Abstract Plant growth-promoting fungi belonging to genus Trichoderma are known help plants when dealing with biotic stressors by enhancing plant defenses. While beneficial effects of spp. against pathogens have long been documented, fewer studies investigated their effect on insect pests. Here, we studied the impact root colonization defense responses stink bug feeding attack. For this purpose, a model system consisting tomato plant, Solanum lycopersicum cv Dwarf San Marzano, harzianum...

The shortage of good quantity and quality water for irrigated agriculture is a major problem in arid semiarid regions. To deal with this problem, deficit irrigation (DI) or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation have been proposed adopted many crops as tool to save water, improve crop tolerance drought stress. An experiment was conducted two consecutive years evaluate the effect on physiological, morphological, yield, characteristics melon plants grown under irrigation. Melon...

Soil contamination with microplastics may adversely affect soil properties and functions consequently crop productivity. In this study, we wanted to verify whether the adverse effects of in on maize plants (Zea mays L.) are due a reduction nitrogen (N) availability reduced capacity establish symbiotic relationships arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. To do this, performed pot experiment which clayey was exposed two environmentally relevant concentrations polypropylene (PP; one most used...

The control of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), the main palm pest in Mediterranean Basin, is problematic because its biology and current restrictions many European countries on use chemical insecticides urban areas. Entomopathogenic fungi have been studied as potential biological agents, but information their natural incidence limited. Strains Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin were isolated from symptomatic insects collected dead palms, pathogenicity against different instars R....

Abstract Posidonia oceanica is the most common, widespread and important monocotyledon seagrass in Mediterranean Basin, hosts a large biodiversity of species, including microorganisms with key roles marine environment. In this study, we ascertain presence fungal endophyte roots P. growing on different substrata (rock, sand matte ) two Sicilian meadows. Staining techniques root fragments sections, combination microscope observations, were used to visualise determine percentage colonisation (...

The presence of endophytic fungi in the roots, rhizomes, and leaves Posidonia oceanica was evaluated different localities Sicilian coast. Samples were submitted to isolation techniques, obtained fungal colonies identified by morphological molecular (rRNA sequencing) analysis. Fungal endophytes occurred mainly roots occasionally rhizomes leaves. Lulwoana sp. most frequent isolated taxa, suggesting a strong interaction with host. In addition, eight other taxa isolated. particular, genus...

Abstract Plants can respond to insect egg deposition by emitting oviposition‐induced plant volatiles (OIPVs) recruiting parasitoids. The recruitment of carnivore insects in response is considered an indirect defence strategy that widespread the kingdom. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence showing microbial colonization influence strength responses herbivory, yet no information available on how beneficial microbes modulate defences induced deposition. this work, we evaluated...

Abstract In recent years, leaf necrosis and twig dieback in the olive crop have been detected Sicily (Italy). this article, we identify predominant fungal species associated with symptomatic leaves twigs, using morphological features DNA sequencing of internal transcribed spacer ( ITS ) region, as Alternaria alternata, Arthrinium phaeospermum, Phoma cladoniicola Ulocladium consortiale . The pathogenicity these four was tested on plants cv. Biancolilla. All were pathogenic leaves, but only U....

Antagonistic substances produced by a Bacillus subtilis strain (AG1), which were previously found to slow down the growth of esca fungi in vitro , an artificial medium, isolated from cell-free medium precipitation and acidification (to less than pH 2.5) extracted precipitate with 96% ethanol. The crude extract employed antibiotic assays confirmed, antagonism B. against Phaeoacremonium aleophilum Phaeomoniella chlamydospora also showed antifungal activity toward Verticillium dahliae...

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), a member of the genus Potexvirus, was first described in 1980 on pepino (Solanum muricatum) and later isolated from different wild species Solanum (formerly Lycopersicon) (Soler et al., 2002). PepMV has been reported several European countries North America, causing disease tomato. In July 2008, plants basil (Ocimum basilicum) showing interveinal chlorosis young leaves were observed three greenhouses Sicily, area where tomato found to be infected by 2005 (Davino...

Postharvest fruit loss is caused by the absence of advanced handling and storage technologies quiescent presence fungal pathogens. Therefore, there a growing demand for sustainable decisions planet. This study focused on use two types edible coatings: one was based essential oil Origanum vulgare L. subsp. viridulum with Aloe arborescens Mill. gel (EC1), other hydrolate only (EC2). These treatments were applied to provide defense against infections in papaya (Carica cv Solo), time 25 days (T5...

Summary. The endophytic fungus Acremonium byssoides was isolated from the leaves of grapevine cv. Regina Bianca to determine whether it could act as an antagonistic endophyte downy mildew agent Plasmopara viticola. occurrence this ascertained in 34 grapevines (cultivars Bianca, Catarratto and Insolia) representing all plants experimental vineyard located Sicily which had never been treated with any fungicides. isolation frequency strains assessed several plant organs by means monthly...

Summary. Since 2007, when a grapevine decline caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae was reported for the first time in Sicily, vines showing similar declining symptoms have been also found other grape-growing areas of western and central Sicily. We report result study on fungi associated with particular regard to those belonging Botryosphaeriaceae . Four species were be vines, namely Diplodia seriata , sp., Neofusicoccum parvum vitifusiforme latter Vitis vinifera Italy.

Seeds of Abies nebrodensis were subjected to laboratory tests aimed detect fungal contaminants and obtain xenobiotic-free seedlings, by the use different surface sterilising agents. Moreover, hot water at 60 °C was used suppress any microorganisms colonizing inner tissues. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus Stemphylium vesicarium most frequent contaminants. Non-contaminated seeds showed germination values ranging from 0 36.4% depending on applied sterilization protocol. Further...

The complex structure of the plant cell wall makes it difficult to use biomass produced by biosynthesis. For this reason, search for new strains microorganisms capable efficiently degrading fiber is a topic interest. these reasons, present study aimed evaluate both microbiological and enzymatic characteristics fungus Curvularia kusanoi L7strain. this, its growth in different culture media was evaluated. Wheat straw mineralization evaluated gas chromatography assisted infrared spectroscopy....

Egg parasitoids are important natural enemies of several insect pests. The ability to kill the pest before it can inflict damage plant makes egg ideal candidates for biological control. Several studies have shown that exploit oviposition-induced volatiles (OIPVs) locate host eggs laid on organs. Yet such often overlooked that, in nature, plants frequently suffer concurrent attack by herbivores and phytopathogens. These dual attacks modify emission induced volatiles, which may potentially...

Field investigations carried out in a mixed forest of Fagus sylvatica and Taxus baccata the Nebrodi Natural Park (Sicily, southern Italy) allowed us to identify very rare lignicolous ascomycete Capnobotrys dingleyae, new species for Europe.