Abstract The cosmopolitan phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary infects many dicotyledonous species, including major crops and weeds. Its virulence toward key pasture weeds and the innate immunity of grasses has motivated research in North America and New Zealand into its potential as a microbial bioherbicide for pastures. Independently, discovery in China that S. sclerotiorum adopts a symptomless endophytic lifestyle in grasses protecting them against fungal diseases has stimulated research into its potential as a cereal crop vaccine. Together, these findings raise the prospect of deploying a single fungal strain as a broad‐spectrum biological tool for integrated weed and disease control in pastures and cereals, challenging long‐held assumptions about the ecological roles and applied value of this pathogen. We evaluate S. sclerotiorum as the active ingredient of such a dual‐purpose biocontrol product using four foundational pillars for success—hypervirulence (efficacy), low production cost, formulation suitability and biosafety. Wild‐type strains are sufficiently virulent and competent endophytic mutualists, whereas microsclerotia offer a cost‐effective scalable active ingredient alternative to mycelium. Further innovation is needed to optimize industrial‐scale production and formulation. To meet biosafety requirements, we propose developing a non‐sclerotia‐forming strain retaining hypervirulence and endophytic competence. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Abstract BACKGROUND Glyphosate efficacy is highly dependent on plant physiological processes that are sensitive to drought stress. Leaf water content (LWC) can be used as a proxy to indicate drought stress and improve herbicide efficacy. A greenhouse study was conducted to understand the relationship between LWC, physiological processes, and glyphosate efficacy in two weed species, Parthenium hysterophorus (C₃) and Setaria faberi (C₄) under high soil moisture [90–100% water holding capacity (WHC)], re‐watering at 21 days after weed emergence (DAWE), re‐watering at 25 DAWE, and low soil moisture (40–50% WHC). RESULTS Soil moisture stress caused significant reduction in LWC (27–32%), stomatal conductance (81–84%), photosynthetic rate (76–82%), chlorophyll content index (46–55%) and shikimic acid accumulation (55–57%) in both species. Both re‐watering treatments recovered LWC to well‐watered levels; however, significant recovery of other physiological traits occurred only in the re‐watering at 21 DAWE (5‐day recovery period), where glyphosate efficacy remained high (94% mortality) in both species. Re‐watering at 25 DAWE (1‐day recovery period) failed to recover stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, resulting in significantly reduced glyphosate efficacy (81% and 69% mortality for P. hysterophorus and S. faberi , respectively). The LWC showed strong correlation with glyphosate efficacy for all moisture regimes except for the re‐watering at 25 DAWE. CONCLUSION The time allowed for physiological recovery after re‐watering is critical. Therefore, LWC with the advantage of real‐time remote estimation, can be used as a practical proxy for scheduling glyphosate applications, but the history of drought‐breaking irrigation must be considered to ensure that weeds are physiologically susceptible. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Abstract BACKGROUND China has emerged as a major source of innovative crop‐protection chemistry, yet the international applicability of its domestically developed agrochemical pipeline has not been critically evaluated. We systematically identified and analyzed 68 China‐developed insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, fungicides and herbicides that received ISO common names between 2002 and 2025, and assessed their structural evolution, resistance‐management potential and translational progress. RESULTS The portfolio comprises 18 insecticides, 6 acaricides, 3 nematicides, 20 fungicides and 21 herbicides, showing a shift from early pyrethroid and strobilurin modifications to heterocyclic scaffolds such as meta‐diamides, pyrazolecarboxamides and benzoylpyrazoles. On the basis of publicly available data, no compound has a confirmed first‐in‐class binding site. As of 30 April 2026, none had achieved Codex maximum residue limit (MRL) establishment, EU active‐substance approval, or Japan registration; only 11 (16.2%) had been listed/classified by Resistance Action Committee (RAC). The China Translational Attainment Index (TAI) (0.040) was therefore driven solely by RAC listing, versus 0.444 for the non‐China comparator ( P < 0.001). Additionally, only 18 compounds (26.5%) had publicly available baseline‐sensitivity data. CONCLUSION These 68 compounds are a valuable resource for global resistance management, but their international use is constrained by translational deficits. Absence of Codex MRLs, limited baseline‐sensitivity data, and incomplete resistance and environmental fate data are core barriers to registration and stewardship. Prioritized data generation is needed to bridge this gap and support international registration and stewardship. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Abstract BACKGROUND Range expansion is often accompanied by reduced genetic diversity and increased environmental stress in populations at range edges, potentially constraining adaptive evolution despite strong selection. This study aimed to investigate these processes during the northward range expansion of the fruit fly Zeugodacus tau , an important agricultural pest. We sampled 217 individuals from 11 geographical populations spanning the species' current distribution across China and genotyped them using double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD‐seq). RESULTS The surveyed populations were genetically differentiated into southwestern and southeastern groups, with an admixed group located in the longitudinal transition zone between them. Northern populations generally exhibited lower genetic diversity than southern populations, whereas populations with admixed ancestry tended to retain higher genetic diversity than non‐admixed populations at comparable latitudes. TreeMix supported two historical migration events, and all populations except Shanghai exhibited broadly similar demographic histories. Environmental variables independently explained more genomic variation than geographic variables, both across all populations (53.01% vs 27.28%) and within the admixed group (50.64% vs 17.25%). Genome scans identified candidate SNPs in the admixed group that were potentially associated with responses to environmental stress. CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that the northward range expansion of Z. tau is accompanied by a general decline in genetic diversity, while admixture among differentiated lineages may partially offset this loss. These results highlight the joint roles of demographic history and admixture in shaping genomic variation during range expansion, although the adaptive consequences of admixture remain unresolved. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Abstract BACKGROUND Human‐derived chemical cues are central to mosquito host‐seeking and may provide candidates for odor‐baited surveillance and attract‐and‐kill tools. However, the factors associated with inter‐individual attractiveness to Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and the behavioral activity of corresponding skin volatiles remain incompletely characterized. RESULTS Attraction was measured in 52 volunteers using a three‐chamber assay. Sex, blood type, age, body mass index and exhaled CO 2 metrics were not significantly associated with attraction. In a subset of nine volunteers, total sweat amino acid concentration was inversely associated with attraction ( r = −0.812, P = 0.008). Headspace solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detected 28 skin volatiles, including 5 compounds present in all volunteers and 10 volunteer‐specific compounds selected with the common compounds for functional screening. Electroantennography showed significantly greater responses to all five common compounds than to liquid paraffin and to crotonaldehyde than to n ‐hexane. Dual‐choice bioassays identified six compounds with positive directional responses after Holm–Bonferroni correction: decanal, nonanal, tricyclodecenyl acetate, tetradecanol, tridecane and ( E )‐2‐dodecen‐1‐ol. CONCLUSION The integrated chemical, electrophysiological and behavioral workflow identified an inverse association between sweat amino acid concentration and human attractiveness, and defined six skin volatiles as priorities for dose–response, blend and semi‐field evaluation toward Aedes albopictus lure development. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
