Development of Machine Learning Methods for Accurate Prediction of Plant Disease Resistance

The traditional method of screening plants for disease resistance phenotype is both time-consuming and costly.Genomic selection offers a potential solution to improve efficiency,but accurately predicting plant disease resistance remains a challenge.In this study,we evaluated eight different machine learning(ML)methods,including random forest classification(RFC),support vector classifier(SVC),light gradient boosting machine(lightGBM),random forest classification plus kinship(RFC_K),support vector classification plus kinship(SVC_K),light gradient boosting machine plus kinship(lightGBM_K),deep neural network genomic prediction(DNNGP),and densely connected convolutional networks(DenseNet),for predicting plant disease resistance.Our results demonstrate that the three plus kinship(K)methods developed in this study achieved high prediction accuracy.Specifically,these methods achieved accuracies of up to 95%for rice blast(RB),85%for rice black-streaked dwarf virus(RBSDV),and 85%for rice sheath blight(RSB)when trained and applied to the rice diversity panel I(RDPI).Furthermore,the plus K models performed well in predicting wheat blast(WB)and wheat stripe rust(WSR)diseases,with mean accuracies of up to 90%and 93%,respectively.To assess the generalizability of our models,we applied the trained plus K methods to predict RB disease resistance in an independent population,rice diversity panel II(RDPII).Concurrently,we evaluated the RB resistance of RDPII cultivars using spray inoculation.Comparing the predictions with the spray inoculation results,we found that the accuracy of the plus K methods reached 91%.These findings highlight the effectiveness of the plus K methods(RFC_K,SVC_K,and lightGBM_K)in accurately predicting plant disease resistance for RB,RBSDV,RSB,WB,and WSR.The methods developed in this study not only provide valuable strategies for predicting disease resistance,but also pave the way for using machine learning to streamline genome-based crop breeding.

Photosynthetic Gas Exchange and Nitrogen Assimilation in Green Bean Plants Supplied with Two Sources of Silicon

Beans contain a wide range of vitamins,proteins,calcium,and zinc which make them an important food source for many countries.To meet the demand for bean production worldwide,large amounts of fertilizers and pesticides are used.However,the cost of production and environmental impact increases.To produce food sustainably,the use of beneficial nutrients such as silicon as a biostimulant has been proposed.However,information about the effect of different sources of silicon on the metabolism of bean plants is scarce.Bean plants cv.Strike were grown in pots for 60 days and the effect of foliar application of silicon nanoparticles and the silicon-based biostimulant Codasilat 4 concentrations(0,1,2,and 4 mM)on total biomass,yield,photosynthetic pigment concentration,photosynthetic activity,stomatal conductance,transpiration rate,chlorophyll fluorescence,and nitrogen assimilation were evaluated.The results obtained showed that the supply of silicon at a dose of 1 mM functioned as a biostimulant,favoring gas exchange and nitrogen assimilation within the plant,which stimulated growth and yield.The results of this research work allowed a better comprehension of the effects of silicon application through silicon nanoparticles and the biostimulant Codasilon the physiology of green bean plants.

Management of Strawberry Grey Mold Disease Using Biocontrol Agents and Plant Extracts

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is a significant global soft fruit crop, prized for its nutrient content and pleasant flavor. However, diseases, particularly grey mold caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. Fr. poses major constraints to strawberry production and productivity. Grey mold severely impacts fruit quality and quantity, diminishing market value. This study evaluated five B. cinerea isolates from various locations in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. All isolates were pathogenic, with isolate SGM 2 identified as highly virulent. Host range studies showed the pathogen-producing symptoms in the fava bean pods, marigold, gerbera, and chrysanthemum flowers and in the fava bean, gerbera, and lettuce leaves. In vitro tests revealed that neem extract (15% w/v) achieved the highest mycelial growth inhibition at 76.66%, while black turmeric extract (5% w/v) had the lowest inhibition at 9.62%. Dual culture methods with bio-control agents indicated that Bacillus subtilis recorded the highest mean inhibition at 77.03%, while Pseudomonas fluorescens had the lowest at 20.36% against the two virulent isolates. Pot evaluations demonstrated that B. subtilis resulted in the lowest percent disease index at 20.59%, followed by neem extract at 23.31%, with the highest disease index in the control group at 42.51%. Additionally, B. subtilis significantly improved plant growth, yielding an average of 0.32 kg compared to 0.14 kg in the control. The promising results of B. subtilis and neem leaf extract from this study suggest their potential for eco-friendly managing grey mold in strawberries under field conditions.

Exploring the impact of high density planting system and deficit irrigation in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.):a comprehensive review

Lessons learned from past experiences push for an alternate way of crop production.In India,adopting high density planting system(HDPS)to boost cotton yield is becoming a growing trend.HDPS has recently been considered a replacement for the current Indian production system.It is also suitable for mechanical harvesting,which reducing labour costs,increasing input use efficiency,timely harvesting timely,maintaining cotton quality,and offering the potential to increase productivity and profitability.This technology has become widespread in globally cotton growing regions.Water management is critical for the success of high density cotton planting.Due to the problem of freshwater availability,more crops should be produced per drop of water.In the high-density planting system,optimum water application is essential to control excessive vegetative growth and improve the translocation of photoassimilates to reproductive organs.Deficit irrigation is a tool to save water without compromising yield.At the same time,it consumes less water than the normal evapotranspiration of crops.This review comprehensively documents the importance of growing cotton under a high-density planting system with deficit irrigation.Based on the current research and combined with cotton production reality,this review discusses the application and future development of deficit irrigation,which may provide theoretical guidance for the sustainable advancement of cotton planting systems.

Soil Physico-Chemical Properties and Different Altitudes Affect Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Abundance and Colonization in Cacao Plantations of Cameroon

This study aims to investigate the abundance of AMF according to soil properties and altitudes in different cacao plantations of Cameroon. Physico-chemical analyses were made on soil samples collected from three agro-ecological zones. Soil samples were also used to evaluate directly the AMF abundance following the various altitudes and after trapping by sorghum plant. The results showed that soil properties, AMF spore abundances and colonization fluctuated significantly at different altitudes. The most represented texture was sandy loam. The bimodal zone presented a homogeneous texture (sandy loam) in all its localities. Cacao soil chemical characteristics showed that, the highest nitrogen rate (0.47%;p 0.05, Scott-Knott test) was recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone while Tonga in the Western highlands displayed the lowest rate (0.13%). Soil P concentration was significantly high in monomodal zones (Mbanga and Melong). Soil pH level indicated that the soil from Tonga in the Western highlands was neutral (pH = 6.67), and soils of other localities under study were acidic with the lowest (4.75) pH level recorded at Melong in a monomodal zone. In soil samples, the highest spore density (1.03 spores/g soil) was observed at Ntui in Bimodal zone, while the lowest spore density (0.26 spores/g soil) was observed at Bafang in the Western highlands. Root colonization showed that the sample from Bokito in a bimodal zone displayed the best frequency of mycorrhization (86.11%) while the sample from Bafang in the Western highlands recorded the lowest (27.11%). The PCA analysis highlighted that available phosphorus, pH and altitude all strongly correlated with AMF root colonization ability and can be used as a predictor of AMF colonization ability in cacao rhizosphere.

Influence of Topography on the Distribution and Structure of Woody Plants in the Senegalese Sahel (Sandy Ferlo)

This study describes the floristic composition and structure of a woody stand in the Senegalese Sahel, paying particular attention to the edaphic factors of its floristic composition. A stratified inventory considering the different relief units was adopted. Woody vegetation was surveyed using a dendrometric approach. The results obtained show that the flora is dominated by a few species adapted to drought, such as Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., Calotropis procera Ait. and Boscia senegalensis (Pers.). The distribution of this flora and the structure of the ligneous plants are linked to the topography. In the lowlands, the flora is more diversified and the ligneous plants reach their optimum level of development compared with the higher relief areas. In the lowlands, there are a few woody species which, in the past, were indicative of better climatic conditions. These are Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.), Commiphora africana (A. Rich.), Feretia apodanthera Del., Loeseneriella africana (A. Smith), Mitragyna inermis (Willd.) and Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich). It is important that their reintroduction into reforestation projects takes account of their edaphic preference.

A glycine-rich nuclear effector VdCE51 of Verticillium dahliae suppresses plant immune responses by inhibiting the accumulation of GhTRXH2

Verticillium dahliae is an important soil-borne fungal pathogen that causes great yield losses in many cash crops.Effectors of this fungus are known to regulate plant immunity but the mechanism much remains unclear.A glycine-rich nuclear effector,VdCE51,was able to suppress immune responses in tobacco against Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.This effector was a required factor for full virulence of V.dahliae,and its nuclear localization was a requisite for suppressing plant immunity.The thioredoxin GhTRXH2,identified as a positive regulator of plant immunity,was a host target of VdCE51.Our findings show a virulence regulating mechanism whereby the secreted nuclear effector VdCE51 interferes with the transcription of PR genes,and the SA signaling pathway by inhibiting the accumulation of GhTRXH2,thus suppressing plant immunity.

Morphological Characterization of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with the Rhizosphere According to the Age of Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott Plants in the Field

The objective of this work was to carry out a morphological characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott plants. The plant material used was the white and red cultivars of X. sagittifolium, belonging to age intervals of 3 - 6, 6 - 9, and 9 - 12 months. Three harvest sites were chosen in the Central Region of Cameroon. In each site, soil from the rhizosphere and plant roots was collected in a randomized manner. In the field, the agronomic parameters were evaluated. The physicochemical characteristics of the soils, the mycorrhization index, and the morphological characterization of the mycorrhizal types of each site were carried out. The results obtained show that the agronomic growth parameters varied significantly using the Student Newman and Keuls Test depending on the harvest sites. The soils’ pH in all sites was acidic and ranged between 4.6 and 5.8. The Nkometou site has a loamy texture while the Olembe and Soa sites have loam-clay-sandy and loam-clay textures respectively. The highest mycorrhization frequencies appeared at the Nkometou site, with 75 and 87.33% of the white and red cultivars plant roots at 6 - 9 and 3 - 6 months. The relative abundance of AMF arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores in the rhizosphere of X. sagittifolium plants varied with age and cultivar. There were 673 spores between 9 - 12 months in Nkometou in the red cultivar. Six AMF genera were identified in all the different soils collected: Acaulospora sp., Funneliformis sp., Gigaspora sp., Glomus sp., Scutellospora sp., and Septoglomus sp. The genus Glomus sp. was the most present at all age intervals in both cultivars.

Impacts of environmental conditions on woody plant diversity,structure and regeneration in forest patches of Guna Mountain:Este District,South Gondar Zone,Ethiopia

Environmental conditions determine woody plant life such as species diversity,structure and regeneration status.This research aimed to assess the impact of environmental conditions on woody plant species diversity,structure and regeneration in forest patches of Guna Mountain:the case of Este District,South Gondar Zone,north-west Ethiopia.A total of 71 square sample plots(400 m~2 each) were established at 10 transects laid in five forest patches of the study area to collect vegetation data including the abundance of species,height and diameter at breast height(DBH).Environmental data including available potassium,available phosphorus,cation exchange capacity,soil texture,electrical conductivity,soil acidity,total nitrogen,organic matter,organic carbon,sodium adsorption ratio,exchangeable sodium percentage,bulk density,aspect,elevation,slope,latitude and longitude data were collected in the same plots.A correlation analysis between vegetation and environmental data was performed using rcorr(x) function in package Hmisc in R Programming Language.The most pronounced impacts were observed in altitude,grazing and pH,positively and silt,sand,electrical conductivity and cation exchange capacity,negatively.In addition,strong and significant impacts on plant structure were also observed due to the variation in soil texture and p H.The difference in aspect,sand and slope also impacted plant regeneration.The study showed that environmental parameters influence the diversity,structure and regeneration of woody plants.These parameters can be considered in the rehabilitation of the vegetation cover and conservation efforts of the rare woody species.Conservation measures that can minimalize the negative influences of environmental conditions can be applied through collaboration with communities around the forest patches.

Genetics of biochemical attributes regulating morpho-physiology of upland cotton under high temperature conditions

Background Cotton is a strategically important fibre crop for global textile industry.It profoundly impacts several countries’industrial and agricultural sectors.Sustainable cotton production is continuously threatened by the unpre-dictable changes in climate,specifically high temperatures.Breeding heat-tolerant,high-yielding cotton cultivars with wide adaptability to be grown in the regions with rising temperatures is one of the primary objectives of modern cotton breeding programmes.Therefore,the main objective of the current study is to figure out the effective breed-ing approach to imparting heat tolerance as well as the judicious utilization of commercially significant and stress-tolerant attributes in cotton breeding.Initially,the two most notable heat-susceptible(FH-115 and NIAB Kiran)and tolerant(IUB-13 and GH-Mubarak)cotton cultivars were spotted to develop filial and backcross populations to accom-plish the preceding study objectives.The heat tolerant cultivars were screened on the basis of various morphological(seed cotton yield per plant,ginning turnout percentage),physiological(pollen viability,cell membrane thermostabil-ity)and biochemical(peroxidase activity,proline content,hydrogen peroxide content)parameters.Results The results clearly exhibited that heat stress consequently had a detrimental impact on every studied plant trait,as revealed by the ability of crossing and their backcross populations to tolerate high temperatures.However,when considering overall yield,biochemical,and physiological traits,the IUB-13×FH-115 cross went over particularly well at both normal and high temperature conditions.Moreover,overall seed cotton yield per plant exhibited a posi-tive correlation with both pollen viability and antioxidant levels(POD activity and proline content).Conclusions Selection from segregation population and criteria involving pollen viability and antioxidant levels concluded to be an effective strategy for the screening of heat-tolerant cotton germplasms.Therefore,understanding acquired from this study can assist breeders identifying traits that should be prioritized in order to develop climate resilient cotton cultivars.

Patterns of species richness and beta diversity of vascular plants along elevation gradient in Brazilian páramo

Understanding the relationships between plant diversity and the environment is an important step towards conservation of species and ecosystems.In this study,we hypothesize that community species richness decreases and species composition change along the elevation gradient,with a greater contribution of species turnover than nestedness to beta diversity.We surveyed plant species in 300 plots(1 m×1 m)in four elevational bands(2100 m,2300m,2500 m,and 2700 m)in the CaparaóNational Park,Southeastern Brazil.The samples presented a great number of species(97 spp.,59 genera,27families),however,74%of the species were considered rare with their relative abundance being<1%.Among the four bands along the gradient,we detected two distinct communities with few species in common.The transition between the two communities occurred at 2500 m,and this elevation band also had the highest species richness in total.A non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)showed floristic differences between the bands even though they had similar richness.In 89%of the plot pairs,using pairwise comparison of species composition,only half of the species that occurred in one did occur in the other plot.The dissimilarity among the plots and elevational band reflects a significant contribution of spatial species turnover to the species richness and beta diversity on the Caparaómountain.Beta diversity increased with spatial scale(from plot to elevational-band).The dissimilarity(βSOR=0.907)in the area was due almost exclusively to spatial species turnover(βSIM=0.879),with very low contribution of species nestedness(βSNE=0.028).Our research showed that species richness does not decrease with elevation in the study area,but the floristic composition changes.The clear distinction of species along the gradient show that spatial species turnover is the major diversitygenerating process in the studied area.

Development and pathogenicity analysis of full-length infectious cDNA clones of citrus yellow mottle-associated virus in citrus plants

Citrus yellow mottle-associated virus(CiYMaV)belonging to the subgenus Mandarivirus within the genus Potexvirus,was first identified in 2018 from Pakistan(CiYMaV-PK),where it is endemic in several regions.Here,three full-length cDNA clones(pCiYMaV-FL-1,pCiYMaV-FL-18,and pCiYMaV-FL-22)corresponding to the genomic RNA of CiYMaV were constructed and then agroinfiltrated on Chandler pummelo(Citrus grandis)seedlings using the vacuum infiltration method.All the inoculated plants developed severe vein yellowing,leaf mottling,and dwarfing symptoms by 40 days post-infiltration(dpi).The results of a direct tissue blot immunoassay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection showed 94.7–100%infection rates of pCiYMaV-FL at 60 dpi.Despite there being no observed difference among the three clones in the severity of symptom,pCiYMaV-FL-22 showed the highest accumulation levels of viral RNA and coat proteins.Moreover,pCiYMaV-FL-22 successfully infected seven other citrus varieties and induced symptoms in five of them.Transmission electron microscopy identified the presence of filamentous virus particles in extracts from systemic leaves of the plants infected with pCiYMaV-FL-22 at 6-months post-infiltration.Taken together,the results indicate that Koch's postulates were fulfilled for CiYMaV in citrus plants.This is the first report of full-length infectious cDNA clones of CiYMaV,and thus,the data provide a basis for further study of the molecular mechanisms of virus infection and the development of a viral vector to express foreign genes in citrus plants.

In silico Prediction and Analysis of Potential Off-Targets and Off-Target Mutation Detection in StERF3-Gene Edited Potato Plants

The imperative aspect of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is a short stretch of 20 nucleotides of gRNA that control the overall specificity.Due to the small size,the chance of its multiple occurrences in the genome increases;however,a few mismatches are tolerated by the Cas9 endonuclease activity.An accurate and careful in silico-based off-target prediction while target selection is preferred to address the issue.These predictions are based on a comprehensive set of selectable parameters.Therefore,we investigated the possible off-target prediction and their screening in StERF3 gene-edited potato plants while developing StERF3-loss-of-function mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 approach.The 201 off-targets for the selected targets of the StERF3 gene were predicted,and 79 werefiltered as potential off-targets.Of these 79,twenty-five off-targets showed scores with defined cut-off values<0.5 and were analyzed in Sterf3-edited potato plants compared to wild-type plants.No off-targeting was found to have occurred in edited plants.

Toxic and Antifeedant Effects of Different Pesticidal Plant Extracts against Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)

The beet armyworm(BAW),Spodoptera exigua(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)is a highly destructive pest of vegetables and field crops.Management of beet armyworm primarily relies on synthetic pesticides,which is threatening the beneficial community and environment.Most importantly,the BAW developed resistance to synthetic pesticides with making it difficult to manage.Therefore,alternative and environment-friendly pest management tactics are urgently required.The use of pesticidal plant extracts provides an effective way for a sustainable pest management program.To evaluate the use of pesticidal plant extracts against BAW,we selected six plant species(Lantana camara,Aloe vera,Azadirachta indica,Cymbopogon citratus,Nicotiana tabacum,and Ocimum basilicum)for initial screening experiment.Four out of six plant species such as A.indica,N.tabacum,C.citratus and O.basilicum showed promising mortality of more than 50%.Therefore,we selected these four plant extracts for the subsequent experiments.Through contact bioassay,A.indica showed high mortality 66.63%,followed by the N.tabacum 53.33%,at 10%w/v concentration.Similarly,N.tabacum showed the highest mortality rate,66%at 10%w/v concentration,followed by the A.indica 46%through feeding bioassay.Furthermore,the feeding deterrence assay showed that C.citratus had a high antifeedant index(−50)followed by A.indica(−39),and N.tabacum(−28).In living plant assay,the N.tabacum extract showed a low mean damage score 3.6 on living cotton plant followed by C.citratus 4.5 and A.indica 5.5.Hence,extracts of three plant species provided promising results against the BAW,which can minimize the use of synthetic chemicals,particularly for small landholding farmers.Further studies are also required to evaluate the effects of these plant extract against BAW on cotton plants under field conditions to optimize the further use.

Shared-role of vegetation types,elevation and soil affecting plant diversity in an old-tropical mountain hotspot

Despite the exceptional species richness and endemism,the environmental drivers of plant diversity along old tropical mountains remain underexplored.The respective importance of vegetation types,elevation,slope,and soil to drive diversity across life-forms is poorly addressed.Here,we tested whether environmental variables drove local and regional plant diversity along an old tropical mountain according to the three main life-forms:graminoids,herbaceous and woody species.We sampled all Angiosperm species on 180 plots across five elevations,at the tropical old-mountain region of Serra do Cipó,South-eastern Brazil.We assessed soil,slope,and vegetation types,and calculated richness and beta-diversity,applying generalized least square models,linear mixed-models and partial Mantel tests to test for relationships.Richness of graminoids and herbaceous species increased with greater elevation and more nutrient-impoverished soils,while woody richness showed the inverse pattern.Beta-diversity was primarily driven by species turnover,correlated with elevation and soil and higher in less dominant vegetation types,with unique species.Despite the limited elevational range in these old mountains,it still played an important role in filtering woody species,while fostering graminoid and herbaceous species.Conservation and restoration actions need to foster the high regional diversity supported by the old mountain heterogeneous landscape and the diversity of life-forms,especially the dominant and highly diverse grassy component.

Micropropagation of Daylily(Hemerocallis fulva)from Crown-Tip Explants and Assessment of Somaclonal Variation of in Vitro-Propagated Plants Using SCoT Markers

Determination of the somaclonal variation of in vitro-propagated plants is crucial to determine the appropriate micropropagation protocol and growth regulators for commercial scale multiplication.In this research,nine multiplication media(MM)augmented with different concentrations of 6-benzyl adenine(BA),Kinetin(Kin),and Thidiazuron(TDZ),Three rooting media(RM)supplemented with three levels ofα-naphthalene acetic acid(NAA)and three types of soil mixtures(v/v);Coco peat/Vermiculite/Sand(CVS),Peat moss/Perlite/Sand(PPS)and Peat moss/Perlite(PP)were used in the micropropagation protocol of daylily plants.MM2 showed the maximum shoot length and the number of leaves,while MM9 showed the maximum number of shoots.The RM1 showed the maximum root length and the number of roots.During acclimatization,CVS,PPS,and PP soil mixture showed similar performance except the CVS mixture showed lower performance regarding plant height and diameter.The genetic fidelity of micropropagated plants was evaluated using Start Codon Targeted(SCoT)Markers.Six SCoT primers amplified 51 scorable bands with an approximate range from 146 bp to 1598 bp size.Thirty one out of 51 loci were presented in the mother plants.40 loci were polymorphic,11 were monomorphic and 7 were unique.The amplification patterns of the micropropagated plants demonstrated genetic integrity to the mother plant ranging from 84.32 to 47.06 and somaclonal variations ranging from 52.94 with 5 mg/l BA pathway to 15.68 with 1mg/l TDZ pathway,thus demonstrating that the homogeneity and the variation of the micropropagated plants affected by the type and the quantity of the plant growth regulator used during multiplication subcultures.This research can be successfully used for other ornamental and medicinal plants’bulk multiplication,germplasm conservation,and future genetic improvement.

Inventory and Management of Fungi Associated with Banana Plant through the Use of Allium ampeloprasum and Cymbopogon citratus Extracts

Despite the nutritional, economic and medicinal values of banana plant, independent of the region and production system is confronted with some diseases such as the fungi disease. These fungal diseases are responsible for the low yields. The objective of this study was to improve the sanitary state of banana plant. To achieve this objective, fungi associated with banana leaves were isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) culture medium and their identification was done on the basis of morphological and microscopic characteristics using reference documents. Antifungal activity of Allium ampeloprasum and Cymbopogon citratus extracts were evaluated in vitro on agar medium on the development of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, P. musicola and Pestalopsis sp. The results showed that banana plant harbours a diversity of fungal species, the most frequent being P. fijiensis (51.58%), Pestalopsis sp. (15.47%) and P. musicola (12.03%). Aqueous extracts of C. citratus at the concentration of 15 mg/ml, inhibited 100% of the radial growth of P. fijiensis and Pestalopsis sp with a fungitoxic activity. Similarly, ethanolic extract A. ampeloprasum inhibited at 100% the radial growth of Pestalopsis sp. This antifungal activity was fungistatic. These results suggest that the aqueous and ethanol extracts of the tested plants could be used as alternatives to chemical products in the fight against banana diseases especially Sigatoka. Hence further studies need to be undertaken to isolate the active compounds from these extracts with fungicidal potential.

Relevance of Advanced Plant Disease Detection Techniques in Disease and Pest Management for Ensuring Food Security and Their Implication: A Review

Plant diseases and pests present significant challenges to global food security, leading to substantial losses in agricultural productivity and threatening environmental sustainability. As the world’s population grows, ensuring food availability becomes increasingly urgent. This review explores the significance of advanced plant disease detection techniques in disease and pest management for enhancing food security. Traditional plant disease detection methods often rely on visual inspection and are time-consuming and subjective. This leads to delayed interventions and ineffective control measures. However, recent advancements in remote sensing, imaging technologies, and molecular diagnostics offer powerful tools for early and precise disease detection. Big data analytics and machine learning play pivotal roles in analyzing vast and complex datasets, thus accurately identifying plant diseases and predicting disease occurrence and severity. We explore how prompt interventions employing advanced techniques enable more efficient disease control and concurrently minimize the environmental impact of conventional disease and pest management practices. Furthermore, we analyze and make future recommendations to improve the precision and sensitivity of current advanced detection techniques. We propose incorporating eco-evolutionary theories into research to enhance the understanding of pathogen spread in future climates and mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks. We highlight the need for a science-policy interface that works closely with scientists, policymakers, and relevant intergovernmental organizations to ensure coordination and collaboration among them, ultimately developing effective disease monitoring and management strategies needed for securing sustainable food production and environmental well-being.

Efficacy of Plant Extracts on Morphology and Cultural Characteristics of Bipolaris sorokiniana, Causing Black Point Disease of Wheat in Bangladesh

Black point of wheat caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Bs) is very destructive disease of wheat in Bangladesh and all over the world. The symptoms of diseases caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana can vary depending on the host plant and environmental conditions. The conidia of Bs germinate from two poles, which differ physiologically as indicated by the rate, growth character, of length, breadth and number of septa on different media. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected plant extracts on the morphology and cultural characteristics of the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana causing black point disease in wheat crops in Bangladesh. The efficacy of fifteen plant extracts on the growth and characteristics of Bs was conducted in vitro in 2019-2020. The treatments were: Untreated control, T1—Black berry Leaves, T2—Guava Leaves, T3—Lantena camera leaves, T4—Eucalyptus Leaves, T5— Turmeric Leaves, T6—Khoksha Leaves, T7—Papaya leaves, T8-Gurlic Bulb, T9—Chili dust, T10—Nigella seeds, T11—Turmeric dust, T12—Cloves, T13— Bohera fruits, T14—Black pepper and T15—Neem leaves. After 15 days of inoculation of Bipolaris sorokiniana, colony color and shapes were Gerrish blackish, greenish blackish, greyish blackish and shapes were round or irregular. In our study, conidia color was dark brown to light brown, conidiophore color was brown, dark brown, grayish brown, dark olivaceous, light brown and conidia shapes were elliptical, oblong or slightly curved. The septation of conidia was 2 - 5 and highest septation was seen in T4 and T14 treatments. The highest conidial length was 17.79 μm recorded in T2 treatment and lowest was 6.62 μm T9 treatment where conidial breath was 8.27 μm in control and lowest was 3.79 μm in T8 treatment. Mycelial growth rate of Bipolaris sorokiniana was different in different treatments in different days after inoculation (DAI) where at 7 DAI, % reduction of mycelial growth over control was highest in Bohera and Neem Leaves treatments respectively.

Influence of Planting Date on the Incidence and Severity of Leaf Spot Disease in Telfairia occidentalis Hook f.

Telfairia occidentalis Hook f. is attacked by a destructive fungal pathogen Epicoccum sorghinum which causes leaf spot disease in the field. In Came-roon, this critically important seed and leaf vegetable is predominantly culti-vated under natural environmental conditions. An experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 during the long and short rainy seasons in Santchou to de-termine the influence of planting dates between seasons on the incidence and severity of leaf spot disease. The design used was a 2 by 4 factorial random-ized complete block design with three replications and four sowing dates. Data for disease incidence and severity documented fortnightly, were submitted to analysis of variance using SPSS version 23, and the means were separated by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT) at a 95% confidence interval. Statistical analysis revealed that the long rainy season registered a significantly (p p < 0.05) disease incidences and severities to other planting dates investi-gated. We established that the first three planting dates in the long rainy season could be a management practice to reduce disease prevalence.