-tree field trap. In total, 65 known plant fungal and oomycete pests were detected; seven were regulated pests, and two were pests that had not been previously identified in Northern Ireland. This work demonstrates that metabarcoding of eDNA from rainwater can detect plant pests and could be used in forest surveillance programmes.

Potential Effect of Root Exudates from Ten Crops on Promoting Stress Tolerance in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Seedlings

Allelopathy plays a major role in agricultural production, influencing plant protection, crop yield, and crop rotation systems. This study investigated the effects of root exudates on 3105c alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seeds and seedlings to identify crops with strong and weak allelopathic potential. The results revealed that corn (Zea mays L.) (T1) exhibited the strongest allelopathic effects, whereas soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.) (T10) exhibited the weakest effects. T1 promoted seed germination by increasing radicle length and the simple vitality index. Both T1 and T10 promoted 3105c seedling growth and enhanced antioxidant capacity, albeit through different mechanisms. T1 primarily increased antioxidant capacity by elevating ascorbate and dehydroascorbate levels while reducing malondialdehyde content. In contrast, T10 enhanced antioxidant capacity by increasing soluble sugar and protein levels via hydroxyl free radical inhibition. These findings demonstrate that the allelopathic properties of corn effectively promote alfalfa growth by enhancing seed germination and improving physiological stress resistance.

First Report of Watermelon Crinkle Leaf-Associated Virus 1 (WCLaV-1) and WCLaV-2 in Watermelon in Slovenia.

In July 2024, a pooled leaf sample (D760/24) was collected from several plants of three watermelon cultivars (Citrullus lanatus cvs. Crimson Sweet, Asahi Miyako Hybrid F1 and Top Gun) grown in an open field (approx. 0.5ha) in Dombrava, Slovenia. The plants which were included in the pooled sample showed virus-like symptoms, such as leaf mosaic, wilting and necrosis (eXtra Supplementary material Fig. S1). The disease incidence was estimated at 10%. DNA and RNA were extracted following Mehle et al. (2013) and RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany) protocols, respectively. The sample was tested positive by reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR for watermelon crinkle leaf-associated virus 1 (WCLaV-1) and WCLaV-2 ( Hernandez et al. 2021) and negative for other viruses (details on viruses tested and primers used are available in eXtra Table S1). The obtained amplicons of expected sizes of WCLaV-1 and WCLaV-2 movement protein (MP) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes (eXtra Fig S2) were then subjected to Sanger sequencing (Eurofins Genomics, Germany) and BLAST analysis. The MP (PQ570004, PQ570006) and the RdRp (PQ570005, PQ570007) sequences exhibited 100% identity with multiple accessions of WCLaV-1, such as PP792977 and PP792976, and WCLaV-2, such as LC636073 and LC636074. Illumina high-throughput sequencing (HTS, Novogene, Germany, NovaSeq X Plus, PE150) identified WCLaV-1 (PV012703-04) and WCLaV-2 (PV012705-06) reads, along with cucumis melo amalgavirus 1 (CmAV1, PV012707) and solanum nigrum ilarvirus 1 reads (insufficient reads to reconstruct genome segments, it may originate from pollen contamination of nearby infected plants in the field (Rivarez et al. 2023)). HTS data were analyzed in CLC Genomics Workbench v. 24 (Qiagen, USA) using the pipeline by (Pecman et al. 2022). Consensus genome sequences were reconstructed by iterative read mapping to the most similar reference sequence of the virus obtained from NCBI GenBank. To check for WCLaVs in watermelon seeds sold in Slovenia, we tested five seed samples from Sugar Baby, Crimstar F1, and Crimson Sweet (three lots) by RT-PCR. We also tested four leaf samples from plants grown from these seeds at 3-5 true leaves stage. Both viruses were found in all seed and leaf extracts. However, mechanical inoculations with the sap of two samples (plants grown from infected seed sample and sample D760/24) on several commonly used indicator plants including Chenopodium quinoa, Capsicum annuum, Nicotiana clevelandii, Nicotiana glutinosa, Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum cv. White Burley, Nicotiana rustica, Datura stramonium, Cucurbita pepo cv. Bianca di Trieste, and Cucurbita maxima did not result in their infection. Retrospective analyses of our HTS data of two watermelon and 84 other cucurbits samples from previous years showed WCLaV-1 and WCLaV-2 reads in two pooled samples (containing equal amount of RNA of each sample): one from 2018 and another from 2019. RT-PCR confirmed the presence of WCLaVs only in watermelons. The pool from 2018 was sequenced at GATC (Germany, NovaSeq 6000 S2, PE 150) and from 2019 in-house using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (UK, MinION Mk1B device, SQK-PCS108, R9 flow cell). All HTS reads are deposited in the NCBI Short Reads Archive (PRJNA1202089). This is the first report of WCLaV-1 and WCLaV-2 in Slovenia and Europe, the two viruses which were included to the Alert list of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization, due to limited knowledge about their epidemiology (EPPO 2023). Further research is necessary to determine the incidence of these viruses in Europe, elucidate their epidemiology, symptoms association and their potential impact on the production of watermelons in the region.

The Potential Role of Precision Agriculture in Building Sustainable Livelihoods and Farm Resilience Amid Climate Change: A Stakeholders’ Perspective from Southern Punjab, Pakistan

This study explores the potential role of precision agricultural technologies (PATs) in enhancing the physical, natural, human, financial, and social capitals of farming communities in the southern Punjab region of Pakistan, specifically focusing on the districts of Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Multan. A stratified random sampling method with proportional allocation was employed to gather insights from four heterogeneous key stakeholder groups, including progressive farmers, researchers, extension agents, and academicians, yielding a total sample of 287 respondents. A structured questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale was administered, allowing the respondents to assess the perceived potential impacts of the PATs on various livelihood assets. The findings reveal that while stakeholders recognized some potential for PATs to improve physical assets, natural resources, and human capital, the overall perceived impact remained limited across all dimensions. The highest-rated potential impact was noted in crop diversity, with an average score of 2.26 in the physical capital category. In the category of natural capital, precise plant protection practices were rated the highest, with an average score of 2.31 that showed little potential change. A reduction in labor displacement issues and generating skilful employment resources, with average scores of 2.12, were rated the highest in the human capital category. A slight increase in family income, with an average score of 2.28, was observed in the financial capital category, highlighting cautious optimism among respondents. Additionally, reducing family problems and social issues, with an average score of 2.20, was rated the highest, leading to a minimal perceived change in social capital, indicating a need for integrated approaches to foster stronger community ties. The results underscore the necessity for targeted interventions that combine technological adoption with community engagement to enhance the overall resilience of farming systems. This research contributes valuable insights into adopting PATs and their implications for sustainable livelihoods, emphasizing the importance of aligning technological advancements with the unique needs of farming communities in the face of a changing climate.

Effects of exogenous chitosan concentrations on photosynthesis and functional physiological traits of hibiscus under salt stress

BackgroundSoil salinity is a major barrier to plant growth and yield improvement. Chitosan, a versatile biomaterial, has shown potential in enhancing plant stress tolerance. This study evaluated the effectiveness of chitosan pretreatment in mitigating salt stress hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus L.). Two-year-old hibiscus cuttings were treated with varying concentrations of chitosan (10 mg/L, 25 mg/L, 50 mg/L, 100 mg/L) via root irrigation and foliar spray in a 6‰ saline environment. Growth parameters, gas exchange rates, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmotic regulatory compounds were analyzed.ResultsThe results showed that chitosan at 25 mg/L and 50 mg/L significantly improved physiological and ecological traits. These concentrations enhanced photosynthetic performance, protected photosynthetic electron transport chain, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content and relative conductivity, thereby limiting cell membrane damage. Additionally, the accumulation of soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and proline increased, improving the plants’ ability to cope with salt stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were notably elevated, while levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (O₂−) decreased.ConclusionsThe 25 mg/L and 50 mg/L treatments had the most pronounced effects, confirming that moderate chitosan concentrations effectively alleviate salt stress in hibiscus. This study underscores the role of chitosan in enhancing salt stress adaptability, offering insights for plant protection and greening efforts.