The management of emerging plant viruses presents significant challenges for global agriculture, requiring innovative approaches beyond conventional control strategies. Traditional methods rely on cultural practices, vector management, and breeding for genetic resistance, and these approaches are often time-consuming and may have limited effectiveness against emerging viral strains. Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS), involving topical application of virus-derived double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to trigger plant defense mechanisms, offers a promising alternative strategy. However, the application of SIGS faces challenges due to inefficient dsRNA uptake by the plant, among other issues. In this study, we developed and characterized nanocomposite formulations using carbon dots (CDs) and polyethylenimine-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PMSNs) to enhance dsRNA delivery and stability for the control of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and beet curly top virus (BCTV), an RNA and a DNA virus, respectively, in Nicotiana benthamiana. Our results demonstrated that dsRNA delivery was significantly enhanced (up to 5-fold) when formulated with nanoparticles compared to naked dsRNA. For TuMV-infected plants, both nanocomposite formulations significantly reduced viral titers (by 13.5-fold for PMSNs and 17.3-fold for CDs) and maintained photosynthetic capacity similar to uninfected controls even at 66 days post-inoculation. Regarding BCTV, the nanocomposite treatments significantly delayed disease symptom appearance and reduced viral DNA accumulation by 8-28-fold compared to control plants. The enhanced antiviral efficacy observed with nanoparticle formulations correlates with improved dsRNA delivery and persistence in plant tissues, making the nanoparticle-based dsRNA delivery systems represent a viable approach for developing sustainable, environmentally friendly strategies to protect crops against economically important viral diseases.
Phenolic compounds determine virgin olive oil (VOO) quality, health benefits, and cultivar characterization, but routine analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is slow and unsuitable for large genetic studies. This study evaluated Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) as a high-throughput alternative for VOO phenolic profiling. A three-year data set covering broad genetic and environmental variability, including cultivars from the World Olive Germplasm Bank and breeding genotypes from Córdoba (Spain), was used to calibrate Partial Least-Squares models. An independent data set from four cultivars across four environments enabled external validation and broad-sense heritability estimation. FT-NIR models showed strong predictive performance for total phenols and major secoiridoids, with R2 values of 0.62-0.88 and Range Error Ratio (RER) values above 10. Variance analysis indicated genotype-driven variation for ligstroside aglycone and environmental effects for other phenols. FT-NIR estimates closely matched laboratory results, confirming its value for phenolic evaluation in olive breeding programs.
BACKGROUND:Thrips parvispinus is an invasive pest of increasing concern in European greenhouse crops, especially sweet pepper. Its recent spread in southeastern Spain has disrupted integrated pest management protocols relying on inoculative releases of Orius laevigatus and Amblyseius swirskii. Although these predators effectively control Frankliniella occidentalis, their effectiveness against T. parvispinus is unclear. We evaluated the efficacy of O. laevigatus, A. swirskii, and the thrips-specific Franklinothrips vespiformis, alone and combined, against T. parvispinus under semi-field greenhouse conditions, also assessing predator compatibility, pest and predator distribution, and crop productivity. RESULTS:O. laevigatus, alone or in the three species combination, provided the most effective pest suppression. F. vespiformis was compatible with O. laevigatus, although A. swirskii abundance declined in the combined treatment, suggesting intraguild interactions between predators. T. parvispinus was primarily a leaf-dwelling thrips, with only 5.5% of individuals found in flowers. However, this proportion varied depending on predator presence, suggesting predator-induced movement. Notably, pest abundance in flowers was higher in the A. swirskii treatment compared with the other predators and the control, suggesting predator-induced behavioral avoidance. Fruit productivity mirrored overall pest suppression, with significantly higher yields observed in the O. laevigatus and combined treatments. CONCLUSION:These findings refine our understanding of predator interactions and support the inclusion of compatible thrips-specific predators as promising components of biological control strategies for T. parvispinus in sweet pepper crops. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Dematophora necatrix Hartig is a destructive soil-borne fungus responsible for White Root Rot (WRR), affecting more than 350 plant species across 51 countries, including many economically important crops. The pathogen's persistence in soil and broad host range makes it especially challenging to control. Over the past decade, molecular studies have significantly advanced our understanding of the pathogen's biology and its interactions with host plants. These developments underscore the need for a comprehensive review to consolidate recent scientific progress. First, we outline the taxonomy, biology, disease symptoms, hosts and global distribution, and current management strategies of D. necatrix. We then focus on recent molecular advances, highlighting how genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics studies have improved our understanding of the pathogen's virulence and pathogenicity. A high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly has enabled more precise annotation and gene prediction. Transcriptomic analyses have identified candidate pathogenicity-related genes and putative effectors, while secretome proteomic studies suggest the production of antimicrobial proteins which may facilitate infection by suppressing microbial competitors. Secondary metabolites, such as cytochalasin E, have been implicated in virulence, although their precise roles in pathogenicity remain unresolved. Improved transformation protocols now permit targeted gene manipulation, creating new opportunities for functional studies. Lastly, this review highlights key knowledge gaps and calls for integrated multi-omics approaches to better understand D. necatrix pathogenicity and virulence, long-term survival, and environmental adaptation. Such insights are critical for the development of durable, targeted strategies to manage WRR.
