Damping-off disease in chili (Capsicum annum L.) cultivation is a significant global issue, severely affecting seeds, seedlings, and young plants, regardless of the location of cultivation, whether in greenhouses or open fields. Despite chili being a widely popular vegetable used in various cuisines globally, farmers face challenges in meeting the growing demand due to the extensive damage caused by this disease, ranging from 20 to 85%. The shelf life and quality of mature pods are also severely affected. Damping-off disease is mainly caused by soil-borne fungus from the Pythium species, with additional contributions from Phytophthora, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia species. These pathogens' adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and resistance to synthetic fungicides make controlling damping-off on a commercial scale challenging. However, integrated disease management has shown promising results as a remedial approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. In this review, we broadly discuss the current state of chili diseases, the nature of the pathogens causing damping-off, the epidemiology of the disease, and various control mechanisms. Furthermore, we highlight the importance and efficacy of integrated disease management techniques, along with future prospects in unexplored areas, such as host-pathogen interaction and sustainable disease control measures. The information in this review aims to assist chili growers in understanding the epidemiology and management of damping-off in chili cultivation.

Soilborne fungal pathogens that cause root rot, wilting and dying are the most important problems in pistachio production. The purpose of this study was to examine, isolate, and diagnose the pathogens from diseased pistachio trees in orchards and nurseries located in southeastern Turkey. Fungi isolated from the pistachio trees were identified by morphology and the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF-1 alpha). Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium brachygibbosum, Fusarium chlamydosporum and Macrophomina phaseolina were the most important fungi causing root rot, wilting and decline of pistachio trees. Pathogenicity studies showed that all of the fungi identified can colonize and damage the vascular tissues of a sapling and cause substantial lesions and vascular discolourations. This study provides the first evidence of wilting due to the root and crown rot in pistachio trees in Siirt province of Turkey caused by some Fusarium species, especially F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. chlamydosporum, F. brachygibbosum and M. phaseolina. Finally, the research enabled the identification of some fungal pathogens that are seriously harming pistachio trees in southeastern Turkey.

The effects of soluble silicon fertilization on monocots and dicots have been widely studied. However, little is known regarding its effects on protecting epiphytes against insect and fungal pests. The efficacy of silicon fertilizer to reduce damage by thrips pest complexes, namely: Thrips palmi Karny, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii Moulton, and Chaetanaphothrips signipennis Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and the fungal pathogens: Botrytis cinerea Persoon (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and Fusarium spp. Link (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) was examined during a nine-month greenhouse trial in Hawaii. The trial assessed yield, quality, and pest damage across three common varieties of dendrobiums. All replicates received additional soluble silicon fertilizer applications alternating weekly between soil drench and foliar (50 mg Si/plant) applications. Yield, quality, and spray length, pest damage, plant vigor, SPAD, and leaf temperature were measured. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model (glm) with repeated measures followed by post-hoc pair-wise comparisons in R, version 4.3.1. Treatment effects were significant at p < 0.001 for the majority of the explanatory variables including: marketable yield, spray length, thrips damage, and fungal damage. Overall, the lavender variety ('Uniwai Supreme') benefited the most from silicon applications with a 73.0% increase in marketable yield, compared to the white variety ('Uniwai Mist'), which had an increase of 50.6% marketable sprays in contrast to its untreated control. Si benefits conferred to the purple variety ('Uniwai Royale') were intermediate to the lavender and white varieties. Although the magnitude of Si benefits varied among the varieties, all dendrobium varieties significantly benefited from silicon fertilization.