crop protection – Page 2

FoCup, a secreted protein, is essential for virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum on cucumber

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Researchers identified a key protein called FoCup that helps a fungal pathogen infect cucumber plants and cause devastating wilt disease. By deleting this protein from the fungus, scientists significantly reduced its ability to cause disease and produce spores needed for spreading. This discovery could help develop new ways to protect cucumber crops by targeting this critical virulence factor.

Control effects and mechanisms of metabolites from Streptomyces ahygroscopicus var. gongzhulingensis strain 769 on sclerotinia rot in sunflowers

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Scientists discovered that a beneficial soil bacterium called Streptomyces can effectively control sunflower rot disease caused by a harmful fungus. When applied to soil or roots, this bacterium reduced disease severity by over 50% and improved plant root health and seed quality. The treatment works by both directly killing the pathogenic fungus and strengthening the plant’s natural defense systems.

Dual benefits of Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus strain GIC41 in mitigating Pythium root rot and enhancing plant growth across cultivation systems

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Scientists tested a bacteria strain called Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (GIC41) to fight a destructive plant disease called Pythium root rot. In both soil and water-based growing systems, this bacteria significantly reduced disease symptoms in spinach and tomato plants while also making the plants grow bigger and stronger. The bacteria works by producing enzymes and possibly triggering the plant’s natural defenses, without directly poisoning the disease-causing pathogen.

Transforming Tomato Industry By-Products into Antifungal Peptides Through Enzymatic Hydrolysis

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Researchers have found a way to turn tomato processing waste into useful antifungal compounds. By breaking down tomato seed proteins using enzymes, they created peptides that can prevent harmful fungi like Fusarium from growing on crops. This discovery helps reduce food waste while providing a natural alternative to chemical pesticides for protecting tomato and grain crops.

Inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum growth in banana by silver nanoparticles: In vitro and in vivo assays

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Bananas are threatened by a fungal disease called Fusarium wilt that damages crops worldwide. Scientists tested tiny silver particles called nanoparticles as a treatment for this disease on banana plants. The treatment successfully reduced disease by about 68% when applied to the roots, showing promise as an alternative to traditional fungicides for protecting banana crops.

Fusiform nanoparticle boosts efficient genetic transformation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

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Scientists developed a new method using tiny fusiform nanoparticles to introduce genes into a destructive plant fungus called Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This approach is simpler and faster than traditional genetic engineering methods because it doesn’t require complex cell preparation steps. The research shows that by silencing specific fungal genes, they could reduce the fungus’s ability to cause disease, which could help develop better strategies to protect crops like rapeseed and soybean.

Decapeptide Inducer Promotes the Conidiation of Phytopathogenic Magnaporthe oryzae via the Mps1 MAPK Signaling Pathway

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Scientists discovered a small peptide molecule (MCIDP) found in protein-based materials that significantly increases spore production in rice blast fungus. This peptide works by activating specific cellular signaling pathways that control fungal reproduction. The research provides insights into how fungal reproduction is regulated and could lead to new strategies for controlling rice blast disease, one of the world’s most destructive crop diseases that causes significant crop losses.

Fungal Argonaute proteins act in bidirectional cross-kingdom RNA interference during plant infection

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Scientists discovered that fungi and plants exchange genetic instructions called small RNAs to control each other during infection. A fungal pathogen called Botrytis cinerea uses special proteins called Argonautes to deliver these instructions into plant cells, which helps the fungus cause disease. Plants also send back their own genetic instructions to defend themselves. Understanding these molecular communications could lead to new ways to protect crops from fungal diseases.

Mycoviruses: Antagonistic Potential, Fungal Pathogenesis, and Their Interaction with Rhizoctonia solani

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This comprehensive review explores how viruses that infect fungi, called mycoviruses, could help farmers control rice diseases. Rice sheath blight caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani causes significant crop losses worldwide. Scientists have discovered that certain mycoviruses can weaken this pathogenic fungus, making them promising biological alternatives to chemical fungicides that can harm the environment and encourage disease resistance.

Essential Oils as an Antifungal Alternative to Control Several Species of Fungi Isolated from Musa paradisiaca: Part III

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Researchers tested six essential oils from common culinary herbs to control fungal diseases that damage bananas after harvest. Thyme, cinnamon, and oregano oils were most effective at preventing fungal growth at concentrations between 600-1000 parts per million. These natural oils could replace synthetic fungicides in banana storage facilities, providing a safer, more environmentally friendly approach to preserving fruit quality.

Research Keyword: crop protection