<div>Background: Rigidoporus microporus causes white root disease, which is one of the most harmful diseases in rubber trees in Thailand. The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of&nbsp;T. asperellum NST-009 and its antifungal metabolite in inhibiting R. microporus mycelial development and efficacy of T. asperellum NST-009 in controlling white root disease of rubber trees in an open-field house experiment. 
 
Methods: Four native strains of T. asperellum from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and a commercial strain of Thailand were used in this study. This study was conducted at Agricultural Microbial Production and Service Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, during the period 2017-2020. 
 
Result: T. asperellum NST-009 significantly inhibited R. microporus mycelial growth by 77.07% in vitro&nbsp;and its antifungal metabolite from the culture filtrate of T. asperellum NST-009 inhibited mycelial growth by 92.31%. T. asperellum NST-009 reduced the disease severity index by 76.38% in the open-field house experiment compared to the inoculated control. Furthermore,&nbsp;T. asperellum NST-009 was found to survive in rhizosphere soil at 4.50 &times; 105 CFU/g soil and colonized the roots at 100.00%.</div>

Trichoderma asperellum (NST-009): A Possible Thai Native Antagonistic Fungus for Managing White Root Disease of Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis)

Background: Nutrients are important factors that plants need, which also affect the plant&rsquo;s sensitivity to plant diseases. These nutrients may increase the plant&rsquo;s sensitivity to disease or may increase the plant&rsquo;s resistance to these diseases. 
 
Methods: This research was designed to determine the effect of the nutrient&rsquo;s nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the incidence of root diseases affecting tomato seedling caused by Pythium ultimum. Pythium ultimum were isolated and identified through a combination of morphological characteristics and DNA sequencing. 
 
Result: The results of this research showed that nutrient elements (N, P and K) play a major role in increasing the tomato plants ability to resist root diseases caused by Pythium ultimum. Different concentrations of N, P and K showed low root disease incident on tomato seedlings caused by Pythium ultimum. The best concentrations of N, P and K were 20% each and with a lower percentage 10%. Nutrient elements are very important in the plant&rsquo;s ability to resist diseases, but within specific quantities for each element.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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Root Rot Disease on Tomato Seedlings Caused by Pythium ultimum and the Effect of Nutrient Elements N, P and K on Disease Incidence

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: The most important wheat diseases that caused by soil-borne fungi are the root-rot disease. The current investigation conducted with evaluation the efficacy of some bioagents, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum brasilense, Trichoderma harzianum, commercial bioagent (Planta guard) and chitosan against the causal pathogenic organisms of wheat root rot disease under greenhouse conditions.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Wheat seedlings infected with root rot disease were subjected to the causal fungal isolation trails. In greenhouse, wheat grains were sown individually in pots containing artificially infested soil with the pathogenic fungi R. solani or F. graminearum. Furthermore, the tested bioagents and the fungicide Topsin-M 70 were applied to the infested soil before sowing.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The isolated fungi were R. solani or F. graminearum had proved their pathogenic ability to induce root rot disease of wheat. In pot experiment, all applied treatments affect root rot incidence of grown wheat seedlings in artificially infested soils with disease incidents. In infested soils with root rot incidents, bacterial bioagents reduced root rot incidence by 84.5-93.6% and 28.4- 35.3% 66.6, respectively and by 43.7% for T. harzianum. Moderate effect was obtained by chitosan and planta guard treatments in soil infested with either pathogenic fungi.</div>

<div>Biocontrol Agents for Controlling Wheat Root Rot Disease under Greenhouse Conditions</div>

<div>Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. is a soil- and seed-borne pathogen that causes charcoal rot and various rots and blights of more than 500 crop species. Dry root rot (DRR) also called as charcoal rot which causes yield loss ranged from 25-48 per cent. The pathogen is necrotroph and infects a wide range of crops. It is observed that mycelium of M. phaseolina in cotyledons, plumule and radicle, in the naturally infected seeds of mungbean and cowpea. The disease symptoms are clearly visible from the time of emergence and can be evaluated at various stages of development of the plant. The mechanical plugging of the xylem vessels by microsclerotia, toxin production, enzymatic action and mechanical pressure during penetration lead to disease development. Management of M. phaseolina aim to reduce the number of sclerotia in soil or to minimize the contact of the inoculum and the host. Soil solarization can be a cost-effective method for management of soil borne diseases. Disease suppression by biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride and Bacillus subtilis are the sustained manifestation of interactions among the plant, the pathogen, the biocontrol agent, the microbial community on and around the plant and the physical environment and considerably inhibited growth of M. phaseolina. Essential oils and plant extracts contain a multitude of bioactive substances against fungi, bacteria and nematodes. It has been reported that neem oil, turmeric and garlic was effective against M. phaseolina in in vitro condition. Chemical control is an effective method&nbsp; when seed treatment and foliar spray of carbendazim, topsin M-70, captan, thiram, mancozeb, copper oxychloride against root rot and leaf blight (Macrophomina phaseolina) topsin M-70, captan, thiram, mancozeb, copper oxychloride against root rot (Macrophomina phaseolina). As non-chemical alternative methods can be time-consuming and less effective against soilborne plant pathogens. Chemical control is an effective method of controlling some soilborne diseases in agricultural crops. Varoius workers are reported compatibility of biocontrol agents with fungicides and found that Carbendazim and biocontrol agents Trichoderma viride, T. harizianum were found effective under in vitro and pot condition.</div>

Root Rot Disease Incited by Macrophomina phaseolina in Arid Legumes and their Management: A Review

Background: Pepper growing fields in the Babil and Wasit governorates in Iraq, are suffering from a decline in production due to the spread of root rot diseases. The use of biological control techniques, such as the use of beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere and natural plant extracts, along with chemical fungicides, has recently contributed to reducing the damage of plant pathogens globally. 
 
Methods: In this research, the main cause of root rot disease in pepper plants was isolated and diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction technology using (TEF-1&alpha;) gene, antagonistic activities of 75 rhizobacterial isolates, natural extracts of garlic and nerium and the fungicides of Promess and Tecto 500 SC were tested in vitro against the pathogen, then the superior bacterial isolates were identified. The ability of biological and chemical agents to control the disease was tested under greenhouse conditions according to the completely randomized design (CRD). 
 
Result: The results of isolation showed that the fungus Fusarium solani was dominance and the isolate Fsw45 was the most virulent. 3 of 75 rhizobacterial isolates outperformed the pathogen in an antagonistic tests and identified as Pseudomonas mendocina, P. fluorescens and Staphylococcus kloosii also the fungicides and botanical extracts showed significant antagonistic activities as well in vitro. Under greenhouse conditions, the fungicide treatments excelled in disease control by 100%. As for the 3 bacterial isolates, they achieved a significant reduction in the percentage of disease incidence and disease severity index, their abilities were higher than the nerium and garlic extracts.

Some Chemical and Biological Methods to Control Pepper Root Rot Disease in Iraq

Background: Controlling soil-borne fungal diseases is challenging due to the fungi&rsquo;s ability to endure in the soil for extended time frames. Tomato plants are one of the crops that suffer from root rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Biocontrol agents, such as rhizobacteria are a new trend to control this pathogen as alternative to chemical fungicides. 
 
Methods: The morphological and physiological traits of four rhizobacterial isolates of Leclercia adecarboxylata DKS3, Bacillus halotolerans DMC8, Bacillus subtilis NAS1 and Paenibacillus polymyxa TRS4 were examined in vitro and their efficacy in managing tomato root rot disease caused by R. solani was assessed under greenhouse conditions, along with their impact on plant growth metrics and enzyme activities. 
 
Result: The isolate DMC8 significantly enhanced the germination percentage of tomato seedlings, whilst the other isolates showed no difference compared to the positive control treatment. The isolates DMC8, NAS1 and TRS4 demonstrated a substantial reduction in disease incidence, ranging from 50% to 55%, in contrast to the positive control, which recorded 85% incidence. All isolates, however, demonstrated a notable reduction in disease severity, ranging from 30% to 49%, in contrast to the positive control, which exhibited a severity rate of 56%. All bacterial isolates exhibited a notable enhancement in growth metrics in the absence of the pathogen, whereas in the presence of the pathogen, isolates DMC8, NAS1 and TRS4 demonstrated a considerable improvement in growth markers. An elevation in the activities of peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonium lyase enzymes was observed, signifying the development of resistance in the plant by the rhizobacterial isolates.&nbsp;

Eco-friendly Management of Rhizoctonia solani, the Cause of Tomato Root Rot Disease

Background: Rhizobacteria are essential for plant health by offering natural antagonism to soil-borne fungi. Rhizobacteria are regarded as an alternative to chemical agents for the integrated control of plant diseases and for enhancing yield in an ecologically sustainable way. Nonetheless, there is a limited comprehension of the precise processes via which rhizobacteria suppress these diseases and the variety of rhizobacterial species implicated. 
 
Methods: Through experiments conducted in 2022-2024, the efficiency of 12 rhizobacterial isolates of Alloiococcus otitis BRE6, Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus SDV1, Aeribacillus pallidus ECC4, A. thermoaerophilus ECL1, Bacillus megaterium SKE2, Staphylococcus lentus BZD2, Enterobacter cloacae complex BZD3, B. megaterium TNK1, Leclercia adecarboxylata DKS3, B. halotolerans DMC8, B. subtilis NAS1 and Paenibacillus polymyxa TRS4, in controlling soilborne pathogenic fungi of Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina and Pythium aphanidermatum, the causal agents of tomato root rot disease was evaluated under greenhouse conditions and plant growth parameters were evaluated. 
 
Result: The results indicated that the combination treatment of 12 rhizobacterial isolates (COR12) achieved the highest germination rate of tomato seeds in the presence of pathogenic fungi, reaching 100% and the lowest rate of disease incidence and severity, reached 5% and 1%, respectively, compared to the positive control treatment, which reached 82% and 53%, respectively. Representing control disease value of 98% compared to the single bacteria treatments. The COR12 treatment achieved a significant increase in the growth parameters represented by plant height and fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root system in the presence of pathogenic fungi compared to the individual bacterial treatments.

Biological Control of Tomato Root Rot Disease by Indigenous Rhizobacteria in Greenhouse Setting

<div>Background: White mold disease caused by S. sclerotiorum is a serious peril to the cultivation of french bean in India. The disease primarily spreads by spores and normally in forms of sclerotia, which can remain viable in soil for several years and under appropriate environmental conditions, germinate to form mycelium, leading to infectious hyphae or producing apothecia. 
 
Methods: In the present study, antagonistic activity of locally isolated bio-inoculants including four fungi and three bacteria were evaluated against white mold disease of french bean. In vitro efficacy of bio-inoculants was tested by dual culture method against&nbsp;S. sclerotiorum.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The molecular characterization of isolated pathogen was performed using ITS sequencing. The sequence length of the pathogen was 516 bp and approximately identical to publicly available S. sclerotiorum sequences on NCBI data base.&nbsp;In vitro study showed that,&nbsp;P. fluorescens isolate Pf008 was best causing 95.55 per cent mycelium growth reduction. In field experiment, the bio-inoculants were tested by various inoculation methods. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infested soil treated with bio-inoculants as seed treatment and soil application. Results revealed that, seed treatment with formulation of T. harzianum isolate TS004 was best and enhance the growth promotion and increase the grain yield i.e. 13.93 q/ha and 12.10 q/ha during the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively. Soil application with formulation of T. viride isolate TS006 was the utmost effective in reducing disease incidence by 83.91% during the year 2018-19 and seed treatment with formulation of T. viride isolate TS006 reducing disease incidence by 74.83% in the year 2019-20.</div>

Molecular Characterization of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sacc. Initiating White Mold Disease in French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and its Biological Management

<div>Background: In this study, the effects of White Muscle Disease (WMD) on certain blood parameters, MDA and GSH levels in liver and thyroid tissues and the thyroid hormones were investigated in sheep.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Sixteen lambs (8 with WMD, 8 controls) of similar age, 3 to 50 days old, selected from the same region were used in the study. Blood samples were taken from all animals. One ml Vitamin E + Se were injected (I/M) to the lambs with WMD and blood and tissue samples were collected after the treatment as well. The serum Ca, P, T3, T4, albumin, globulin, total protein, glutathione (GSH) values were analyzed by an auto-analyzer. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH amounts of the liver and thyroid tissues were also determined. 
 
Result: The low Ca ion amount in lambs with WMD was found to have increased after injections of vitamin E + Se. P levels followed the same pattern. Total protein, albumin and globulin levels increased after treatment. It was determined that there was a decrease in T3 levels and an increase in T4 levels in patient lamb sera. The levels of GSH in both the liver and thyroid tissues were found to have decreased and statistical significance (at what level) was only found for the liver GSH levels. MDA levels in the hepatic and thyroid tissues were found to have slightly increased in the WMD group. In conclusion, serum differences in Ca, P, albumin, globulin, total protein, T3, T4, GSH, GSH and MDA levels were statistically significant between the groups.</div>

​Evaluation of Various Biochemical Parameters in the Serum and Tissues of Lambs with White Muscle Disease

<div>Background: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop not only for its economic importance but also for its nutritional value. It remained prone to various diseases and amongst them, root rot disease complex caused by concomitant occurrence of R. solani and M. javanica has been key problem in Haryana resultantly reduces yield and production to great extent. 
 
Methods: Present study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the effect of organic amendments and biocontrol agents on root rot disease complex in tomato cv. Hisar Arun (Selection 7). Tomato seeds were sown @ 10 seeds/pot filled with sterilized sandy loam soil having 1000 mg/kg soil (Rhizoctonia solani inoculum level) and 1000 J2/kg soil (M. javanica inoculum level). 
 
Result: The minimum mortality of 33.3 and 36.6 per cent was observed when the soils were incorporated with mustard cake @ 2g/kg soil followed by cotton cake @ 2g/kg soil in comparison to total mortality of 63.3 per cent in control pots and the soil application of mustard cake protected 47.4 per cent plants from mortality. The application of Glomus mosseae (VAM) at 200, 150, 100 sporocarps/kg soil managed disease to the extent of 36.8% 21.0% and 10.4% respectively. Incorporation of T. harzianum@ 5g/kg soil and 10g/kg soil managed the disease to the extent of 21% and 42% respectively. The minimum mortality of 33.3% was recorded when seeds were dressed with Carbendazim 50WP whereas 36.6 per cent with Carboxin 37.5WP + Thiram 37.5WP in comparison to 63.3 per cent in control pots. Systemic approach to manage the root-rot disease complex with the help of organic amendments, bioagents and fungicides can prevent the losses caused to the crop.</div>

​A Non-chemical Approach to the Management of Root Rot Disease Complex of Tomato Concomitantly Caused by Rhizoctonia solani and Meloidogyne javanica