The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture leads to the accumulation of harmful compounds in soil and plants that can cause diseases of humans and animals. The biological method of plant protection is a promising alternative to chemical pesticides. The purpose of this study was to analyze the antagonistic activity of the Acinetobacter sp. GET13 strain against common bacterial and fungal pathogens of plant diseases in in vitro and in planta experiments. As a result, the effect of the bacterium on the growth of phytopathogenic bacteria (Clavibacter michiganensis, Erwinia carotovora, Pectobacterium carotovorum and Pseudomonas syringae), as well as phytopathogenic fungi (Helminthosporium sativum, Piricularia oryzae.) that cause serious damage to agriculture, was studied. To confirm the results obtained in these experiments, an in planta experiment was conducted on Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) The effectiveness of Acinetobacter GET13 strain for plant protection against phytopathogens was proved based on the results of taking into account the linear function between weight and volume parameters of plants at the end of the experiment. Therefore, this strain has the potential to create a biological product.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was conducted to characterize the bacterial strain B22T isolated from the rhizospheric soil of the halophyte Salicornia hispanica. This strain is aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, catalase and oxidase positive, motile, reduces nitrates and chemoheterotrophic. It is halotolerant, exhibiting optimal growth at 28 degrees C and pH 7.0 in the presence of 0.5-2.5% (w/v) of NaCl. The B22T genome size is 5.7 Mbp, with a G+C content of 60.5 mol%. This strain has the capacity to promote tomato growth by producing siderophores, indole-3-acetic acid and enzymes such as phytase and acid phosphatase. Additionally, strain B22T produces a quorum quenching (QQ) enzyme capable of degrading synthetic N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) as well as those produced by phytopathogens. The interference of plant pathogen communication reduced virulence in tomato fruits and plants. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the closest relatives of strain B22T was Pseudomonas tehranensis SWRI 196T. The average nucleotide identity values between strain B22T and P. tehranensis SWRI 196T was 95.1% while digital DNA-DNA hybridization values was 64.5% The main cellular fatty acids of strain B22T were C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 omega 7c/C16:1 omega 6c) and summed feature 8 (C18:1 omega 7c/C18:1 omega 6c). The major polar lipids identified were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, while the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone (Q-9). Based on genomic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain B22T (=CECT 31209; =LMG33902) represents a novel species within the genus Pseudomonas. The name Pseudomonas halotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. Additionally, this study highlights the potential of P. halotolerans as a sustainable biocontrol agent due to its plant growth-promoting activity in tomato plants and its ability to reduce phytopathogen virulence factors, mitigating damage to fruits and plants.

The control of phytopathogenic fungi in agricultural crops requires the use of synthetic chemical fungicides, which have damaged the environment for decades. Biocontrol with microorganisms is one option to reduce their use, with the fungi of the Trichoderma genus standing out for their ability to interact with soil pathogens through different control mechanisms through antibiosis or production of substances harmful to other microorganisms. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biological control mechanism using Trichoderma asperellum antibiotics on the growth of Fusarium oxysporum and F. equiseti. Antibiosis bioassays were performed using the cellophane test (diffusible metabolite assay), the reverse plate technique (volatility assay), and poisoned foods (T. asperellum mycelium extracts and extracellular metabolite assays). The diffusible metabolites of T. asperellum presented the greatest inhibition of growth. The highest percentage of inhibition was observed on F. oxysporum in plates where T. asperellum developed for 72 h (>25 %), while F. equiseti inhibition was more effective in plates with 48 h (>40 %). In both species, no significant inhibitory effect was observed in volatility tests (>10 %), while extracellular metabolites showed no inhibition. In contrast, metabolites extracted from T. asperellum mycelium with ethyl acetate inhibited Fusarium between 18 and 40 %; with hexane, between 9 and 20 %; and with methanol, no inhibition was observed. The direct analysis in real-time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) analysis showed the presence of pyrones, fatty acids, alcohols, and carbohydrates in extracts and liquid culture of T. asperellum, which suggests that the control mechanism through antibiotics on F. oxysporum and F. equiseti is fungistatic.

Pentastiridius leporinus, a polyphagous planthopper, has emerged as a significant vector of the phloem-limited pathogens ARSEPH and PHYPSO, posing a severe threat to agricultural production across Europe. This study explores the complex interactions between P. leporinus, its pathogens, and host plants, focusing on its impact on sugar beet, potato, and recently identified vegetable crops such as carrots and beetroots. The transmission of these pathogens leads to reduced yield and quality, causing substantial economic losses and threatening food security and supply chains. P. leporinus exhibits remarkable adaptability, spreading efficiently over long distances and colonizing diverse crops. Its life cycle, involving nymph development in soil and adult migration to host plants, underpins its reproductive success and rapid geographic expansion. While ARSEPH and PHYPSO reduce crop viability and processing quality, their combined infections exacerbate the damage, introducing secondary pathogens and compounding challenges for farmers. Control measures for P. leporinus remain limited due to the lack of resistant crop varieties, long-term insecticide effi cacy, and precise infestation thresholds. Current efforts emphasize a holistic, integrated pest management (IPM) strategy, combining agronomic practices such as early harvesting, crop rotation, and soil cultivation with emerging tools like biocontrol agents, forecasting models, and experimental genetic techniques. Trials with cover nets and tolerant crop varieties show promise in mitigating the pest's impact, but further research is essential. This work highlights critical knowledge gaps, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration and increased funding to develop sustainable, environment-friendly solutions. Practical research and immediate action is necessary to mitigate the devastating effects of P. leporinus on agriculture. The authors therefore propose the establishment of an EU task force on plant health emergencies, as foreseen in the amendment of EU plant health legislation. A national initiative is not sufficient to manage the existential threat situation.

In conventional agricultural practices, agrochemicals, including synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other soil conditioners optimize crop production and combat insect-pest damage to satisfy the food demands of constantly growing global human populations. Long-term usage of expensive agrichemicals contaminates the soils and destroys biodiversity, deteriorating soil fertility, and microbiome-plant ecosystems. In this context, nanotechnology offers effective and powerful tool against factors that limit the legume production due to the compact size, ease of transport and handling, long shelf life, and high efficiency of nanomaterials. Thus, the application of nanoparticles in agricultural sectors are gaining momentum in developing nano-biosensors, nanoformulations (nanofertilizers/nanopesticides- NPs), and plant nutrient management. Indeed, nanotechnology is set to transform crop production systems, because NPs significantly reduce the environmental release of active ingredients. Unlike conventional fertilizers and pesticides, which often fail to reach their target sites and contribute to environmental contamination, NPs offers a more precise and eco-friendly solution. This review provides a broad view of the complex interactions between nanoparticles and phytomicrobiome-legumes, focusing both on the potential benefits and risks associated with the widespread use of nanoparticles. The emerging field of nanotechnology, especially nanoformulations, offers a green alternative to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, optimizing yields and managing legume diseases.

In continuously cropped strawberry soil, a large population of the fungivorous nematode, Aphelenchus avenae, was observed to increase significantly over time. This nematode, which feeds on pathogenic fungi affecting strawberries, has significant potential as a biocontrol agent. The purpose of this article is to discuss the nematode's preference for fungi associated with strawberries and its impact on the growth of strawberry roots. With the exception of Trichoderma harzianum, most of the pathogenic fungi commonly found in strawberry soil, such as Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Verticillium, Phytophthora infestans, and Botrytis cinerea Pers. attracted A. avenae and supported their propagation. All treatments with A. avenae and the non-nematode control showed a consistent trend throughout strawberry development, indicating that a moderate amount of A. avenae does not adversely affect strawberry roots. Moderate and low levels of A. avenae significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) in strawberry roots in all treatments during the entire growth stages. Also, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of strawberry roots in all nematode treatments was lower than that in the no-nematode control. Despite an overabundance of A. avenae, which negatively affected the redox system balance of strawberry roots, A. avenae can protect the roots from pathogenic fungi by preventing infection and damage. These results lay the foundation for the potential use of A. avenae as a biological agent to control these pathogenic fungi in strawberry soil, in combination with the biological fungi (T. harzianum).

This study focuses on developing an encapsulated and dehydrated formulation of vegetative actinobacteria cells for an efficient application in sustainable agriculture, both as a fungicidal agent in crop protection and as a growth-stimulating agent in plants. Three strains of actinobacteria were used: one from a collection (Streptomyces sp.) and two natives to agricultural soil, which were identified as S3 and S6. Vegetative cells propagated in a specific liquid medium for mycelium production were encapsulated in various alginate-chitosan composites produced by extrusion. Optimal conditions for cell encapsulation were determined, and cell damage from air-drying at room temperature was evaluated. The fresh and dehydrated composites were characterized by porosity, functional groups, size and shape, and their ability to protect the immobilized vegetative cells' viability. Actinomycetes were immobilized in capsules of 2.1-2.7 mm diameter with a sphericity index ranging from 0.058 to 0.112. Encapsulation efficiency ranged from 50% to 88%, and cell viability after drying varied between 44% and 96%, depending on the composite type, strain, and airflow. Among the three immobilized and dried strains, S3 and S6 showed greater resistance to encapsulation and drying with a 4 Lmin-1 airflow when immobilized in coated and core-shell composites. Encapsulation in alginate-chitosan matrices effectively protects vegetative actinobacteria cells during dehydration, maintaining their viability and functionality for agricultural applications.

Since the late nineteenth century, the agricultural sector has experienced a tremendous increase in chemical use in response to the growing population. Consequently, the intensive and indiscriminate use of these substances caused serious damage on several levels, including threatening human health, disrupting soil microbiota, affecting wildlife ecosystems, and causing groundwater pollution. As a solution, the application of microbial-based products presents an interesting and ecological restoration tool. The use of Plant Growth-Promoting Microbes (PGPM) affected positive production, by increasing its efficiency, reducing production costs, environmental pollution, and chemical use. Among these microbial communities, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are considered an interesting candidate to be formulated and applied as effective microbes. Indeed, these bacteria are approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Qualified Presumption of Safety statute and Generally Recognized as Safe for various applications. To do so, this review comes as a road map for future research, which addresses the different steps included in LAB formulation as biocontrol, bioremediation, or plant growth promoting agents from the isolation process to their field application passing by the different identification methods and their various uses. The plant application methods as well as challenges limiting their use in agriculture are also discussed.Graphical AbstractThe different processes involved in LAB use as biofertilizers or biocontrol agents.

This review examines natural pests, competitors of the Heracleum sosnowsky. Special attention is paid to the role of mutualism in the invasiveness of hogweed. the parsnip yellow spot virus, larvae of the weevil ( Lixus iridis (Olivier, 1807)), agromyzid flies ( Phytomyza pastinacae (Hendel, 1923)), umbrella moth ( Epermenia chaerophyllella (Goeze, 1783)), scoops ( Dasypolia temple (Thunberg, 1792)), depressariids ( Depressaria radiella (Goeze, 1783)), celery fly ( Euleia heraclei (Linnaeus, 1758)), lamellate beetles ( Oxythyrea funesta (Poda, 1761)), caterpillars of the Kamchatka Swallowtail ( Papiliomachaon (Linnaeus, 1758)) significantly damaged Heracleum sosnowsky. Thrips vulgatissimus (Haliday, 1836) feeds on the sap, while Lixus iridis eat leaves and stems of the above mentioned hogweed. Phoma complanate (Tode) (= Calophoma complanate) is a phytopathogenic fungi that damage Heracleum sosnowsky. Powdery mildew, ascochitosis and cylindrosporosis are most common fungal diseases of the giant hogweed. Shellfish farming and livestock grazing curb the spread of hogweed. Due to the lack of competition in the environment, the importance of its artificial creation is discussed. The fast-growing perennial grasses create dense turf that prevents germinating of hogweed seeds. Poapratensis L., Alopecuruspratensis L., Bromus inermis Leyss., Festuca rubra L., Phlumpratense L., Loliumperenne L., Helianthus tuberosus L., and Galega orientalis Lam. are among them. Replacement crops, such as Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L., can compete in vacant lots and abandoned lands. The success of the hogweed populations introduction depends on the presence of pollinators, the spread of its seeds by animals and humans; symbiosis with fungi and bacteria. The possibility of limiting the spread of hogweed through the absence of species that improve its adaptability is discussed. It was concluded that biological control agents are promising to use and additional studies is needed to reduce the number of Heracleum sosnowsky and eliminate negative consequences for the environment.

The study was conducted within the Longstanding Stationary Fertilizer Experiment (LSFE) in IASS Obraztsov Chiflik, Rousse with the aim of establishing the influence of different options of mineral fertilization on yield and resistance to environmental stress and the development of phytopathogens in common wheat.It was found that the highest yield for the period - 6,080 kg ha(-1), was obtained in the experimental plot with full mineral fertilization (N-15 & Rcy;(12)& Kcy;(7)), which represents more than a two-fold increase compared to the average yield obtained from the control. Phytopathological analysis shows that the seeds obtained from the variant with full mineral fertilization have the lowest percentage of phytopathogens (0.75-2.00%) while 22% of the seeds in the control was damaged by Tilletia. The variants with potassium fertilization (K-7) stand out as the most resistant to atmospheric drought during the four-year research period, with the reported values - 58.61 mu S cm(-1), being 12% lower, compared to the control. The highest resistance to soil drought was established for the variants with potassium (K-7) and phosphorus (P-12) fertilization, respectively 83.02 mu S cm(-1) and 83.05 mu S cm(-1).