Biological Control最新文献

{"title":"Biocontrol effect and mechanism of endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata against root rot of Lycium barbarum","authors":"Bin Wang ,&nbsp;Caixia Hou ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Yuyan Sun ,&nbsp;Xia Wu ,&nbsp;Chongqing Zhang ,&nbsp;Jing He","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105900","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105900","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root rot caused by <em>Fusarium solani</em> is a severe soil-borne disease affecting <em>Lycium barbarum</em> (goji berry), which has long been managed through chemical control. However, prolonged reliance on chemical agents can lead to pathogen resistance and environmental risks. Initially isolated from healthy <em>L. barbarum</em>, the strain YBG8 exhibited antagonistic properties against <em>F. solani</em> and was identified as <em>Alternaria alternata</em>. However, the precise antifungal mechanism of YBG8 remained unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the antifungal mechanism and biocontrol effect of the fermentation filtrate of the antagonistic strain YBG8. The findings indicated that the YBG8 fermentation filtrate treatment significantly impeded the radial growth of <em>F. solani</em>, altered its spore surface morphology, and triggered an upsurge in alkaline phosphatase activity. Additionally, YBG8 fermentation filtrate treatment also resulted in heightened levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), increased electrical conductivity, and notable leakage of intracellular proteins and nucleic acids. Assessment with propidium iodide staining validated the disruption of cell membrane integrity. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the YBG8 fermentation filtrate unveiled 252 metabolites, encompassing coumarins, carboxylic acid derivatives, purine nucleosides, and others, with 15 constituents exhibiting concentrations exceeding 10 μg/mL. Subsequent analysis identified alternariol methyl ether as the predominant polyketide compound, with a concentration of 130.086 μg/mL. Additionally, altenusin, a diphenyl ether derivative, and altenuene, a cell wall synthesis inhibitor, were also detected at concentrations of 26.664 μg/mL and 18.291 μg/mL, respectively. These findings collectively suggest that the YBG8 fermentation filtrate inhibits the growth of <em>F. solani</em> through multiple pathways, such as cell wall disruption, oxidative stress induction, and membrane function interference. Alternariol methyl ether, altenusin, and altenuene are presumed to be the primary antimicrobial agents in the fermentation filtrate. This investigation illustrates that the YBG8 fermentation filtrate exerts potent antimicrobial effects through a dual-targeting strategy that disrupts both cell wall and membrane systems. These findings establish a theoretical framework and material basis for the development of environmentally friendly biopesticides.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105900"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional response and control efficacy of Plesiochrysa ramburi and Apertochrysa roseusfrontata (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) on the Grey Pineapple Mealybug","authors":"Ziyuan Li ,&nbsp;Linlin Shi ,&nbsp;Jian Wen ,&nbsp;Yanmei Zhang ,&nbsp;Kewei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gray pineapple mealybug, <em>Dysmicoccus neobrevipes</em> Beardsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), causes damage through sap-sucking, honeydew secretion, and potentially transmission of pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus (PMWaV), thereby threatening the sustainability of China’s sisal industry. This study assessed the biological control potential of two predatory lacewings, <em>Plesiochrysa ramburi</em> (Schneider) and <em>Apertochrysa roseusfrontata</em> Wang &amp; Li &amp; Liu, collected from sisal plantations in Zhanjiang (Guangdong Province, China), by evaluating their functional responses and greenhouse control efficacy against <em>D. neobrevipes</em>. Laboratory assays showed that all larval instars of <em>P. ramburi</em> exhibited Type II functional response, whereas <em>A. roseusfrontata</em> displayed such responses only in the 2nd and 3rd instars. Across all stages, <em>P. ramburi</em> exhibited significantly higher predation rates than <em>A. roseusfrontata</em>. Greenhouse trials further revealed that releases of the 3rd instar larvae from both species at predator-pest ratios of 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20 reduced <em>D. neobrevipes</em> populations by over 80 % within 14 days. Specifically, inundative releases after mealybug infestation at a ratio of 1:10 reduced populations by 98.58 % for <em>P. ramburi</em> and 96.52 % for <em>A. roseusfrontata</em>. Overall, all larval stages of both species were effective predators of <em>D. neobrevipes</em>, with <em>P. ramburi</em> showing superior performance. Both inoculative and inundative release of <em>P. ramburi</em> larvae effectively controlled <em>D. neobrevipes</em> in greenhouses, highlighting its promise as a candidate for biological control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105899"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A genetically safe Burkholderia cenocepacia strain P3 suppresses Cercospora zeina via siderophore-mediated iron deprivation","authors":"Lu Zheng,&nbsp;Rui Chen,&nbsp;Xin Pu,&nbsp;Ting Zheng,&nbsp;Bing He","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gray leaf spot (GLS), caused by <em>Cercospora zeina</em>, is a devastating fungal disease of maize worldwide. This study reports the isolation of a novel rhizobacterium, strain P3, from the maize rhizosphere, which was identified as <em>Burkholderia cenocepacia</em> based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and dnaG genes. Strain P3 exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against multiple pathogens and demonstrated plant growth-promoting traits. Genomic analysis confirmed the absence of major virulence genes, supporting its environmental safety. Fermentation conditions for siderophore production were optimized, achieving a yield of 85.5 % siderophore units under optimal conditions (sucrose 5 g/L, asparagine 3 g/L, pH 7.0, 32 °C). The fermentation supernatant of P3 inhibited <em>C. zeina</em> growth dose-dependently, causing hyphal membrane damage and reactive oxygen species accumulation. Two siderophores, pyochelin and ornibactin, were identified and shown to synergistically suppress fungal growth under iron-limited conditions. Greenhouse trials demonstrated that pretreatment with strain P3 significantly reduced lesion area and disease severity in maize plants challenged with <em>C. zeina</em>. These results indicate that B. cenocepacia P3 is a promising, environmentally friendly biocontrol agent with strong potential for integrated management of gray leaf spot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105896"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ageratina adenophora essential oil: A promising miticidal agent against Sarcoptes scabiei, and its effects on key enzymatic pathways","authors":"Fei Liao ,&nbsp;Jie He ,&nbsp;Yang Wen ,&nbsp;Ziyao Tang ,&nbsp;Feng Yang ,&nbsp;Rui Zhi ,&nbsp;Yanlong Qiao ,&nbsp;Bin Chen ,&nbsp;Yanchun Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The common scabies mite, <em>Sarcoptes scabiei</em> (<em>S. scabiei</em>) is a cosmopolitan parasite of humans and other mammals. This study evaluated the potential of<!--> <em>Ageratina adenophora</em> <!-->(<em>A. adenophora</em>) essential oil (EO) to serve as a synergist for enhancing biological control agents against scabies by investigating its acaricidal activity and underlying mechanism. 52 components (99.6 %) were identified by GC–MS. The major components included bornyl acetate (11.16 %), <em>β</em>-bisabolene (9.34 %), cymene (8.17 %), <em>γ</em>-curcumene (8.10 %), and <em>β</em>-caryophyllene (8.05 %). <em>In vitro</em>, it showed good contact toxicity, fumigation activity, and repellency against <em>S. scabiei</em>. At 40 mg/mL for 2 h, the contact mortality, fumigation mortality and repellent rates were 100 %, 100 %, and 92 %, respectively. Medium lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values for contact toxicity and fumigation activity at 2 h were 27.132 mg/mL and 12.579 mg/mL. <em>In vivo</em>, cure rates at 20, 10, 5 mg/mL were 100 %, 100 %, 83.3 % in rabbits, with no skin irritation at 200 mg/mL. Enzyme tests showed that SOD increased first, then decreased, GST was activated, AchE, Na⁺-K⁺-ATP, and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATP were inhibited. The significant activity of <em>A. adenophora</em> essential oil both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>, along with its ability to disrupt key physiological processes in mites, supports its potential as a synergist to enhance the efficacy of biological control agents against scabies mites. Additionally, the observed safety profile at certain doses further encourages its exploration as a component within integrated pest management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105898"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145217422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biocontrol potential of endophytic Bacillus spp. Against early blight disease in potato (Solanum tuberosum)","authors":"Farag M. Farag ,&nbsp;Ashraf Khalifa","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Early blight, caused by <em>Alternaria solani</em>, is a major disease of potato crops worldwide, leading to considerable yield losses. Although chemical fungicides are commonly used for disease management, concerns over their environmental impact have driven the search for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluates the potential of endophytic bacteria as biocontrol agents for managing early blight in potatoes.Three endophytic bacterial strains—<em>Bacillus velezensis</em> FM-1, <em>B. velezensis</em> FM-10, and <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> FM-15—were isolated from healthy potato plants in Beni Suef Governorate, Egypt. Field trials were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons (2022–2023) to assess their effectiveness in controlling early blight. Evaluations included disease incidence and severity, plant growth parameters, and tuber yield. Antifungal activity was assessed via mycelial growth inhibition assays and analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) production. All three isolates (FM-1, FM-10, and FM-15) showed strong antagonistic activity against <em>A. solani</em>, with up to 47.44 % inhibition of mycelial growth. VOCs produced by FM-1 completely suppressed fungal growth, while FM-10 produced 26 secondary metabolites contributing to disease inhibition. Field application of the bacterial treatments significantly reduced both disease incidence and severity. <em>B. velezensis</em> FM-1 exhibited the highest efficacy among the bacterial treatments. Although the fungicide Topas 100 EC provided the greatest overall control, the bacterial treatments enhanced plant growth, leading to increased plant height, branching, tuber weight, and total yield compared to untreated controls. Additionally, FM-1 and FM-15 significantly increased total phenolic content (11 and 10 mg/g dry weight, respectively) and proline levels (∼9 mg/g), while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation (∼6 mg/g) relative to the control (7 mg/g).</div><div>This study demonstrates the promising biocontrol potential of <em>Bacillus</em> spp., particularly <em>B. velezensis</em> FM-1, in managing early blight in potatoes. Beyond disease suppression, these endophytic strains enhance plant physiological responses and productivity, offering a viable and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for sustainable agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105897"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population genomics reveals global patterns of genetic diversity and population structure associated with human-mediated spread of the invasive vine, Cape ivy (Delairea odorata Lem.): Implications for biological control research","authors":"Gavin C. Hunter ,&nbsp;Daniella Egli ,&nbsp;Francisco Encinas-Viso ,&nbsp;Kent F. McCue ,&nbsp;Scott L. Portman ,&nbsp;Isabel Zeil-Rolfe ,&nbsp;Patrick J. Moran ,&nbsp;Ben Gooden","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We investigated global patterns of population genetic diversity and structure for the clonal invasive scrambler, Cape ivy (<em>Delairea odorata</em> Lem., family Asteraceae), to help optimise exploratory surveys of candidate biocontrol agents in its native range, South Africa. We collected more than 1000 Cape ivy samples from 122 populations throughout South Africa and its introduced ranges (Australia, New Zealand, mainland USA, Hawai’i and southern France), and performed population genetic diversity and structure analyses based on single nucleotypic polymorphisms (SNPs). On average, population genetic diversity values were six times higher in South Africa than all introduced populations, although these values were three times higher for the mainland USA populations than those in Australia, Hawai’i and New Zealand. Populations were strongly differentiated with limited gene flow between the native and introduced ranges (intercontinental scale) and between sites within each range (regional scale). All Australian, New Zealand, Hawai’ian and some Californian populations had Fst values approaching zero, likely arising from a single clonal accession derived from the same ancestral population, likely from the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The remaining mainland USA populations showed signs of multiple introductions and admixture patterns. Our results show that human-assisted dispersal of Cape ivy through the ornamental plant trade can overcome genetic (bottleneck) barriers to global invasion, especially for clonal accessions of the plant. We recommend that host-specificity testing of candidate biocontrol agents for Cape ivy in the Australian and New Zealand contexts should source agents from the Western Cape Province of South Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105893"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145263123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Augmentative biological control of invertebrate pests in Australasia: experiences from down under","authors":"Mette-Cecilie Nielsen ,&nbsp;Barbara Barratt ,&nbsp;Christopher Thompson ,&nbsp;Asha Chhagan ,&nbsp;Aleise Puketapu ,&nbsp;Paul Horne ,&nbsp;Jessica Vereijssen","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105895","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105895","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We explored the application of augmentative biological control in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, focusing on managing invertebrate pests in agriculture and horticulture. Both countries, with unique climates and biodiversity, rely heavily on agriculture as a key economic driver, making the protection of crops from invertebrate pests crucial. Despite stringent biosecurity measures, invasive species continue to pose a significant threat, underscoring the ongoing and future need for effective pest management strategies. The use of synthetic agrichemicals has long been integral to crop protection; however, concerns over their environmental impact, resistance development, and market access restrictions have prompted a desired shift toward more sustainable methods. Augmentative biological control, which involves releasing predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to control invertebrate pest populations, is a favourable alternative. Augmentation has been used globally for over a century, but its application in New Zealand and Australia presents unique challenges due to their distinct environments, regulatory frameworks, and biosecurity concerns. The manuscript highlights the use of augmentative biological control in these regions, examines the difficulties surrounding the importation and regulation of biological control agents, and discusses cultural and ecological factors influencing their adoption. It also provides insights into the future potential of augmentative biological control in the two countries, emphasising its role in integrated pest management strategies to reduce agrichemical reliance and ensure sustainable agricultural practices. The manuscript offers perspectives for future invertebrate pest management efforts in New Zealand and Australia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105895"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145333192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome sequencing and experimental validation reveal the biocontrol activity of endophytic Bacillus velezensis XY3 against Colletotrichum fructicola","authors":"Yi-Mei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhen-Cheng Duan ,&nbsp;Yuan-Pu Lv ,&nbsp;Zhen-Kun Li ,&nbsp;Wan-Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Ling-Yun Zheng ,&nbsp;Ya-Feng Dai ,&nbsp;Guang Yang ,&nbsp;An-Dong Gong","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tea anthracnose, caused by <em>Colletotrichum</em> spp., is a prevalent foliar disease in the primary tea-planting regions of China. The conventional chemical control of tea anthracnose results in excessive fungicide residues, which constrain the export of tea from our country. Therefore, it is imperative to develop safe and pollution-free biological control methods. Strain XY3, isolated from the healthy leaves of ‘Xinyang 10’ cultivar and identified as <em>Bacillus velezensis</em> through 16S rRNA gene analysis, demonstrated significant inhibition of conidial germination, hyphal growth, and the pathogenicity of <em>Colletotrichum fructicola</em>. Propidium iodide and Hoechst staining assays indicated that the membrane permeability of the mycelium was compromised when cultured with the fermentation broth of XY3. Crude lipopeptides were extracted from fermentation broth showing an EC₅₀ value of 21.33 µg mL⁻¹, and the antimicrobial compounds including iturinA, fengycinA, surfactin, and their homologs were detected via LC-MS/MS. Plate confrontation assay verified that iturin and fengycin purified compounds exhibited notable inhibitory activities. Additionally, the whole genome of XY3 was sequenced with 46.5 % GC content in the size of 3.93 Mb circular chromosome. Subsequent, Go, KEGG and COG analysis were conducted, identifying 102 carbohydrate-active enzymes, 12 gene clusters of secondary metabolites. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that two unique genes ctg_01263 and ctg_01267 of strain XY3 are related to lanthipeptide synthetase synthesis. These functional analyses reveal a numerous genes involved in the biosynthesis of antagonistic metabolites antagonistic to pathogens. Besides, XY3 also exhibits the potential in promoting plant growth by producing indole-3-acetic acid. Collectively, <em>B. velezensis</em> XY3 emerges as a promising biocontrol agent against <em>C. fructicola</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105892"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Entomopathogenic fungi from paddy soils suppress a major insect pest and enhance rice growth under greenhouse conditions","authors":"Noppol Kobmoo ,&nbsp;Suchada Mongkolsamrit ,&nbsp;Artit Khonsanit ,&nbsp;Wasana Noisripoom ,&nbsp;Non Sawangkaew ,&nbsp;Donnaya Thanakitpipattana ,&nbsp;Cattarin Theerawitaya ,&nbsp;Suriyan Cha-um ,&nbsp;Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard ,&nbsp;Jintana Unartngam","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105894","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105894","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive agrochemical use in rice cultivation poses environmental and health risks, emphasizing the need for sustainable alternatives. The development of biocontrol agents that can simultaneously suppress pests and enhance rice growth and production is particularly needed. In this study, we investigated the functionality of Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) isolated from paddy soils across Thailand to suppress a major insect pest, the brown planthopper (<em>Nilaparvata lugens</em>) and to promote rice growth. Seventy-five EPF strains were isolated from paddy soils, primarily identified as belonging to <em>Metarhizium</em> and <em>Purpureocillium</em> genera. Two <em>Metarhizium</em> strains (MY13317.02 and MY13317.32), belonging to <em>M. pingshaense</em> sensu lato complex, exhibited strong virulence against <em>N. lugens</em> in vitro and demonstrated high phosphate-solubilizing activity, significantly enhancing rice growth, yield and photosynthetic performance under greenhouse conditions. The findings highlight the promising potential of these <em>Metarhizium</em> strains as multifunctional bioinoculants for sustainable rice agriculture, combining plant growth promotion with biocontrol efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105894"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-organic fertilizers containing potential biocontrol strains suppress bacterial soft rot and reshape soil microbial communities in cucumbers","authors":"Zhongqiang Gao ,&nbsp;Xiaoting Wang ,&nbsp;Xiwu Ding ,&nbsp;Xia Gao ,&nbsp;Yanan Han ,&nbsp;Biao Gong ,&nbsp;Jian Wang ,&nbsp;Weiqiang Li ,&nbsp;Fenghui Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial soft rot disease poses a serious threat to cucumber production. Bio-organic fertilizers containing antagonistic beneficial microorganisms have emerged as promising approaches for enhancing plant disease resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms by which these fertilizers suppress bacterial soft rot disease remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the fundamental patterns of bio-organic fertilizer regulation of bacterial and fungal community assembly in cucumbers and their relationships with bacterial soft rot resistance through a field experiment involving four different types of bio-organic fertilizer treatments. The plant health and soil fertility increased significantly under all treatments. The combination of Chinese medicine residue with bio-organic fertilizer demonstrated the most pronounced effects among all treatments. Shifts in bacterial and fungal community structure induced by bio-organic fertilizers are crucial in suppressing bacterial soft rot disease. In particular, bio-organic fertilizers recruit more beneficial microorganisms with antimicrobial activity and promote plant growth traits. Following bio-organic fertilizer application, the bacterial network displays greater complexity than the fungal network. Structural equation models have demonstrated the influence of bio-organic fertilizer application on specific microflora that drives modifications in soil physicochemical properties. Altering key soil physicochemical factors such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus is vital for promoting the suppressive effect of bio-organic fertilizers on bacterial soft rot. Thus, the effectiveness of bio-organic fertilizers stems from a combination of the actual antagonistic activities of the inoculated biocontrol agents and the promotion of indigenous beneficial microbial groups. This dual mechanism not only suppresses the growth of pathogens directly but also strengthens the soil’s overall microbial ecosystem, thereby promoting plant health and resistance to diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8880,"journal":{"name":"Biological Control","volume":"210 ","pages":"Article 105891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}