Tobacco is a significant economic crop cultivated in various regions of China. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can establish a symbiotic relationship with tobacco and regulate its growth. However, the influences of indigenous AMF on the growth and development of tobacco and their symbiotic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, a pot inoculation experiment was conducted, revealing that six inoculants - Acaulospora bireticulata(Ab), Septoglomus viscosum(Sv), Funneliformis mosseae(Fm), Claroideoglomus etunicatum(Ce), Rhizophagus intraradices(Ri), and the mixed inoculant (H) - all formed stable symbiotic relationships with tobacco. These inoculants were found to enhance the activities of SOD, POD, PPO, and PAL in tobacco leaves, increase chlorophyll content, IAA content, CTK content, soluble sugars, and proline levels while reducing malondialdehyde content. Notably, among these inoculants, Fm exhibited significantly higher mycorrhizal infection density, arbuscular abundance, and soil spore density in the root systems of tobacco plants compared to other treatments. Membership function analysis confirmed that Fm had the most pronounced growth-promoting effect on tobacco. The transcriptome analysis results of different treatments of CK and inoculation with Fm revealed that 3,903 genes were upregulated and 4,196 genes were downregulated in the roots and stems of tobacco. Enrichment analysis indicated that the majority of these genes were annotated in related pathways such as biological processes, molecular functions, and metabolism. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes associated with auxin, cytokinin, antioxidant enzymes, and carotenoids were significantly enriched in their respective pathways, potentially indirectly influencing the regulation of tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the development and application of AMF inoculants to enhance tobacco growth.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is a promising polymer with excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability. However, knowledge gaps between its degradation and mineralization processes in soil hampers its environmental impact and application potential. In this study, we elucidated the degradation process of PBAT, starting with the degradation of high-molecular-weight polymers into 30 intermediates, before ultimately mineralized into CO2. Bacteria and fungi drove the degradation and mineralization of these intermediates. We discovered that PBAT was synergistically degraded by combinations of 27 bacterial and fungal biomarkers rather than by single biomarkers dominated by Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Ascomycota. These combinations of related functional genes perform various functions at every stage of PBAT degradation, including breaking down molecular structures, degrading intermediates, and mineralization. Bacterial biomarkers showed greater diversity than fungal biomarkers in degrading PBAT. Our findings provide useful insights into the degradation of PBAT in soil and a foundation for systematically evaluating and controlling the environmental behavior and safety of PBAT in soil.

Rock phosphate is a non-renewable primary source for mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizers that intensive agriculture is highly dependent on. To avoid P fertilizer shortages and limit negative environmental impacts, circular economy approaches are needed with recycling-derived fertilizer (RDF) applications. Here, a grassland field trial was established with two struvites (potato wastewater, municipal wastewater) and two ashes (poultry-litter ash, sewage-sludge ash) at a P application rate of 40 kg P ha(-1) (replicates n = 5). The impact of these RDFs on the soil microbial P cycling community was compared to conventional mineral P-fertilizer and a P-free control. Topsoil samples were taken directly after Lolium perenne grass cuts at months 3, 5 and 15. Cultivable phosphonate and phytate utilizing bacteria, potential acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity, and phoC and phoD copy numbers responded stronger to seasonal effects than treatment effects. No significant overall effect of the fertilizer application was detected in the beta-diversity of the bacterial and fungal communities after 15 months, but individual phylogenetic taxa were affected by the treatments. The ash treatments resulted in significantly higher relative abundance of Bacillota and Rokubacteria and lower relative abundance of Actinomycetota. Sewage-sludge ash had significantly lowest abundances of genera Bacillus and Bradyrhizobium that are well known for their P cycling abilities. The struvite RDFs either positively influenced the P cycling microbial community as demonstrated through higher tri-calcium phosphate solubilizing capabilities (month 3), or were similar to the superphosphate and P-free treatment. From a soil-microbial health perspective, the presented findings indicate that struvites are a suitable substitute for superphosphate fertilizers.

Rhizoctonia solani is a significant soil-borne pathogenic fungus that poses a significant threat to the economically important agricultural crops. 4-(Diethylamino)salicylaldehyde (DSA) is a secondary metabolite produced by Streptomyces sp. KN37, which has antifungal activity, meanwhile its inhibitory mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we explored the antifungal efficacy of DSA and its potential mechanism of inhibiting R. solani. It was found that DSA exhibited significant antifungal activity against six tested plant pathogenic fungi, with R. solani being the most sensitive (EC50 = 26.904 mu g/mL). Notably, DSA effectively reduced the mycelial mass and inhibited sclerotia germination, demonstrating a good control efficacy of cucumber damping-off disease. Morphological observation showed that DSA significantly disrupted the shape and ultrastructure of the mycelium. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that DSA impacted the integrity of the cell membrane, redox processes, and energy metabolism in R. solani. The results of fluorescence staining, relative conductivity, H2O2 content, and antioxidant enzyme activity showed that the accumulation of ROS in hypha cells after DSA treatment possibly resulted in damage to cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, the reduction in ATP content, along with decreased ATPase and citrate synthase activity, indicates that energy production may be inhibited. Molecular docking analysis further showed that DSA may competitively inhibit citrate synthase, thereby inhibiting cell energy production and ultimately inducing apoptosis. Our study provides new insights into the potential mechanism by which DSA inhibits the mycelial growth of R. solani.

Dollar spot, caused by Clarireedia jacksonii, is a chronic fungal disease of creeping bentgrass in cool, humid environments in the United States. In closely mown golf playing surfaces, symptoms include small, circular, sunken spots of blighted turf that eventually coalesce if left untreated. This report evaluates the efficacy of preventative fungicide programs to suppress dollar spot in golf greens. Programs contained broad spectrum fungicides mixed with Appear II, a systemic potassium phosphite fungicide that is formulated with a green pigment. A study was conducted on an 'L-93' plus 'Providence' creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) push-up constructed nursery green originally seeded in 2000 at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview, IL. Results indicated fungicide programs that contained Appear II can provide complete control of dollar spot and can also significantly reduce localized dry spot, an abiotic disorder of turfgrass caused by hydrophobic soils, which commonly occurs in sand-based putting greens.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are important plant symbionts that provide plants with nutrients and water as well as support plant defences against pests and disease. Consequently, they present a promising alternative to using environmentally damaging and costly fertilisers and pesticides in agricultural systems. However, our limited understanding of how agricultural practices impact AM fungal diversity and functions is a key impediment to using them effectively in agriculture. We assessed how organic and conventional agricultural management systems shaped AM fungal communities. We also investigated how AM fungal communities derived from these agricultural management systems affected crop biomass and development. Six soil samples from five organically and five conventionally managed agricultural sites were used to cultivate Sorghum bicolor. Plant growth, plant nutrient concentrations and AM fungal colonisation rates were analysed alongside DNA metabarcoding of community composition. We observed that soil from conventional agricultural fields resulted in a pronounced reduction in sorghum biomass (-53.6%) and a significant delay in flowering compared to plants grown without AM fungi. Sorghum biomass was also reduced with soil from the organic system, but to a lesser extent (-30%) and without a delay in flowering. Organic systems were associated with a large proportion of AM fungal taxa (50.5% of VTs) not found in conventional systems, including Diversispora (r(2) = 0.09, p < 0.001), Archaeospora (r(2) = 0.07, p < 0.001) and Glomus (r(2) = 0.25, p < 0.001) spp., but also shared a large proportion of taxa with conventional systems (42.3% of VTs). Conventional systems had relatively few unique taxa (7.2% of VTs). Our results suggest that conventional agricultural practices selected against AM fungi that were, in this context, more beneficial for host plants. In contrast, organic management practices mitigate this negative effect, likely due to the presence of specific key AM fungal taxa. However, this mitigation is only partial, as less beneficial AM fungal taxa still persist, probably due to abiotic factors associated with agricultural management and the sensitivity of AM fungi to these factors. This persistence explains why the effect is not entirely eradicated. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

This study explored mycelium-based composites (MBCs) as a sustainable alternative to conventional materials, focusing on the role of lignocellulosic substrates in optimizing their physical, mechanical, and biodegradability properties. It also addressed the valorization of agroforestry by-products, particularly European hazelnut shells (HZ) and radiata pine sawdust (SW), in an effort to reduce waste and minimize environmental impacts. The MBCs were obtained using two formulations (HZ100 and HZ75-SW25) of local agroforestry by-products bound together with natural growth of fungal mycelium from Ganoderma sp. We examined the physical and mechanical properties of these novel materials, including the density, shrinkage, water absorption, hydrophobicity, moduli of rupture and elasticity, and internal bond strength. Additionally, we assessed the biodegradability of the MBCs in soil to estimate the time required for complete degradation. The results clearly indicated differences in performance between the MBCs from HZ100 and HZ75-SW25. In general, HZ75-SW25 demonstrated superior mechanical performance compared to HZ100. Water absorption was low in both cases, suggesting a degree of hydrophobicity on the surface. The biodegradation results indicated that the fabricated MBCs could fully decompose in less than one year when buried in soil, confirming that these biocomposites are entirely biodegradable.

Salicornia europaea L. is a euhalophyte increasingly cultivated as a high-value green vegetable. In July 2021, root and crown rot occurred on 6-month-old S. europaea plants grown in peat-filled pots under a greenhouse, affecting 25% of plants. The causal agent was identified as Fusarium pseudograminearum O'Donnell & T. Aoki using morphological and molecular analyses. An experiment to assess the pathogenicity of this fungus to S. europaea was conducted with 96 seedlings in hydroponic culture. Half of these plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension of F. pseudograminearum. At 24 days post inoculation (dpi), half of the plants were transferred into a new hydroponic system, while the other plants were transplanted into pots. At 80 dpi, all inoculated plants grown in pots had shoot browning and desiccation symptoms, while these symptoms developed more slowly in 70% of the hydroponically grown inoculated plants. A qualitative symptom severity assessment scale showed that disease severity was greater (63%) in pot-grown plants than in hydroponically grown plants (46%). Fusarium pseudograminearum was consistently reisolated from diseased plants in both cultivation systems (62% from pots and 83% from hydroponics) fulfilling Koch's postulates. Production of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) was investigated in vitro and in planta. Traces of DON (0.029 +/- 0.012 mg kg(-1)) were found in severely damaged plants grown in hydroponics. In the in vitro test, F. pseudograminearum isolates from wheat crops in Spain (isolate ColPat-351) and Italy (isolate PVS Fu-7) were also assessed, and all tested isolates produced considerable amounts of ZEA. Fusarium pseudograminearum isolates obtained from S. europaea produced more DON (6.81 +/- 0.24 mg kg(-1), on average) than the Italian isolate PVS Fu-7 (0.37 +/- 0.06 mg kg(-1)), while DON production by the Spanish isolate ColPat-351 was less than the limit of detection (< 0.25 mg kg(-1)). This is the first report of root and crown rot caused by F. pseudograminearum on S. europaea.

The common pine sawfly, Diprion pini (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), is a well-known defoliating pest of various pine forests almost all over the world, including Europe. It can cause damage to many pine species but usually opts for Pinus sylvestris Linnaeus and P. nigra subsp. laricio (Poiret) Maire. The prohibition of the use of chemical insecticides in forests (at least for T & uuml;rkiye) has led to the fact that other control methods have come to the fore in the control of this pest. In this respect, biological control agents, which are eco-friendly and can persist in the field over time, providing long-term control for plant protection, have an important potential in the control of D. pini. Therefore, in this study, entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from pine forest soils and identified by gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Ten isolates (DP-37, DP-38, DP-45, DP-46, DP-49, DP-53, DP-54, DP-57, DP-58 and DP-63) were identified as Beauveria pseudobassiana, four isolates (DP-35, DP-41, DP-52, and DP-61) were identified as B. bassiana, and only one isolate was identified as Metarhizium robertsii (DP-15). All isolates were tested against the larvae of the pest under laboratory conditions, and the highest mortality and mycosis values (96.6% and 63.3%, respectively) were obtained from B. pseudobassiana DP-57. This isolate was also tested against the pest under outdoor conditions using different conidial concentrations. Based on probit analysis, the LC50 and LC90 values were estimated to be 1.309 x 107 and 1.21 x 1010 conidia/ml, respectively. The results showed that B. pseudobassiana DP-57 could be a good candidate in the biological control of D. pini.

Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) are gaining attention as promising components of nanopesticides, offering innovative solutions to enhance agricultural pest management while addressing environmental concerns associated with traditional pesticides. MNPs, such as silver, copper, zinc, nickel, gold, iron, aluminum, and titanium, exhibit unique nanoscale properties. These properties enable the formulation of MNPs for controlled and sustained release, thereby reducing application frequency and minimizing environmental runoff. This controlled release mechanism not only improves pest management efficacy but also reduces risks to non-target organisms and beneficial species, aligning with the principles of sustainable crop protection. This review examines nanopesticides based on their specific targets, such as nanoinsecticide, nanobactericide, nanofungicide, nanonematicide, and nanoviricide. It also explores the mechanisms of action of metal-based nanoparticles, including physical disruption, chemical interactions, and biological processes. Additionally, the review details how MNPs compromise cellular integrity through mechanisms such as membrane damage, DNA disruption, mitochondrial impairment, and protein denaturation. Despite these advantages, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning the environmental impact of MNPs, their long-term effects on soil health and ecosystem dynamics, and potential risks to human safety. Addressing these challenges is crucial for realizing the full potential of MNPs in sustainable agriculture.