Effects of chitosan on plant growth under stress conditions: similarities with plant growth promoting bacteria.

The agricultural use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and growth regulators may represent a serious public health and environmental problem worldwide. All this has prompted the exploration of alternative chemical compounds, leading to exploring the potential of chitosan and PGPB in agricultural systems as a potential biotechnological solution to establish novel agricultural production practices that not only result in fewer adverse impacts on health and the environment but also improve the resilience and growth of the plants. In this work, an analysis of the impact of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and chitosan on plant growth and protection has been conducted, emphasizing the crucial bioactivities of the resistance of the plants to both biotic and abiotic stressors.

Bois noir management in vineyard: a review on effective and promising control strategies.

Among grapevine yellows, Bois noir (BN), associated with ' Phytoplasma solani', represents the biggest threat in the main wine-growing areas worldwide, causing significant losses in berry quality and yields. BN epidemiology involves multiple plant hosts and several insect vectors, making considerably complex the development of effective management strategies. Since application of insecticides on the grapevine canopy is not effective to manage vectors, BN management includes an integrated approach based on treatments to the canopy to make the plant more resistant to the pathogen and/or inhibit the vector feeding, and actions on reservoir plants to reduce possibilities that the vector reaches the grapevine and transmit the phytoplasma.

Effect of Bacteria Inoculation on Colonization of Roots by and Growth of Seedlings.

is an ascomycete that forms ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbioses with a wide range of host plants, producing edible fruiting bodies with high economic value. The quality of seedlings in the early symbiotic stage is important for successful truffle cultivation. Numerous bacterial species have been reported to take part in the truffle biological cycle and influence the establishment of roots symbiosis in plant hosts and the development of the carpophore.

Antifungal Activity of Thirty Essential Oils to Control Pathogenic Fungi of Postharvest Decay.

Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic or medicinal plants are biodegradable, safe, and regarded as alternatives to chemical pesticides to reduce fungal species attacking different crops. In this study, thirty EOs at 0.5 mg/mL were evaluated for in vitro growth inhibition of the main postharvest fungi, which are , , and .

Antifungal activity of volatile organic compounds from essential oils against the postharvest pathogens , , , and .

Gray mold and brown rot, caused respectively by and spp., are fungal diseases responsible for significant losses during the storage of fruit and vegetables. Nowadays, the control of postharvest diseases is shifting towards more sustainable strategies, including the use of plant secondary metabolites.

Recent findings in molecular reactions of E. coli as exposed to alkylated, nano- and ordinary chitosans.

The antibacterial effects of chitosan have been widely studied, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. We investigated the molecular responses of Escherichia coli MG1655 cell, a model gram-negative bacterium, upon exposure to chitosan (Cs), alkylated Cs (AlkCs), and chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs). Nine target genes involved in relevant signaling pathways (ompF, ompC, ompA, mrcA, mrcB, mgtA, glnA, kdpA, lptA) were selected for analysis.

Are Basic Substances a Key to Sustainable Pest and Disease Management in Agriculture? An Open Field Perspective.

Pathogens and pests constantly challenge food security and safety worldwide. The use of plant protection products to manage them raises concerns related to human health, the environment, and economic costs. Basic substances are active, non-toxic compounds that are not predominantly used as plant protection products but hold potential in crop protection.

Induced Resistance in Fruit and Vegetables: A Host Physiological Response Limiting Postharvest Disease Development.

Harvested fruit and vegetables are perishable, subject to desiccation, show increased respiration during ripening, and are colonized by postharvest fungal pathogens. Induced resistance is a strategy to control diseases by eliciting biochemical processes in fruits and vegetables. This is accomplished by modulating the progress of ripening and senescence, which maintains the produce in a state of heightened resistance to decay-causing fungi.

Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide regulated reactive oxygen species homeostasis at wounds of pear fruit during healing.

Both chitosan (CTS) and chitooligosaccharide (COS) can promote fruit healing. However, whether the two chemicals regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis during wound healing of pear fruit remains unknown. In this study, the wounded pear fruit (Pyrus bretschneideri cv.

Preharvest Application of Commercial Products Based on Chitosan, Phosphoric Acid Plus Micronutrients, and Orange Essential Oil on Postharvest Quality and Gray Mold Infections of Strawberry.

Strawberry is a perishable fruit with a limited shelf life after harvest due to deterioration of quality and the development of gray mold, Rhizopus rot and other minor diseases. In this study, the effectiveness of commercial compounds based on chitosan, phosphoric acid plus micronutrients, and sweet orange essential oil (EO) in reducing decay and optimizing the quality of strawberries was analyzed. The plant canopy of a greenhouse crop was sprayed once and strawberry fruit were harvested three days later.

Esca grapevine disease involves leaf hydraulic failure and represents a unique premature senescence process.

Xylem anatomy may change in response to environmental or biotic stresses. Vascular occlusion, an anatomical modification of mature xylem, contributes to plant resistance and susceptibility to different stresses. In woody organs, xylem occlusions have been examined as part of the senescence process, but their presence and function in leaves remain obscure.

Chitosan and other edible coatings to extend shelf life, manage postharvest decay, and reduce loss and waste of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain high percentage of water and continue metabolic activity after being harvested, resulting in ripening, increased sensitivity to decay-causing fungi, and consequent loss and waste. Edible coatings are prepared from naturally occurring renewable sources and can contribute to reducing waste, respecting environment, and consumer health. Chitosan and other edible coatings form a thin layer surrounding fresh produce that acts as a protective agent, extending shelf life, and have the potential to control their ripening process and maintain nutritional properties of the coated product.

Epiphytic Yeasts and Bacteria as Candidate Biocontrol Agents of Green and Blue Molds of Citrus Fruits.

Overall, 180 yeasts and bacteria isolated from the peel of citrus fruits were screened for their in vitro antagonistic activity against and , causative agents of green and blue mold of citrus fruits, respectively. Two yeast and three bacterial isolates were selected for their inhibitory activity on mycelium growth. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and ITS rDNA sequences, the yeast isolates were identified as and while the bacterial isolates were identified as , and .

Multilocus Genotyping of ' Phytoplasma Solani' Associated with Grapevine Bois Noir in Iran.

Grapevine Bois noir (BN) is associated with ' Phytoplasma solani'. It has been recorded in vineyards throughout Europe as well as in different countries in Asia, where it now constitutes a threat to Iranian viticulture. BN is strictly dependent on '.

Basic Substances, a Sustainable Tool to Complement and Eventually Replace Synthetic Pesticides in the Management of Pre and Postharvest Diseases: Reviewed Instructions for Users.

Synthetic pesticides are widely used to protect crops from pathogens and pests, especially for fruits and vegetables, and this may lead to the presence of residues on fresh produce. Improving the sustainability of agriculture and, at the same time, reducing the adverse effects of synthetic pesticides on human health requires effective alternatives that improve the productivity while maintaining the food quality and safety. Moreover, retailers increasingly request fresh produce with the amounts of pesticides largely below the official maximum residue levels.

Tracking of Diversity and Evolution in the Brown Rot Fungi , , and .

species are among the most devastating fungi worldwide as they cause brown rot and blossom blight on fruit trees. To understand the molecular bases of their pathogenic lifestyles, we compared the newly assembled genomes of single strains of , and , with those of and , as the closest species within . Phylogenomic analysis of orthologous proteins and syntenic investigation suggest that is closer to than , and is closest to the other investigated species.

Biocontrol of Non- Yeasts in Vineyard against the Gray Mold Disease Agent .

Background: () is responsible for grape infection and damage to the winemaking and table grape sectors. Although anti- chemicals are available, they are considered unsustainable for resistance phenomenon and adverse effects on the environment and human health. Research is focused on developing alternative approaches, such as exploiting biological control agents (BCAs).

Influence on grape aromatic compounds of natural fungicides used for the control of downy mildew.

Background: The grape volatile fraction determines to a great extent its aroma, which is one of the most important characteristics influencing wine quality and consumer preferences. Grapevine downy mildew (GDM) is one of the most important and devastating diseases of grapevines worldwide. In this study, the impact on the volatile composition of cv.

Chitosan Coating Enriched With L. Essential Oil Reduces Postharvest Anthracnose of Papaya ( L.) and Modulates Defense-Related Gene Expression.

Anthracnose of papaya ( L.) caused by the fungus spp. is one of the most economically important postharvest diseases.

Non-Chemical Treatments for the Pre- and Post-Harvest Elicitation of Defense Mechanisms in the Fungi-Avocado Pathosystem.

The greatest challenge for the avocado ( Miller) industry is to maintain the quality of the fruit to meet consumer requirements. Anthracnose is considered the most important disease in this industry, and it is caused by different species of the genus , although other pathogens can be equally important. The defense mechanisms that fruit naturally uses can be triggered in response to the attack of pathogenic microorganisms and also by the application of exogenous elicitors in the form of GRAS compounds.

The Mycorrizal Status in Vineyards Affected by Esca.

In this work we analyzed the relationship among native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vine roots affected by esca, a serious grapevine trunk disease. The AMF symbiosis was analyzed on the roots of neighboring plants (symptomatic and asymptomatic to esca) in 14 sites of three vineyards in Marche region (central-eastern Italy). The AMF colonization intensity, identified by non-vital staining, showed higher value in all esca symptomatic plants (ranging from 24.

A Comprehensive Review on the Impact of Edible Coatings, Essential Oils, and Their Nano Formulations on Postharvest Decay Anthracnose of Avocados, Mangoes, and Papayas.

Subtropical fruit such as avocados (), mangoes ( L.), and papayas ( L.) are economically important in international trade and predominantly exported to European destinations.