Phytopathology Research最新文献

Crop losses due to pathogens are a critical global challenge threatening food security and agricultural sustainability. Recent advances in plant science have highlighted the role of epigenetic regulation in plant immunity. This review examines current insights into how plants utilize epigenetic modifications, focusing on histone modifications, DNA methylation changes, and chromatin remodelling, to modulate defence gene expression and adapt to biotic stress. We explore how histone modifications influence both basal and induced immune responses through key enzymes and we examine the dual roles of DNA methylation in transcriptional activation and repression. Additionally, the review discusses ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes and non-coding RNA to highlight their contribution in fine tuning plant immunity. Finally, we discuss emerging technologies involved in epigenome editing and identify the knowledge gaps that must be addressed before translating our findings into making resilient agricultural systems.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42483-025-00393-7.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is frequently affected by Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB), a fungal disease that significantly reduces wheat yields. In this study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, developed from crosses involving two elite CIMMYT breeding lines (WUYA and KATH) and a common susceptible male parent (CIANO T79), were used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with SNB resistance. High-density genetic maps were constructed for these RIL populations by incorporating presence/absence variation (PAV) markers using the DArTseq genotyping platform. Three major and stable QTL linked to SNB resistance were identified on chromosomes 2A, 4B, and 5B. Among these, QSnb.cim-2A accounted for 22.16%-28.74% and 17.62%-19.71% of the phenotypic variation in the WUYA/CIANO T79 and KATH/CIANO T79 populations, respectively, and it was also validated in the CASCABEL/CIANO T79 RIL population. The remaining two QTL, QSnb.cim-4B and QSnb.cim-5B, were found to be associated with Rht-B1b and tsn1, respectively. The combined effect of these three QTL significantly improved SNB resistance while also reducing plant height, indicating their promising utilization in wheat breeding programs.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42483-025-00371-z.

In the last two decades, fire blight has progressively spread eastward from Europe and the Mediterranean area to several pome-fruit producing regions of Asia. Its causative agent, the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora, was detected in several new countries, including Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. In the latter two states, the disease creates a threat not only to the commercial apple and pear production, but also to the wild Malus and Pyrus species that constitute the basis of the local forest ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of the pathogen in Central Asia and the Caucasus region utilizing CRISPR Repeat Regions (CRRs) genotyping and genome sequencing, with the aim to understand its dissemination patterns across the continent. Genome sequence analysis revealed that all strains from these two regions exclusively derived from the archetypal CRR1 genotype A. Our analysis revealed three main E. amylovora clades in Central Asia, with distinct yet partial overlapping geographical distributions. Genomic relationships among isolates indicate that Central Asian strains are genetically closest to those from the Persian region and the Middle East, while the Georgian population is genetically more distant and can align with strains from the Volga District in southern Russia and the Eastern Mediterranean area. Notably, this study also includes strains from the first confirmed occurrences of fire blight in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Our findings highlight the importance of phylogenetic analysis and genome sequencing in understanding the phytopathogen epidemics and protecting key agricultural species and the genetic resources of their wild counterparts in the forest.