Abstract Climate warming over the next century is expected to have a large impact on the interactions between pests and their hosts in agriculture. Vector‐borne diseases are sensitive to warming or climate change because temperature changes can alter vector development rates, shift their geographical distribution, or alter transmission dynamics. One clear recent example of this is squash silverleaf disorder (SLD), a physiological disease of cucurbits resulting from feeding by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (silverleaf whitefly, SLW). SLD is marked by silvering of the leaves of Cucurbita spp. resulting in decreased photosynthetic efficiency, loss of vigour, and thus declining fruit production. When SLW infestation occurs in combination with drought stress, the severity of SLD dramatically increases. In this review, we summarize the pathology of SLD on crops, the available studies both phenotypically and genetically characterizing SLD in Cucurbita spp., and also the available SLD management strategies. Finally, we identify major research questions that remain to be answered in order to ameliorate the increasing challenge that this disorder presents to sustainable vegetable crop production.
Abstract Cultivar mixtures are advocated as an agroecological strategy for suppressing cereal aphid vectors and reducing barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmission, yet their effects on within‐crop dispersal remain largely untested, particularly across vector species and virus infection states. We quantified the walking dispersal of Sitobion avenae and both BYDV‐PAV‐viruliferous and non‐viruliferous Rhopalosiphum padi through wheat stands comprising a 1970s cultivar (Maris Huntsman) and a Bdv2 ‐carrying BYDV‐resistant cultivar (RGT Wolverine), arranged as monocultures, alternating‐row intercropping and randomised mixtures. Dispersal responses were species‐specific, cultivar‐dependent and fundamentally altered by virus infection status. S. avenae colonised non‐source plants at comparable rates across all treatments. Non‐viruliferous R. padi showed strong cultivar‐mediated responses as colonisation on Maris Huntsman monocultures was 67%–69% lower than on Wolverine, with a steep distance‐decay gradient (64% decline per unit distance) indicating rapid arrestment on the preferred host. Within randomised mixtures, R. padi preferentially colonised Maris Huntsman, but the presence of Wolverine plants disrupted arrestment and produced spatially uniform dispersal resembling that on Wolverine monocultures. Source plant cultivar, rather than surrounding planting configuration, was the primary driver of R. padi dispersal in mixtures. Critically, BYDV‐PAV infection eliminated all cultivar‐specific responses in R. padi as viruliferous aphids dispersed uniformly regardless of cultivar arrangement, consistent with virus‐induced behavioural manipulation overriding host‐acceptance cues. These findings demonstrate that this cultivar combination does not provide consistent associational resistance and can create associational susceptibility for non‐viruliferous R. padi , indicating that species‐specific vector ecology and virus‐mediated behavioural modification must be integrated into the design of cultivar diversification strategies for BYDV management in cereals.
Abstract Legumes are important crops as a source of plant‐based proteins, and their independence of nitrogen fertilizers reduces the carbon footprint of cropping systems. Within the family, Lotus japonicus is an important model system for research on arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodule symbiosis. Genetic approaches require year‐round reproducible growth and seed production. Thus, we aimed to optimise the cultivation system of L. japonicus in a modern research greenhouse with dimmable LEDs while reducing energy consumption. Dimmable LEDs allow us to regulate the light provided by energy‐consuming lamps in response to the ambient light intensities to achieve constant daily light integrals (DLIs) for the plants inside the greenhouse. The use of moving lamps can further reduce the number of LEDs per area, provided the cultivated species tolerates light fluctuations. In our study, we compared the plant development and the seed production during spring/summer and autumn/winter in two ecotypes (Gifu B‐129, MG‐20). Plants were cultivated under stationary or moving LEDs with two fertilisation schemes and two seed pre‐treatments. Heat‐treatment of the seed had no negative effect on the germination rate and the plant development and can be recommended as a standard hygiene procedure. The weekly fertilisation of L. japonicus can be replaced by adding slow‐release fertilizer at the start of the cultivation. Cultivation on increased micro‐ or macronutrient supply did not increase pod yield; we thus conclude that the plants were not nutrient limited. L. japonicus developed more slowly and produced lower yields in the fluctuating light of moving LEDs than under stationary LEDs. The difference was enhanced during times of low ambient light intensities. As previously observed, Gifu developed more slowly than MG‐20. While the reduced initial growth rate in the first weeks may be caused by the lower seed weight of Gifu, the delay in subsequent development seemed to result from a higher sensitivity of Gifu to low light intensities and light intensity fluctuations, as the difference between the ecotypes decreased with increasing DLI. In conclusion, we developed an optimised cultivation system for L. japonicus in a climate‐controlled greenhouse by dimming LED in response to ambient light intensities to achieve a DLI of 20 to 25 mol m −2 d −1 .
Abstract Durum wheat ( Triticum durum Desf.) is a critical staple and cash crop in semi‐arid regions, yet its productivity remains highly vulnerable to climate‐induced abiotic stresses, particularly drought and rising temperatures. This study leverages data from the 30th Elite Regional Durum Wheat Yield Trials conducted across 13 rainfed and irrigated environments in Iran (2022–2025) to dissect genotype × environment (G × E) interactions and identify high‐performing, stable genotypes for deployment under increasing climatic uncertainty. Using an integrative analytical framework—combining Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI), Genotype plus genotype‐by‐environment (GGE) biplot, and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression with 19 climatic covariates—we quantified the relative contributions of environment, genotype, and their interaction, delineated environmental groups, and identified key climatic drivers of yield variation. Results revealed that environment accounted for 81% of total yield variance, with terminal drought (low June rainfall) imposing a universal constraint. G × E interaction, though modest in magnitude (7.65%), was over six times larger than genotype main effects, underscoring its operational relevance for varietal recommendation. Breeding lines G12 (CIMMYT‐derived) and G24 (Iranian) emerged as top candidates: G12 featured among the top‐four performers in 10 of 13 environments and ranked first in 7, while G24 displayed exceptional stability and broad adaptability. PLS modelling identified February and April rainfall—coinciding with tillering to heading—as the strongest climatic predictors of yield, surpassing total seasonal precipitation in explanatory power; late‐season (May–June) temperature also significantly modulated G × E, particularly under terminal heat stress. Environment evaluation highlighted KD3 (Khorramabad) and KH3 (Kermanshah) as the most discriminative and representative test sites, whereas MN4 (Moghan) and IM5 (Ilam) served as effective stress filters. Collectively, our findings support an empirical framework that integrates pattern recognition (AMMI/GGE) with environmental modelling (PLS) to guide environment‐targeted selection—providing a foundation for developing durum wheat varieties with improved adaptation to Iran's heterogeneous rainfed agroecologies.
Understanding how developmental programs intersect with stress signalling is essential for improving plant adaptive capacity. Here, stage-resolved transcriptome data were integrated with physiological stress readouts (drought and salinity). Specifically, drought and salinity treatments were used to examine how wall remodelling and redox metabolism are co-regulated during leaf maturation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Differential expression analyses revealed a gradual transition from extensibility-associated cell wall modification to mitochondrial redox stabilisation, and identified six hub regulators-CESA8, XTH15, ESK1, AOX1A, SOT12 and NAC13-that occupy topological cores linking carbohydrate metabolism with oxidative energy dissipation. Independent physiological assays demonstrated that drought and salinity treatments elicited bona fide stress states, reflected by reduced leaf area, altered flowering time, and increased MDA and proline accumulation. A three-way ANOVA performed on qRT-PCR data confirmed that treatment, time, and tissue interaction significantly influenced (p < .05, F-test) the expression dynamics of hub genes and benchmark markers. Specifically, XTH15 and AOX1A showed prominent induction in roots, while CESA8 and NAC13 exhibited coordinated shoot activation. Notably, sugar metabolism was characterised by a strategic down-regulation of INV1 alongside the induction of SUS1 and TPS1, aligning with a statistically significant decline in total soluble carbohydrate content. This congruence across molecular and biochemical layers supports that these developmental signatures represent authentic redox-osmotic adjustment. Among the detected regulators, XTH15, SOT12 and NAC13 remain mechanistically undercharacterised and represent tractable targets for CRISPR-based functional genomics. Overall, our results suggest that the AOX1A-NAC13 + CESA8-XTH15 axis constitutes a pre-configured structural-redox buffer, providing a mechanistic framework for stress-aware crop engineering.
Abstract Meloidogyne incognita (root‐knot nematode; RKN) is one of the most damaging soilborne pathogens affecting the common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Control relies primarily on resistant cultivars, making accurate resistance phenotyping a key component of breeding programmes. Here, we developed an integrated phenotyping approach to identify resistant genotypes in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. For initial screening, 361 RILs were evaluated with three replications for galling index (GI), number of galls (NG), and egg masses (EM) at 60 days after inoculation (DAI). A subset of 24 segregating RILs was further assessed in a second trial for GI, NG, EM, and reproduction factor (RF), with seven replications at 30 and 60 DAI. A multi‐trait factor analytic mixed model was used to derive an overall resistance index (ORI) for genotype classification into moderately resistant (MR), intermediate (I), and susceptible (S) classes. We also assessed the potential of a qPCR‐based phenotyping protocol using two contrasting RILs from the segregating subset. High heritability (>0.8) and strong genotypic correlations among resistance components were observed in the RIL segregants, indicating a robust genetic basis for selection. MR genotypes consistently exhibited reduced GI, NG, EM, and RF, and transgressive segregants were identified within the MR group, confirming that the ORI framework effectively distinguished resistance levels. Moreover, later evaluation improved genotype classification and revealed resistance shifts. The rank correlation based on the ORI between 30 and 60 DAI was 0.88. qPCR‐based phenotyping consistently discriminated MR and S lines in agreement with classical phenotyping, supporting its use as a complementary evaluation tool. Overall, our results validate an integrative multi‐trait strategy for more precise resistance phenotyping and genotype selection.
Abstract Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) exhibits lower rates of biological N 2 fixation (BNF) than other legumes and often relies on nitrogen (N) fertilizers to maintain yields. Since BNF is supported by photosynthesis, there is ongoing debate about whether super‐early‐cycle cultivars can support the photosynthetic costs associated with BNF. We hypothesized that inoculation with an efficient Rhizobium strain would directly enhance nodule activity and BNF and indirectly stimulate photosynthesis across common bean cultivars. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using three cultivars with different growth cycles: BRS FC104 (super‐early, 65 days), BRS Pontal (intermediate, 87 days), and BRS Vereda (long, 93 days). Plants were subjected to one of three treatments: (1) no inoculation or N fertilization, (2) N fertilization without inoculation, or (3) inoculation with Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899. At growth stages V4 and R6, we measured photosynthesis rates, shoot and root biomass, petiole N‐ureides, leaf N content, soluble sugars, and nodule enzyme activities (GS and GOGAT). Inoculation increased nodule enzymatic activity (e.g., GOGAT at R6: 6.8 μmol NADH min −1 in inoculated plants, compared with 5.3 in control and 4.8 in N‐fertilized plants), indicating enhanced BNF. The intermediate‐cycle cultivar BRS Pontal showed the highest N‐ureide accumulation, even under N fertilization (37.7 nmol g −1 , compared with 15.2 in BRS FC104 and 17.0 in BRS Vereda). Thus, BRS Vereda could serve as a model for future studies aimed at improving BNF in common beans. Under the conditions of this study, super‐early cycle BRS FC104 sustained BNF at levels comparable to those observed in the intermediate‐ (BRS Pontal) and long‐cycle (BRS Vereda) cultivars. Overall, inoculation increased both photosynthesis and nodule activity, regardless of growth cycle length.
Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is a crop of substantial social and economic importance, particularly in Brazilian smallholder agriculture. However, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the genomic diversity and population structure of the germplasm cultivated in Brazil. Here, we characterised 46 representative Brazilian accessions using single nucleotide polymorphism markers generated by genotyping-by-sequencing. The results revealed moderate genomic diversity, relatively high inbreeding and a clear pattern of regional population structure. The Southeast and Northeast populations exhibited the greatest allelic richness, while the South region contained the highest number of private alleles, highlighting distinct genetic resources. Population structure and clustering analyses identified well-defined regional subgroups, consistent with historical dispersal routes. Regional differentiation shows that the genomic diversity of lima bean in Brazil is both heterogeneous and moderately structured. From an applied perspective, these findings support breeding strategies that combine Northeastern accessions with the unique alleles identified in the South. More broadly, this study highlights the value of expanded genomic analyses to clarify the species' evolutionary history and to guide the sustainable use of Brazilian germplasm.
Genetic diversity is crucial for plant breeding programs which provide necessary germplasm for selection and development of targeted traits. So, development and screening of suitable germplasm is vital. To enhance heat stress tolerance in wheat, an experiment was conducted using 60 F6 wheat advanced lines (ALs), their parents, and check varieties at the Genetics and Plant Breeding Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) elucidated substantial variation among the ALs and studied traits. Maximum grain yield plot-1 was recorded in AL 49 (603.8 g), AL 21 (612.4 g), AL 51 (580.9 g), and AL 20 (554.1 g). Phenotypic coefficients of variation were slightly higher than genotypic coefficients, indicating minimal environmental influence on the ALs. Grain filling duration, grains spike-1, and plant height exhibited high heritability with moderate to high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. These traits also showed strong positive genotypic and phenotypic interlink with yield. Path coefficient assessment further revealed that these traits had a high direct positive effect on yield. Among the microsatellite markers analysed, 14 markers were polymorphic, with an average PIC value of 0.67. Cluster analysis using phenotypic and molecular data grouped genotypes into three clusters, demonstrating substantial variation among the selected best 10 ALs. These ALs could serve as a potential germplasm in heat stress breeding or may be released as new varieties after multi-location trials.
Drought is a major constraint in Indian mustard production, especially under rainfed conditions. This study evaluated 11 advanced breeding lines and 3 checks under irrigated and rainfed environments during Rabi 2023-24 at BHU, Varanasi. Morphological and physiological traits, including relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), and SPAD chlorophyll readings, were recorded. Drought tolerance was assessed using indices such as stress tolerance index (STI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), and yield stability index (YSI). Significant variation among genotypes was observed. HUJM(D)23-01 exhibited superior drought tolerance with high seed yield, RWC, and chlorophyll content. Mean ranking and principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed its stable performance across environments. Indices like STI, GMP, and DI correlated strongly with yield under both conditions, whereas TOL and SSPI were associated with susceptibility. The study demonstrates the utility of integrating physiological traits and selection indices for identifying drought-resilient mustard genotypes.
Abstract Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ) is one of the most important fruit crops, but it is susceptible to several pests and pathogens. Pesticide applications are required to prevent yield and quality losses, and fungicides represent the largest fraction of treatments in plant protection programs under conventional, integrated, or organic disease management. Thus, alternative fungicides are being developed for the sustainable control of grapevine pathogens, such as biocontrol agents and natural products. In addition to toxicological and ecotoxicological tests, there is considerable interest in verifying possible effects of plant protection products on non‐target microorganisms. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the impact of plant protection programs and alternative fungicides on the taxonomic composition of bacterial and fungal communities of the grapevine phyllosphere. Amplicon sequencing studies revealed that the grapevine microbiota is primarily shaped by the plant compartment, vineyard location, and sampling time. Plant protection programs generally have only a minor impact on the taxonomic composition of microbial communities on grapevine bunches, leaves, and wood, suggesting the resilience of indigenous phyllosphere microorganisms. However, the effects of fungicide treatments can vary with fungicide dosage, application frequency, grapevine cultivar, and environmental conditions, indicating that further long‐term studies with more frequent applications are required to clarify the effects of chemical and biological treatments on non‐target microorganisms at different sampling times.
Abstract Legumes are a nutrient dense food group that can offer considerable health and sustainability benefits. Despite a long history in agricultural production and diverse dietary patterns, legume intake in the UK is chronically low. This narrative review proposes that the implementation of interventions to promote greater acceptability, access, and intake of legumes in the UK is a worthy endeavour to promote population and planetary health. The health and environmental impacts of legume intake are summarised, and existing barriers to consumption—taste, texture, cooking skills, time, convenience, familiarity, digestive concerns and allergenicity—are outlined. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics Intervention Ladder is adopted to frame and review intervention options that can be adopted to increase legume intake through proportionate population level action. Intervention strategies are identified in a narrative synthesis, mapped to intervention ladder levels, and appraised for feasibility, impact, and proportionality. We identify ‘anchor institutions’ and retail environments as high leverage settings. Progress requires coordinated policy and practice beyond the provision of information and the level of personal responsibility for food choice. Target interventions include: changes to choice architecture in public and retail food environments; increased availability of legumes (e.g., reformulation of familiar foods to incorporate legumes); harnessing public procurement (e.g., schools and the NHS) to increase exposure and normalise legume‐based options; and deployment of incentive measures to promote access. The introduction of interventions across a number of ‘levels’ may offer an efficacious approach to support increased acceptance and consumption of legumes.
Abstract Regenerative agriculture (RA) offers a holistic approach to restore soil health, enhance crop productivity and mitigate climate change impacts. This review compiles evidence from 120 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2025 to evaluate the effectiveness of eight major RA practices. It includes no‐tillage, organic amendments, biochar application, residue retention, cover cropping, crop rotation, agroforestry and crop–livestock integration across tropical ( n = 73) and temperate ( n = 47) agroecosystems. In tropical systems, 21 studies reported soil organic carbon (SOC) increases of 10–15% following biochar application and organic amendments, while 9 temperate studies documented improved SOC stabilization under no‐tillage and diversified crop rotations. Improvements in soil quality indicators, including aggregation, nutrient availability and microbial activity, ranged from 7 to 13%, supported by 15 tropical and 6 temperate studies. Crop yield enhancement of 10–18% was observed in 24 tropical studies under residue retention and organic amendment practices, whereas 11 temperate studies reported sustained productivity gains under crop rotation and crop–livestock integration. Additionally, 18 studies across both climatic regions documented greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of 3–5%, particularly in agroforestry and conservation‐based systems. Agroforestry systems offered multiple co‐benefits, particularly in humid and sub‐humid regions because of their higher carbon sequestration potential. Unlike previous reviews that primarily focused on individual regenerative practices or isolated soil carbon responses, this review provides a climate‐stratified comparative synthesis integrating soil health, crop productivity and GHG mitigation across multiple RA practices. These insights emphasize the need for region‐specific RA strategies supported by long‐term research, incentives and policies to achieve sustainable and climate‐resilient food systems.
The genus Vigna includes several cultivated species, such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), urdbean (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper), mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), mothbean (Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal), adzuki bean (Vigna angularis (Willd) Ohwi and H. Ohashi), and ricebean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi and H. Ohashi), which face yield losses due to climate change, pests, diseases, and changing cultivation practices. It is crucial to characterise wild species for agro-morphological traits and biochemical traits to identify promising accessions for future Vigna breeding programmes. The present study characterised 12 Vigna species (71 accessions) selected from the entire wild Vigna collection conserved in the National Genebank of India for morphological traits (20 quantitative and 28 qualitative traits) at two locations using an augmented block design (ABD) and eight biochemical traits. Significant differences were observed both within and between species in all quantitative traits. Eight distinct groups were identified by cluster analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) captured 85.18% of the best variation among traits and accessions. Promising accessions were identified for key traits, viz., for early flowering EC1036864-24 days (Vigna subterranea); for the highest pod length IC259504-16.6 cm (Vigna vexillata); for the highest seed weight, EC1036860-81.53 g (V. subterranea); for the highest number of pods per peduncle IC553539-9.7 (V. stipulacea). A significant variation was also observed across various biochemical traits, and PCA explained 83.35% of the variation. Promising accessions were identified for iron content-EC1170496-134.79 ppm (Vigna oblongifolia); zinc content-80.25 ppm EC1170517 (V. unguiculata subsp. stenophylla); and protein content-30.23% -EC1170492 (V. oblongifolia). These elite accessions had great potential to serve as donors for improving cultivated Vigna species, acting as a baseline for domestication, breeding, and improvement, ensuring the future utilisation of wild Vigna genetic resources.
Beet chlorosis virus (BChV; species Polerovirus BCHV) is an economically important pathogen causing significant yield losses in sugar beet worldwide. This study reports the first detection and genetic diversity of BChV in the Czech Republic. Thirty-seven symptomatic sugar beet samples collected from multiple locations were screened using one-enzyme RTX-PCR. BChV was detected in 12 samples from seven locations. All positive isolates were analysed by Sanger sequencing of the coat protein-readthrough domain (CP-RTD; ORF3-ORF5) region, which served as the primary dataset for diversity analysis. One representative isolate, PX088834 (B_V1_CZ; Bezno_CZ), was further analysed by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to obtain a near-complete genome sequence. HTS produced a near-complete BChV genome sequence of 5779 nt. The sequence confirmed the expected polerovirus genomic organisation of the PX088834 (B_V1_CZ; Bezno_CZ) isolate, and genome-wide pairwise identity analysis placed it within the European BChV lineage. CP-RTD phylogenetic analysis of 12 Czech isolates revealed three phylogenetic lineages, designated A, B, and B1. Three Czech isolates (L_V8; Jizern & iacute; Vtelno_CZ, L_V11; N & ecaron;m & ccaron;ice_CZ, and L_V16; Radonice_CZ) clustered within lineage A together with isolates from the United Kingdom and the United States, whereas the remaining nine isolates fell within lineages B and B1 alongside other European isolates. The co-occurrence of these lineages, including at the same sampling location, is consistent with multiple independent introductions. Sliding-window similarity analysis confirmed a clear gradient of divergence from closely related European isolates to the most divergent US isolate. Codon-based analysis demonstrated significant purifying selection acting on the CP-RTD region, and recombination analysis identified one putative event in the near-complete genome and two additional events in the CP-RTD dataset. These findings expand current knowledge of BChV distribution and genetic diversity in Europe and provide a foundation for future surveillance efforts.
Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a recurring problem in eggplant and often leaves growers with few reliable options. Trichoderma-based products and rhizobacterial inoculants are used in practice, but their performance varies, so both were examined here under the same screening conditions. In greenhouse tests and in vitro assays, Trichoderma viride showed much stronger suppression of wilt than the Rhizobium strain, and this result held across application methods. Because T. viride consistently performed better, its metabolites were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The extract contained several phenolic compounds, benzophenone, a benzoxazinone-type molecule, and related secondary metabolites. These were then docked against a panel of R. solanacearum virulence proteins to see which ones might be relevant to the observed activity. A few metabolites stood out. These included 4-(4-methylbenzoylmethyl)-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methyl-3-phenyl-4-chromenone, benzophenone and N-(methylsulfonyl)tryptophan. All four gave the strongest predicted interactions, particularly with ChbA, RasR, MetE and WecC. The results point to T. viride as the more effective biocontrol agent for eggplant wilt, while the docking results highlight specific metabolites that could be involved and deserve further biochemical testing.
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV; Tobamovirus viridimaculae, Virgaviridae) is a mechanically transmitted plant virus that poses a major threat to cucurbit (cucumber, watermelon, melon and squash, among others) production worldwide. Its virions are rigid, non-enveloped, rod-shaped particles (~300 nm & times; 18 nm) composed of helically arranged monomers of the coat protein (CP) which encapsidate a positive-sense (+) single-stranded RNA genome (~6.4 kb). The CGMMV (+) RNA encodes two replication-associated proteins, a movement protein, and the CP. CGMMV virions are extremely stable and can persist for extended periods in plant debris and on contaminated surfaces. The virus is primarily associated with Cucurbitaceae, but it can infect plants from other families. Two major genetic types are recognized: Clade I and Clade II, often assimilated to European (EU) and Asian (AS) types, respectively, with Clade II isolates typically causing more severe symptoms and spreading globally. Transmission occurs mainly via mechanical contact, including through contaminated soil and tools, irrigation water, and infected seed, with seed-to-seedling transmission ranging widely from <0.1% to ~70%. Infected plants display stunting, foliar mosaic and deformation, and fruit discoloration and malformation, leading to severe economic losses. Resistances are available in commercial cultivars but do not abolish virus multiplication. Effective control requires integrated management combining prevention, rapid detection, and containment. CGMMV also serves as a valuable model for studying molecular interactions between cucurbits and viruses, and for gene functional studies in this plant family.
Potato leafroll virus (PLRV, species Polerovirus PLRV) is a positive-strand RNA virus, a member of the genus Polerovirus within the family Solemoviridae. Virus particles of PLRV are isometric, 24 nm in diameter. PLRV is the causal agent of leafroll disease in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) which is present in all potato-growing regions worldwide and causes significant losses in yield and quality of potato tubers. PLRV is transmitted in a persistent, non-replicative manner by aphid vectors and via infected tubers produced by PLRV-infected potato plants. In the past, PLRV incidence has been contained by applying insecticides to control vector aphids; however, changes in agronomic practices and a warmer environment have led to the re-emergence of PLRV as a threat to potato production systems.
It is widely recognised that the average UK diet does not meet recommended daily intakes of fruit and vegetables and that this is leading towards considerable additional stress on the UK's healthcare system. At the same time, the United Kingdom produces less home-grown fresh produce each year and the increasing dependence on imports reduces resilience in the UK's food system. The resulting opportunity gap has encouraged many organisations to publish food and farming strategies that focus on, or involve, the UK edible horticulture sector. This paper is a synthesis of these publications with common themes discussed critically. We compiled a synthesis of 11 strategy and advocacy documents involving the edible horticulture sector, including reports to Parliamentary Committees, policy papers and strategy briefings. We have drawn out common and repeated strategic priorities and relate these to contemporary policy developments. Some of these themes have been addressed in recent government policy advances as part of wider considerations, such as The UK government food strategy for England, 2025. Others remain more sector specific. This is the first critical analysis to draw together the views of diverse organisations and to frame priority actions for government. It is imperative that edible horticulture is given more prominence in national strategic thinking and policy making.
Blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most destructive diseases of rice worldwide and poses a major challenge to sustainable production in Bangladesh. Binadhan-17, an elite early-maturing, high-yielding variety widely cultivated in Bangladesh, is highly susceptible to blast. To enhance its resistance, a blast resistance allele at the Pi9 locus from the donor parent Pongsu Seribu 2 was introgressed into the Binadhan-17 background through marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC). Foreground selection was carried out using the gene-linked SSR marker RM6836, while 68 polymorphic SSR markers distributed across all rice chromosomes were employed for background selection. Four improved lines, BINA-BR-4-10-18, BINA-BR-4-10-12, BINA-BR-4-10-15, and BINA-BR-4-10-19, were successfully developed, with recurrent parent genome recovery ranging from 89% to 96.1%, the highest being in BINA-BR-4-10-12. Variation in genotype performance was observed across different locations, indicating differential responses of genotypes under diverse environmental conditions. Notably, BINA-BR-4-10-12 recorded the highest mean yield (7.68 t/ha) and maintained stable blast resistance, with disease severity remaining below 10% under artificial inoculation. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of MABC in integrating resistance genes while preserving desirable agronomic traits. The improved lines, particularly BINA-BR-4-10-12, represent promising candidates for varietal release and can contribute to the development of durable blast-resistant rice varieties in Bangladesh.
