ABSTRACT In Italy, small‐fruit organic cultivation is a high‐value niche sector. However, research evidence on diseases and pathogens threatening woodland strawberry is still missing. In 2024, a severe wilt associated with root rot, crown rot and leaf spot occurred on woodland strawberry plants (var. Tondina) from organic cropping systems in southern Italy. Symptoms closely resembled those reported in other countries for strawberry leaf spot and crown rot disease. The disease incidence was estimated at > 65%. To elucidate its aetiology, the present study was conducted. Pure fungal isolates were obtained from symptomatic plants. Colonies had a circular, white, cottony surface mycelium and a pale‐luteous to orange reverse pigmentation, closely matching Neopestalotiopsis rosae . Phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, the β‐tubulin ( tub2 ) and the translation elongation factor 1α ( tef1‐α ) barcodes confirmed the morphological identification of all isolates from this study, which showed 99%–100% homology with N. rosae . Following pathogenicity tests, symptoms similar to those observed in the field were reproduced on Tondina woodland strawberry plants, and the same pathogen was re‐isolated from inoculated plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N . rosae causing leaf spot, crown rot and root rot disease in woodland strawberry in Italy and worldwide. Further studies are recommended to assess the susceptibility of diverse woodland strawberry varieties to N. rosae infections and uncover appropriate sustainable control strategies.
ABSTRACT The use of biological products has been identified as a sustainable and effective strategy for the control of nematodes in agriculture. However, a better understanding of the mode of action of these microorganisms and how they affect the vitality and multiplication of nematodes in plants is needed. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of and identify the mechanisms by which Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain SIMBI BS 10 acts in the control of nematodes in soybean and sugarcane. Experiments were conducted to investigate the association of B. amyloliquefaciens with soybean roots to detect biofilm formation and endophytic colonisation. The in vitro production of proteases and chitinases by the microorganisms was evaluated. The nematicidal effects of the substances produced by the microorganisms on different nematodes were tested. To confirm the in vivo efficacy of this strain for the control of nematodes, assays were performed in pots (soybean and sugarcane). Different doses of the microorganisms were applied to the planting furrow, and the plants were inoculated with M. incognita , after which the nematode reproduction and damage caused to the roots (galls) were evaluated. The results indicated that the SIMBI BS 10 isolate of B. amyloliquefaciens has the ability to form biofilms on the root surface and colonise the root tissues. Chitinases were not detected; however, colonies synthesised proteases and metabolites with effective nematicidal effects against three nematode species. These mechanisms can facilitate the control of M. incognita and minimise the damage caused by this nematode to soybean and sugarcane in the early stages of these crops.
ABSTRACT Bacterial diseases are major constraints in tomato production, particularly bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis and bacterial spot caused by different Xanthomonas species. The limited effectiveness of chemical bactericides, the emergence of resistant strains and environmental concerns highlight the need for ecofriendly, sustainable strategies to control these phytopathogens. This study aimed to evaluate the biocontrol potential of a heat‐inactivated culture of Burkholderia gladioli strain BNM349 against major bacterial pathogens of tomato. Antibacterial activity of B. gladioli BNM349 culture‐derived preparations, including heat‐inactivated culture, cell‐free supernatant and butanol extract, was first assessed in vitro against C. michiganensis , X. vesicatoria and X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans . All BNM349‐derived preparations inhibited pathogen growth, although the extent of inhibition varied depending on the preparation type and pathogenic bacterial species. Greenhouse experiments further demonstrated that soil application of the heat‐inactivated culture significantly reduced bacterial canker severity by 40.1%, decreasing both disease progression and stem necrosis. The same treatment also reduced bacterial spot severity caused by X. vesicatoria by 48%. In contrast, the cell‐free supernatant had no significant effect on disease severity. These results indicate that heat‐inactivated cultures of B. gladioli BNM349 retain bioactive compounds capable of suppressing bacterial diseases in tomato, highlighting the potential of non‐viable microbial preparations as an environmentally friendly strategy for crop disease management.
ABSTRACT Turmeric ( Curcuma longa L.) and ginger ( Zingiber officinale Rosc.) are economically important medicinal and spice crops valued for their diverse pharmacological properties and extensive applications in traditional and modern healthcare. However, their productivity is constrained by soil‐borne diseases, abiotic stresses, and declining soil health associated with intensive agrochemical use. Microbial biopriming, involving the pre‐treatment of planting materials with beneficial microorganisms such as plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Trichoderma , arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial microbes, has emerged as an eco‐friendly strategy to improve crop establishment, productivity, and resilience. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in rhizosphere microbial diversity and microbe‐mediated biopriming in turmeric and ginger, highlighting mechanisms underlying plant growth promotion, nutrient acquisition, phytohormone production, induced systemic resistance, disease suppression, and abiotic stress mitigation. Recent developments in genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and other multi‐omics approaches are also discussed, emphasizing their potential to elucidate plant–microbe interactions and facilitate the identification of elite microbial inoculants. Evidence from recent studies demonstrates that microbial inoculation enhances germination, rhizome yield, phytochemical quality, nutrient‐use efficiency, and resistance to major diseases, while contributing to improved tolerance against salinity, drought, nutrient deficiency, and other environmental stresses. The review further identifies key research gaps, including the need for long‐term field validation, crop‐specific microbial consortia, and precision biopriming strategies. Overall, microbial biopriming represents a sustainable, cost‐effective approach for improving the productivity, quality, and climate resilience of turmeric and ginger while reducing dependence on chemical inputs.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally important vegetable crop whose productivity is significantly constrained by root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). The results revealed that all organic amendments significantly reduced nematode population and associated disease parameters compared to the untreated control. Among the treatments, neem cake applied at 2 t ha-1 exhibited superior performance, recording the lowest nematode population in soil (80.00 and 112.22 J2/200 cc soil during 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, respectively), minimum number of egg masses and eggs per mass, and substantial population reduction (52.84%-58.93%). Neem cake also resulted in the lowest reproduction factor (0.62 and 0.42) and root-knot index (0.78 in both years), indicating effective suppression of nematode multiplication and disease severity. Furthermore, it enhanced seed germination, achieving the highest germination percentage (93.33% and 94.67%). The suppressive effects of organic amendments may be associated with the release of biologically active compounds, including ammonia, organic acids and phenolic compounds, during decomposition, as well as with stimulation of antagonistic soil microorganisms, as reported in previous studies. Although these mechanisms were not directly assessed in the present experiment, they provide plausible explanations for the nematode suppression observed following amendment application. Carbofuran showed efficacy statistically comparable to neem cake for several measured parameters; however, given the broader pesticidal activity of carbofuran and the increasing emphasis on environmentally sustainable pest management, the consistent performance of neem cake is noteworthy. The present findings therefore suggest that neem cake is a promising organic amendment for the management of M. incognita in tomato nurseries and could contribute to reducing reliance on chemical nematicides. Its potential benefits for soil organic matter and crop establishment further support its integration into sustainable and integrated nematode management programs, although these soil-health effects were not directly quantified in the present study.
