Identifying the distribution and causal pathogens of blueberry stem blight disease in Alabama and nearby states.

Botryosphaeria stem blight is a fungal disease of blueberry caused by members of the Botryosphaeriaceae family, which can lead to rapid wilting of leaves and stems, often resulting in significant yield loss and even plant death. Botryosphaeria stem blight is a major disease in Alabama, however, information on the distribution and causal pathogens for stem blight in Alabama is limited. This study surveyed blueberry farms in Alabama and nearby parts of Georgia and Mississippi to reveal the occurrence, species identities, and virulence of causal pathogens for Botryosphaeria stem blight.

Glycine max polygalacturonase inhibiting protein 11 (GmPGIP11) functions in the root to suppress Heterodera glycines parasitism.

Pathogen-secreted polygalacturonases (PGs) alter plant cell wall structure by cleaving the α-(1 → 4) linkages between D-galacturonic acid residues in homogalacturonan (HG), macerating the cell wall, facilitating infection. Plant PG inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) disengage pathogen PGs, impairing infection. The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, obligate root parasite produces secretions, generating a multinucleate nurse cell called a syncytium, a byproduct of the merged cytoplasm of 200-250 root cells, occurring through cell wall maceration.

Evaluation of the Genetic Diversity, Haplotype, and Virulence of f. sp. Field Isolates from Alabama.

The United States is the third largest producer of cotton and the largest exporter of cotton globally. Fusarium wilt, caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen f. sp.

Characterizing the Diversity of Oomycetes Associated with Diseased Cotton Seedlings in Alabama.

Many oomycete species are associated with the seedlings of crops, including upland cotton ( L.), which leads to annual threats. The diversity of oomycete species in Alabama needs to be better understood since the last survey of oomycetes associated with cotton in Alabama was 20 years ago-before significant updates to taxonomy and improvements in identification of oomycetes using molecular tools.

Diversity and temporal distribution of f. sp. races and genotypes as influenced by cultivar.

This study assess the population diversity and temporal variability of caused by f. sp. (FOV) races/genotypes infecting cotton cultivars with either FOV or resistance.

Evaluation of and Nematode-resistant Cotton Cultivars with Supplemental Corteva Agriscience Nematicides.

- and -resistant new cotton cultivars have recently become available, giving growers a new option in nematode management. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the yield potential of the new cultivars PHY 360 W3FE (-resistant) and PHY 332 W3FE (-resistant) in nematode-infested fields and (ii) to evaluate the effects of combining the nematicides Reklemel (fluazaindolizine), Vydate C-LV (oxamyl), and the seed treatment BIO Nematicide 100 (heat killed and its non-living spent fermentation media) with resistant cotton cultivars on nematode population levels and lint yield. Field experiments in 2020 and 2021 indicated population levels were 73% lower on PHY 360 W3FE (R) and 80% lower for on the PHY 332 W3FE (R) at 40 days after planting.

Evaluation of the mechanism of action of spp. to manage with split root assay, RT-qPCR and qPCR.

The goal of this research is to determine the mechanism of action of two spp. that can manage population density in cotton. The overall objectives are 1) determine the efficacy and direct antagonistic capabilities of the spp.

The heterologous expression of conserved Glycine max (soybean) mitogen activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) paralogs suppresses Meloidogyne incognita parasitism in Gossypium hirsutum (upland cotton).

Two conserved Glycine max (soybean) mitogen activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) paralogs function in defense to the parasitic soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines. Gene Ontology analyses of RNA seq data obtained from MAPK3-1-overexpressing (OE) and MAPK3-2-OE roots compared to their control, as well as MAPK3-1-RNA interference (RNAi) and MAPK3-2-RNAi compared to their control, hierarchically orders the induced and suppressed genes, strengthening the hypothesis that their heterologous expression in Gossypium hirsutum (upland cotton) would impair parasitism by the root knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita. MAPK3-1 expression (E) in G.

Additional fertilizer and nematicide combinations on upland cotton to manage and in Alabama.

Plant parasitic nematodes are major pests on upland cotton worldwide and in the United States. The reniform nematode, and the southern root-knot nematode are some of the most damaging nematodes on cotton in the United States. Current management strategies focus on reducing nematode populations with nematicides.

Meta-Analysis of the Field Efficacy of Seed- and Soil-Applied Nematicides on and Across the U.S. Cotton Belt.

Meta-analysis was used to compare yield protection and nematode suppression provided by two seed-applied and two soil-applied nematicides against and on cotton across 3 years and several trial locations in the U.S. Cotton Belt.

Conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex genes functioning in defense are expressed in root cells undergoing a defense response to a pathogenic infection and exhibit regulation my MAPKs.

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex maintains correct Golgi structure and function during retrograde trafficking. Glycine max has 2 paralogs of each COG gene, with one paralog of each gene family having a defense function to the parasitic nematode Heterodera glycines. Experiments presented here show G.

Enhanced biological control of root-knot nematode, , by combined inoculation of cotton or soybean seeds with a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium and pectin-rich orange peel.

LC-MS analysis of plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) AP203 supernatants indicated the presence of nematode-inhibiting compounds that increased in abundance when AP203 was grown on orange peel. J2 were incubated with AP203 spores and orange peel, spores alone, orange peel alone, or with a non-inoculated control, and the combination of AP203 with orange peel resulted in 94% mortality of juveniles ( ≤ 0.05).

First report of infecting in Alabama.

Hemp ( L.) is a new crop in Alabama. In 2019, symptomatic plants with stunted growth, poor root development, and numerous galls were observed in hemp plants grown in Geneva County, AL.

Evaluation of a new chemical nematicide, fluazaindolizine (ReklemelTM active), for plant-parasitic nematode management in bermudagrass.

Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major pest of turfgrass in the United States, yet there are few options for successful management. Most current management strategies rely on the use of a limited number of chemical nematicides, so finding a new management option for nematode suppression would be extremely valuable for turfgrass managers. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new nematicide, fluazaindolizine (Reklemel™ active), for its ability to reduce plant-parasitic nematode population density and improve turfgrass quality.

Plant health evaluations of and colonized bermudagrass using remote sensing.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) equipped with a multispectral sensor to track plant health in the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes in conjunction with nematicide applications. Four nematicides were evaluated for their ability to suppress and in microplots, and three nematicides were evaluated on a golf course for their ability to suppress multiple plant-parasitic nematode genera. Visual ratings, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference RedEdge Index (NDRE) were reported throughout the trial to assess plant health.

The Conserved Oligomeric Golgi (COG) Complex Functions During a Defense Response to .

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex, functioning in retrograde trafficking, is a universal structure present among eukaryotes that maintains the correct Golgi structure and function. The COG complex is composed of eight subunits coalescing into two sub-complexes. COGs1-4 compose Sub-complex A.

Exocyst components promote an incompatible interaction between Glycine max (soybean) and Heterodera glycines (the soybean cyst nematode).

Vesicle and target membrane fusion involves tethering, docking and fusion. The GTPase SECRETORY4 (SEC4) positions the exocyst complex during vesicle membrane tethering, facilitating docking and fusion. Glycine max (soybean) Sec4 functions in the root during its defense against the parasitic nematode Heterodera glycines as it attempts to develop a multinucleate nurse cell (syncytium) serving to nourish the nematode over its 30-day life cycle.

Current Utility of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as Biological Control Agents towards Plant-Parasitic Nematodes.

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are among the most economically and ecologically damaging pests, causing severe losses of crop production worldwide. Chemical-based nematicides have been widely used, but these may have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Hence, biological control agents (BCAs) have become an alternative option for controlling PPN, since they are environmentally friendly and cost effective.

Validation of the Chemotaxis of Plant Parasitic Nematodes Toward Host Root Exudates.

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are microscopic soil herbivores that cause damage to many economic crops. For the last century, it has been proposed that chemotaxis is the primary means by which PPN locate host plant roots. The identities and modes of action of chemoattractants that deliver host-specific messages to PPN, however, are still elusive.

The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family functions as a cohort during the Glycine max defense response to Heterodera glycines.

Mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play important signal transduction roles. However, little is known regarding how they influence the gene expression of other family members and the relationship to a biological process, including the Glycine max defense response to Heterodera glycines. Transcriptomics have identified MAPK gene expression occurring within root cells undergoing a defense response to a pathogenic event initiated by H.

Harpin-inducible defense signaling components impair infection by the ascomycete Macrophomina phaseolina.

Soybean (Glycine max) infection by the charcoal rot (CR) ascomycete Macrophomina phaseolina is enhanced by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines. We hypothesized that G. max genetic lines impairing infection by M.

A harpin elicitor induces the expression of a coiled-coil nucleotide binding leucine rich repeat (CC-NB-LRR) defense signaling gene and others functioning during defense to parasitic nematodes.

The bacterial effector harpin induces the transcription of the Arabidopsis thaliana NON-RACE SPECIFIC DISEASE RESISTANCE 1/HARPIN INDUCED1 (NDR1/HIN1) coiled-coil nucleotide binding leucine rich repeat (CC-NB-LRR) defense signaling gene. In Glycine max, Gm-NDR1-1 transcripts have been detected within root cells undergoing a natural resistant reaction to parasitism by the syncytium-forming nematode Heterodera glycines, functioning in the defense response. Expressing Gm-NDR1-1 in Gossypium hirsutum leads to resistance to Meloidogyne incognita parasitism.

Biological control of Heterodera glycines by spore-forming plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soybean.

Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode, is the most economically important plant-parasitic nematode on soybean production in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains for mortality of H.

Biological Control of Meloidogyne incognita by Spore-forming Plant Growth-promoting Rhizobacteria on Cotton.

In the past decade, increased attention has been placed on biological control of plant-parasitic nematodes using various fungi and bacteria. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of 662 plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains for mortality to Meloidogyne incognita J2 in vitro and for nematode management in greenhouse, microplot, and field trials. Results indicated that the mortality of M.