Browsing by Subject "Fungal pathogens"

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Assessment of a postharvest treatment with pyrimethanil via thermo-nebulization in controlling storage rots of apples
(2021) Büchele, Felix; Neuwald, Daniel A.; Scheer, Christian; Wood, Rachael M.; Vögele, Ralf T.; Wünsche, Jens N.
Apples are very susceptible to infections from various fungal pathogens during the growing season due to prolonged exposure to environmental influences in the field. Therefore, a strict and targeted fungicide strategy is essential to protect fruit and trees. Increased environmental and health concerns and pathogen resistance have resulted in a rising demand to reduce fungicide usage and residues on marketed fruit. Thus, producers must develop new plant protection strategies to conform to the legal and social demands while still offering high-quality apples. This study assessed the efficacy of a post-harvest fungicide treatment with pyrimethanil via thermo-nebulization for controlling storage rots and compared the results to those of standard pre-harvest fungicide strategies. The results showed that a single post-harvest application of pyrimethanil successfully controlled storage rots and is comparable to strategies using multiple pre-harvest fungicide applications. The control of fungal rot was sustained even after 5 months of storage and 2 weeks of shelf life. Thermo-nebulization into the storage facility allowed for a lower dosage of fungicide to be used compared to pre-harvest applications, while still maintaining optimal rot control. Residue analyses showed that the post-harvest fungicide treatment did not exceed legal or retailer’s standards.
A novel neotropical Bacillus siamensis strain inhibits soil-borne plant pathogens and promotes soybean growth
(2025) Moreira, Rodrigo F.; Pires, Elizabeth B. E.; Sousa, Odaiza F.; Alves, Giselly B.; Viteri Jumbo, Luis O.; Santos, Gil R.; Maia, Luís J.; Ribeiro, Bergmann M.; Smagghe, Guy; Perino, Elvio H. B.; Hausmann, Rudolf; Oliveira, Eugenio E.; Aguiar, Raimundo W. S.; Moreira, Rodrigo F.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Pires, Elizabeth B. E.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Sousa, Odaiza F.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Alves, Giselly B.; Departamento de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Gurupi 77410-530, TO, Brazil; Viteri Jumbo, Luis O.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Santos, Gil R.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Maia, Luís J.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Ribeiro, Bergmann M.; Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil; Smagghe, Guy; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Perino, Elvio H. B.; Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Hausmann, Rudolf; Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 12, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; Oliveira, Eugenio E.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Aguiar, Raimundo W. S.; Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi 77402-970, TO, Brazil, (E.B.E.P.); (L.O.V.J.); (G.S.); Magalhães-Guedes, Karina Teixeira; Umsza-Guez, Marcelo Andrés
Soil-borne fungal pathogens such as Sclerotium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., and Macrophomina spp. pose significant threats to global agriculture, with soybean crops among the most severely affected due to damping-off disease. These pathogens cause substantial yield losses, making their management a critical concern. In this study, we investigated the potential of Bacillus siamensis BCL, a novel Neotropical strain, as an eco-friendly solution for managing Sclerotium , Rhizoctonia , and Macrophomina species. The strain exhibited strong antifungal activity, significantly inhibiting fungal growth in vitro, with the greatest suppression observed against Macrophomina spp., reaching up to 81%. In vivo assays further confirmed the biocontrol potential of B. siamensis . When applied at 10 6 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL, the strain reduced disease symptoms and improved plant growth parameters—including root length, shoot biomass, and leaf number—compared to untreated, infected controls. The protective effect varied by pathogen, with the most significant recovery in root length observed against Macrophomina spp. (85%) and Sclerotium spp. (78%). In preventive treatments, fermentation extracts of the B. siamensis strain suppressed disease progression, although they did not promote seedling growth. A genomic analysis of B. siamensis BCL revealed genes encoding antimicrobial secondary metabolites, including terpenes, fengycins, and surfactins. These findings highlight B. siamensis BCL as a promising candidate for sustainable crop protection and a valuable resource for developing novel antimicrobial strategies in agriculture.