<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>The use of silicon (Si) in agriculture has attracted a great deal of interest from researchers because of the numerous benefits of this element to plants. The use of silicon has decreased the intensity of several diseases in crops of great economic importance. In this study, the relationship between silicon nutrition and fungal disease development in plants was reviewed. The current review underlines the agricultural importance of silicon in crops, the potential for controlling fungal plant pathogens by silicon treatment, the different mechanisms of silicon-enhanced resistance, and the inhibitory effects of silicon on plant pathogenic fungi <italic>in vitro</italic>. By combining the data presented in this paper, a better comprehension of the relationship between silicon treatments, increasing plant resistance, and decreasing severity of fungal diseases could be achieved.</abstract>

The role of silicon (Si) in increasing plant resistance against fungal diseases

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
Late blight of potato and tomato, one of the most widely reported diseases of plants, is a significant curb in global agriculture which poses severe problems in terms of yield and economic losses, and environmental pollution due to pesticides use. The disease is caused by <italic>Phytophthora infestans</italic> -an oomycete - which first drew the considerable attention of plant pathologists during the mid-1840s when the pathogen incited historic starvation in Ireland – the great Irish potato famine - as a consequence of substantial potato losses due to late blight disease. Since that period, late blight has triggered several epidemics of potato and tomato of profound intensity in different regions. Over the course, synthetic fungicides have been proved effective management practice for late blight control; nonetheless, the evolution of new genotypes with increased virulence to hosts and resistance to fungicides has been greatly regarded as an agricultural problem. Breakthroughs in genome sequencing of <italic>P. infestans</italic> and identification of resistance genes in some plants have opened ways for the development of resistant genotypes. However, there still exist numerous challenges to deal with this noxious pathogen. This review aims to highlight the historical significance of late blight disease, its chemical control strategies and associated challenges, and resistance breeding programs by employing genetic approaches.
</abstract>

Late blight of potato: From the great Irish potato famine to the genomic era – An overview

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The study examined the effect of nano-silica extracted from two different plant sources on the survival and development of the potato tuber moth, <italic>Phthorimaea opercullela.</italic> The silica powder was derived from two different agricultural byproducts, olive stones and corncobs. Characterization by X-ray diffraction revealed that the extracted powder has an amorphous silica phase. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements revealed that both extracted and treated silica have mesoporous structure, with a specific surface area of around 300 m2/g and 270 m2/g for the silica derived from olive stones and corncobs, respectively. The silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) prepared from the silica derived from olive stοnes showed higher larvae mortality, pupae weight, and larval and pupal developmental time, compared to the silica derived from corncombs. The results show that the nano-silica derived from agriculture byproducts can be as effective as the synthetic insecticide (deltamethrin) utilized in control of the potato tuber moth, with lower environmental impact in terms of preventing pesticide residue accumulation. In addition, the efficiency of SiO2 NPs applications depends on the source of the silica nanoparticles and the applied concentration to achieve the optimum results for the pest control.
</abstract>

Effect of nano-silica extracted from two different plant sources on survival and development of <italic>Phthorimaea opercullela</italic> (Zeller) larvae

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The present study evaluates the antioxidant and antifungal effects of essential oils (EOs) from <italic>Thymus vulgaris</italic>, <italic>Thymus algeriensis</italic>, <italic>Mentha piperita</italic>, <italic>Mentha pulegium</italic>, <italic>Artemisia herba-alba</italic> and <italic>Artemisia campestris</italic>, on five strains of <italic>Fusarium</italic>. The chemical composition of EOs of <italic>T. vulgaris</italic>, <italic>T. algeriensis</italic>, <italic>A. herba-alba</italic>, <italic>M</italic>. <italic>piperita</italic> and <italic>M. pulegium</italic> is characterized by a dominance of the family of oxygenated monoterpenes with 73.85%, 59.41%, 70.01%, 60.01% and 87.2%, respectively. On the other hand, the EO of <italic>A. campestris</italic> showed a diverse composition by similar percentages between all families. The two strains BD17 and INRA 349 were found to be resistant to low concentrations of EOs from <italic>T. algeriensis</italic>, <italic>A. campestris</italic> and <italic>A. herba-alba</italic>, sensitive to EOs of <italic>M. pulegium</italic> and <italic>M</italic>. <italic>piperita</italic> and very sensitive to <italic>T. vulgaris</italic> EO (0.25 μl/ml). A high antioxidant effect was recorded by <italic>T. vulgaris</italic> EO in BCB assay with an effective concentration (0.5 mg/ml) 3 to 60 times higher compared to the other EOs tested. This antioxidant capacity of <italic>T. vulgaris</italic> EO was also recorded with DPPH assay at an EC50=1.41 mg/ml.
</abstract>

Antioxidant and antifungal activities of essential oils from Algerian spontaneous plants against five strains of <italic>Fusarium</italic> spp.

Special Issue: Abstracts of the 16th Hellenic Phytopathological

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> Net blotch (NB), caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres, substantially reduces barley grain yield and quality worldwide. The role of salicylic acid (SA) signaling in NB resistance has been poorly documented. In this study, SA levels as well as the expression of the SA-responsive gene PR2 were monitored in infected leaves of two barley genotypes, Banteng (resistant) and WI2291 (susceptible), at different time points of infection. SA signaling was activated in bothgenotypes 24 hours post infection (hpi) as compared with non-inoculated plants. However, with or without pathogen pretreatment, SA signifi cantly increased (P=0.001) in Banteng comparing with WI2291. RT-PCR analysis revealed that PR2 expression increases in the resistant and susceptible genotypes over the inoculation time points, with maximum expression (6.4 and 1.99-fold, respectively) observed 6 dpi. PR2 expression was paralleled by an increase in leaf SA content as shown by the test coincidence (F3, 32 = 4.74, P = 0.001). Based on barley genotype resistance levels, our data strengthen the idea that SA signaling and PR2 play a role in barley NB reduction</abstract>

Changes in salicylic acid content and pathogenesis - related (PR2) gene expression during barley - Pyrenophora teres interaction

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
The dioecious gymnosperm self-sown ornamental plant <italic>Ephedra foeminea</italic> Forssk (Ephedraceae: Gnetales) has a special interest due to its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. The present study contributes with data about the phenology of the plant in Attica, Greece, and the complex of its scale insect pests (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha), <italic>Stotzia ephedrae</italic> (Newstead) (Coccidae) (morphology, phenology, biology, natural enemies), <italic>Dynaspidiotus ephedrarum</italic> (Lindinger) (morphology, natural enemies) and <italic>Leucaspis riccae</italic> Targioni Tozzetti (Diaspididae) (natural enemies), based on observations made from April 2021 to June 2023. <italic>Stotzia ephedrae</italic> which was the scale species found in higher numbers on <italic>E. foeminea</italic> is a univoltine, oviparous and biparental species recorded as settled 1st instar nymph on the shoots of <italic>E. foeminea</italic> from May to January. The fecundity of the scale fluctuated between 370 and 598 eggs per female. The results on the phenology of <italic>S. ephedrae</italic> contribute to the knowledge of the critical period for the pest control, i.e. from May to January during which the scale remains in the sensitive first instar. In addition, the records of parasitoids and predators in the colonies of the scale insects infesting <italic>E. foeminea</italic> provide information on the available natural enemies for potential use in biological control schemes of these pests.
</abstract>

New data on the scale insect pests of <italic>Ephedra foeminea</italic> in Greece

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
In Morocco, the climate conditions are favorable for the establishment and the spread of <italic>Xylella fastidiosa (X.f)</italic>. However, the successful establishment of the bacterium depends on many factors; mainly: bacterial subspecies and sequence type, host plants susceptibility, feeding behavior and transmission efficiency of the insect vectors. Knowledge of the relationship between the bacterium–affected crop agro-ecosystem and potential insect vectors is of crucial importance. In this work, we list the tritrophic interaction <italic>X.f</italic>-host plants-insect vectors that occur worldwide in order to apply it to the current situation in Morocco and for risk analysis on the bacterium in the country. Two most relevant <italic>X.f</italic> subspecies of the bacterium (in terms of impact on crops) were considered, namely, subsp. <italic>fastidiosa</italic> and subsp. <italic>pauca</italic>. Based on the international literature and public databases, the majority of the <italic>X.f</italic>-insect vectors are comprised in two families: Cicadellidae and Aphrophoridae. Among all cicadellid species recorded, a high number had the capacity to transmit <italic>X.f</italic> to hosts in America while this ability is null for other regions (except <italic>Graphocephala versuta</italic> Say (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) recorded in Algeria). In Morocco, none of the cicadellid genera reported worldwide as vectors of <italic>X.f,</italic> have been so far reported, whereas many species of spittlebugs and leafhoppers are present. <italic>Philaenus tesselatus</italic> Melichar (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is highly abundant in Morocco and could play a role as potential vector in case the bacterium is introduced in the country. With regard to the <italic>X.f</italic> hosts, citrus, olive, almond and grapevine, forest agroecosystems and oleander are considered the main susceptible species present in Morocco.
</abstract>

Worldwide potential insect vectors of <italic>Xylella fastidiosa</italic> and assessment of their importance with a focus on Morocco

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
Adjuvants are used with herbicides to increase their efficacy. In this study, it was demonstrated that the application of 0.1% of the non-ionic surfactant (NIS, Contact) and 0.5 L ha−1 of a crop oil concentrate (COC, Renol) did not improve the efficacy of rimsulfuron on <italic>Amaranthus retroflexus.</italic> In contrast, the same treatments enhanced performance and rainfastnes of rimsulfuron in <italic>Chenopodium album.</italic> Increasing non-ionic surfactant concentration to 1 L ha−1 increased rimsulfuron performance around 10-fold for <italic>A. retroflexus</italic> compared to around 3-fold for <italic>C. album.</italic> The same treatment reduced 12-fold the rainfastness of rimsulfuron on <italic>A. retroflexus</italic> while improving 2-fold the rainfastness of rimsulfuron on <italic>C. album</italic>. Measured ED50 and ED90 doses of rimsulfuron indicated that the addition of the 0.2 L ha−1 of NIS improved the recommended (60 g a.i. ha-1) and the reduced (30 g a.i. ha−1) dose effect of rimsulfurom in potato crop in the field. The highest potato yield was recorded (60 tons per ha) when 60 g ai. ha−1 of rimsulfuron was applied at three growth stages [leaf development (S1) + vegetatively propagated organs (S4) + development of tuber (S7)] of the crop without using a NIS; not significant differences were measured when the same dose of rimsulfuron was applied at the three (S1, S4, and S7) and two (S1, S4) growth stages with NIS.
</abstract>

Effects of adjuvants on the effectiveness and rainfastness of rimsulfuron in potato

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
Insect dependency of apple crop for pollination vary in different cultivars. The cv. ‘Delicious Pilafa Tripoleos’, is a Protected Designation of Origin apple of Greece, which lacks information on self-compatibility and needs for insect pollination for commercial fruit production. Here, the effect of wind, free (wind and insects), honeybee, free with at least one visit from a bumblebee and hand pollination was examined on fruit set and fruit characteristics. Also, the effect of flowering patches as a practice to attract pollinators in the apple orchards, on fruit quality characteristics was studied. A pollinizer apple variety and insect pollinators are necessary for successful pollination of ‘Delicious Pilafa Tripoleos’ since hand pollination with pollen of the same cv., and wind pollination resulted in very low fruit set. Single flower visits by honeybees could give fruit set, however, free pollination with at least one visit of <italic>B. terrestris</italic> resulted in higher fruit set compared to the other pollination treatments. Free pollination resulted in more fruits with higher number of seeds than wind pollination (only one fruit obtained). Apples produced from flowers adjacent to the flowering mixture patches had significantly higher skin firmness and lower total soluble solids at harvest (both desirable traits for ‘Delicious Pilafa Tripoleos’), compared to fruits from trees in naturally occurring groundcover.
</abstract>

Pollination and fruit set of the Protected Designation of Origin apple cv. ‘Delicious Pilafa Tripoleos’ depends on insect pollinators

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) was detected in several rose plants showing symptoms of rose mosaic disease (RMD) in Beqaa valley, Lebanon. PNRSV was found in 29 plants by molecular and serological analyses, while other viruses associated with RMD were absent. Although PNRSV is known to have a wide host range, the present paper reports the first occurrence of PNRSV on rose plants in Lebanon.
</abstract>

First report of prunus necrotic ringspot virus infecting rose (<italic>Rosa</italic> spp.) in Lebanon

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Summary</title>
Salinity is one of the most imperative global problems that affect crop productivity on a large scale. Salinity impairs plant growth and development by imposing various stresses. Therefore it is vital to decode those stress factors and identify possible solutions to improve agriculture productivity. However, the adaptive mechanisms under saline conditions of glycophytes have not been studied. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) on salinity tolerance in cotton plants. Some patterns of resistance development were revealed on the seedlings of two cotton cultivars, a salt-tolerant (Gulistan) and a salt-sensitive one (C-4727). Moreover, the antioxidant potentials of these cultivars were compared. The activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), super-oxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the quantity of endogenous ABA, malondialdehyde (MDA), and free proline (Pro) were determined in control and post treatment. Our results demonstrate significant differences between the salt- tolerant and sensitive cotton seedlings in response to saline stress, i.e., high levels of Pro and endogenous ABA, but lower MDA concentrations, and higher activity of APX and SOD for the salt-tolerant cultivar, Gulistan, as compared to the salt stress-sensitive cultivar C-4727.
</abstract>

Effects of exogenous abscisic acid on antioxidant system of salt tolerant and salt sensitive cotton cultivars

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title> Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years in folk medicines and still are used for their health benefits. In our days medicinal plants are exploited for the isolation of plant-derived drugs as they are very effective and have relatively less or no side effects. However, the natural resources of medicinal plants are gradually exhausted and access to plant bioactive compounds is challenged by the low levels at which these products accumulate in native medicinal plants. For instance, to meet the market demands of 3 Kg per year of vinca alkaloids, powerful plant-derived anticancer drugs, 1.5×106 Kg dry leaves are required. In this regard, this review aims to highlight the fact that endophytic fungi residing in medicinal plants are capable to biosynthesize pharmacologically active secondary metabolites similar or identical to those produced by their host medicinal plant. Furthermore, the evolutionary origin of the genes involved in these metabolic pathways as well as the approaches designed to enhance the production of these metabolites by the isolated endophytic fungi are also discussed.</abstract>

Endophytic fungi residing in medicinal plants have the ability to produce the same or similar pharmacologically active secondary metabolites as their hosts

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms or Plant Probiotics (PGPMs) constitute a promising solution for agricultural sustainability. The concept that inoculation of PGPM mixtures may perform better in enhancing agricultural production than single strain application dates back to the discovery of plant growth rhizobacteria (PGPR) and is gaining ground in our days. This shift is highlighted by the increasing number of research publications dealing with the positive impact of microbial mixtures in promoting plant growth, controlling plant pathogens, as well as providing abiotic stress tolerance. The continuous deposition of patents as well as commercially available formulations concerning bioprotective and/or biostimulant multistrain mixtures also underlines this shift. A major issue in engineering an effective and consistent synthetic multistrain mixture appears to be the compatibility of its components. The present review provides a thorough literature survey supporting the view that treatment of plants with compatible multistrain mixtures generally exerts a better effect in plant growth and health than single-strain inoculation. Our study focuses on multistrain mixtures based on <italic>Pseudomonas</italic>, <italic>Bacillus</italic> and beneficial fungal strains, while commercial products are also being referred.</abstract>

Multistrain versus single-strain plant growth promoting microbial inoculants - The compatibility issue

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>Plant-associated environments harbor a huge number of diverse bacteria that compete and/or cooperate for the occupation of the most nutrient-rich ecological niches. Motility, a common trait among bacteria, has long been assumed to provide a survival advantage to skilful bacteria in invading these environments. Bacterial surface motility, such as swarming, a flagella-driven type of surface movement, although mostly observed and studied on agar substrates, is emerging as a major trait involved in many functions of plant-associated bacteria in regard to their ability to colonize and spread on their host. In this review, we address some novel swarming motility strategies, which enable bacteria to colonize, disperse and compete in plant surfaces.</abstract>

Swarming motility in plant-associated bacteria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>The present study is part of a survey for the identification of plant-parasitic nematodes in the rhizosphere of cultivated and wild olive trees in Crete, Greece. Sixteen species corresponding to 13 genera are added to 20 species belonging to 8 genera, previously reported in the survey. Seven nematode species, <italic>Filenchus ditissimus</italic>, <italic>Filenchus vulgaris</italic>, <italic>Ogma civellae</italic>, <italic>Pratylenchoides crenicauda</italic>, <italic>Psilenchus hilarulus</italic>, <italic>Tylenchus elegans</italic>, and <italic>Zygotylenchus guevarai</italic>, are recorded for the first time in Greece.</abstract>

Plant-parasitic nematodes associated with cultivated and wild olive trees in Crete, Greece

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Summary</title>The study concerns the first records for the presence of the box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis in Greece and subsequent infestations on ornamental box trees in urban environment. Adults of the pest were first spotted in six locations around the country from October 2013 until April 2015, when infestation was also detected (mid April). The pest was found infesting plants of Buxus sempervirens in several private and public gardens and parks in the urban environment of Kifissia, Attica. Possible introduction scenarios, as well as preventive and control measures are discussed.</abstract>

School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.), Greece

Department of Pesticides Control and Phytopharmacy, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 St. Delta Str., GR-145 61, Kifi ssia, Attica, Greece

Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, 8 Stefanou Delta Str., GR-145 61, Kifi ssia, Attica, Greece

First record of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Greece

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