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Background: Silver oxide (Ag 2 O) nanostructures were fabricated and their ability to induce antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina, which causes charcoal rot disease in strawberries, was evaluated under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions. A real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to monitor expression of defense-related genes, which is essential to evaluate the potential of the manufactured nanoparticles to promote strawberry resistance against charcoal rot. The effect of Ag 2 O nanoparticles on growth characteristics in strawberry plants was also studied., Results: The results showed that Ag 2 O significantly inhibited M. phaseolina growth compared with untreated controls under in vitro conditions. Strawberry plants treated with Ag 2 O showed a significant decrease in the severity of charcoal rot disease in the greenhouse compared with untreated plants. Strawberry plants treated with Ag 2 O nanoparticles expressed defense gene (PR-1) involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathways at levels three to five times higher than in the control group. Ag 2 O nanoparticles significantly improved the growth and yield of the strawberry crop., Conclusion: Use of Ag 2 O nanoparticles can be considered a new strategy to control M. phaseolina and this is the first report of this effect. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) infects cucurbits and has been identified as a major limiting factor in their production. The purpose of this study was to create copper oxide nanostructures (CONS) to control ZYMV in squash plants. Protection of squash against ZYMV was assessed in terms of virus severity, ZYMV concentration, transcription of pathogenesis-related genes and growth enhancement of treated squash., Results: The findings revealed that squash plants treated with CONS had a significant reduction in disease severity when compared with untreated plants. In squash plants treated with CONS, defense genes associated with the salicylic acid signaling pathway were strongly expressed compared with untreated plants. The structural characteristics of CONS, such as their small size and appropriate shape, added to their excellent anti-ZYMV efficacy. CONS-treated squash plants show significantly improved growth traits compared with untreated plants., Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, CONS may be a new strategy for the control of ZYMV in squash. This represents an unconventional solution to control this virus, particularly as no chemical pesticides can control viral diseases. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Systemic resistance stimulated by rhizosphere bacteria is an important strategy for the management of plant viruses. The efficacy of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis was assessed for protection of cucumber and Arabidopsis against Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Moreover, transcriptomic analysis was carried out for A. thaliana colonized with B. subtilis subsp. subtilis and infected with CMV., Results: Treatment with a cell suspension of Bacillus revealed a significant reduction of CMV severity in comparison to their control. All Arabidopsis mutants treated with B. subtilis showed a clear reduction in CMV accumulation. Disease severity data and virus concentration titer measurements correlated with gene up-regulation in microarray and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) experiments. Bacillus treatment increased Arabidopsis growth characteristics (fresh and dry weights and number of leaflets) under pot conditions. The molecular mechanisms by which Bacillus activated resistance to CMV were investigated. Using the microarray hybridization technique, we were able to determine the mechanism of resistance elicited by B. subtilis against CMV. The transcriptomic analysis confirmed the up-regulation of more than 250 defense-related genes in Arabidopsis expressing induced systemic resistance (ISR). RT-qPCR results validated the overexpression of defense genes (YLS9 and PR1 in Arabidopsis and PR1 and LOX in cucumber), implying their important roles in the stimulated defense response., Conclusion: Through the study of microarray and RT-qPCR analyses, it can be concluded that the overexpression of pathogenesis-related genes was necessary to stimulate CMV defense in cucumber and Arabidopsis by B. subtilis subsp. subtilis. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Induced resistance against several plant pathogens was reported using different beneficial plant growth-promoting microorganisms. The potential of five fungal isolates, Trichoderma harzianum GT 3-2, Fusarium equiseti GF 18-3, F. equiseti GF 19-1, Phoma sp. GS 10-1 and Phoma sp. GS 14-1, to stimulate tomato growth and resistance against bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pathovar (pv.) tomato DC3000 was evaluated., Results: Based on the results of disease severity and growth promotion experiments, GF 18-3 exhibited the best results among all fungal isolates. Treatment with barley grain inocula (BGI) and culture filtrate (CF) of the isolates promoted tomato growth and suppressed the pathogen in pot trials. Furthermore, expressions of the pathogenesis-related genes (PR-1, β-1,3-glucanase A, β-1,3-glucanase B and LOX) were relatively higher than the control in the leaves of tomato plants treated with both BGI and CF. The transcription levels remained consistently higher than the control plants for 6 days post-inoculation with pathogen., Conclusion: Taken together, the results indicate that the tested fungal isolates have the potential to promote tomato growth and induce systemic resistance against the bacterial speck disease. Analysis of certain PR gene expression revealed significant activation in both BGI and CF treatments, leading to stimulated resistance against the pathogen. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: This study fabricated titanium dioxide nanostructures (TDNS) to control broad bean stain virus (BBSV) in faba bean plants. Protection of faba bean against BBSV was evaluated biologically with respect to virus severity, reduction in BBSV accumulation and expression of a pathogenesis-related gene., Results: The results indicate that faba bean plants treated with TDNS show a significant reduction in disease severity relative to untreated plants. The regulatory and defense gene involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathway was highly expressed in faba bean plants treated with TDNS compared with untreated plants. The structural features of TDNS, such as the small particle size and suitable shape, contributed to its high efficacy against BBSV. Growth of faba bean plants treated with TDNS was significantly enhanced relative to untreated plants., Conculsion: TDNS is an important, eco-friendly and safe strategy for controlling BBSV in faba bean and this study is the first report of this control strategy. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a serious threat to vegetable production worldwide. The efficacy of Phoma sp. GS8-2 was evaluated against CMV in Arabidopsis and cucumber plants., Results: Arabidopsis and cucumber plants treated with barley grain inoculum (BGI) or cell-free filtrate (CF) of GS8-2 demonstrated decreased CMV severity and titre using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay relative to the control. Cucumber growth and yield parameters were significantly increased due to colonization with GS8-2 under field conditions. Molecular mechanisms underlying mediated resistance induced by GS8-2 against CMV were investigated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results confirmed that both BGI and CF of GS8-2 stimulated the transcription levels of pathogenesis related genes (β1-3 glucanase, chitinase, PR1, PAL1 and LOX1), which could be involved in induced resistance against CMV., Conclusion: Exploring the expression of the highly upregulated genes in GS8-2-induced plants suggested the contribution of multiple plant defence pathways against CMV. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)