Nanoparticles and Chemical Inducers: A Sustainable Shield against Onion White Rot

This study investigated the effectiveness of nanoparticles and chemical inducers in managing onion white rot caused by Sclerotium cepivorum. The pathogen severely threatens onion cultivation, resulting in significant yield losses and economic setbacks. Traditional fungicides, though effective, raise environmental concerns, prompting a shift toward eco-friendly alternatives. In this study, four S. cepivorum isolates were utilized, each exhibiting varying degrees of pathogenicity, with the third isolate from Abu-Hamad demonstrating the highest potency. During the in vitro studies, three nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated, including Fe3O4 NPs, Cu NPs, and ZnO NPs, which demonstrated the potential to inhibit mycelial growth, with salicylic acid and Fe3O4 NPs exhibiting synergistic effects. In vivo, these nanoparticles reduced the disease incidence and severity, with Fe3O4 NPs at 1000-1400 ppm resulting in 65.0-80.0% incidence and 80.0-90.0% severity. ZnO NPs had the most positive impact on the chlorophyll content, while Cu NPs had minimal effects. At 1000 ppm, Fe3O4 NPs had variable effects on the phenolic compounds (total: 6.28, free: 4.81, related: 2.59), while ZnO NPs caused minor fluctuations (total: 3.60, free: 1.82, related: 1.73). For the chemical inducers, salicylic acid reduced the disease (10.0% incidence, 25.0% to 10.0% severity) and promoted growth, and it elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds in infected onions. Potassium phosphate dibasic (PDP) had mixed effects, and ascorbic acid showed limited efficacy toward disease reduction. However, PDP at 1400 ppm and ascorbic acid at 1000 ppm elevated the chlorophyll values and enhanced the phenolic compounds. Furthermore, this study extended to traditional fungicides, highlighting their inhibitory effects on S. cepivorum. This research provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of these approaches, emphasizing their potential in eco-friendly onion white rot management.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Eco-Friendly Management Approaches for Controlling Wheat Yellow Rust and Their Impact on Antioxidant Enzymes

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a destructive disease that causes significant yield losses in wheat production worldwide, including in Egypt. The use of biocontrol agents is among the best eco-friendly management strategies to control this disease, as they are more sustainable and environmentally friendly than traditional chemical control methods. In a comparative analysis, antioxidant enzyme activity and various management approaches were compared with two bacterial biocontrol agents, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida. This study showed the remarkable efficacy of endophytic bacteria, B. subtilis and P. putida, in mitigating wheat stripe rust infection across three wheat varieties, namely Misr1, Gimmeiza11, and Sids12. B. subtilis exhibited superior performance compared to P. putida, resulting in infection types of 1 and 2.66, respectively, following inoculation. The highest reduction rate was observed with Tilit fungicide (500 ppm), followed by B. subtilis and Salicylic acid (1000 ppm), respectively. Variations in wheat varieties' response to Pst infection were observed, with Misr1 exhibiting the lowest infection and Sids12 showing high susceptibility. Among the tested inducers, Salicylic acid demonstrated the greatest reduction in disease infection, followed by Indole acetic acid, while Oxalic acid exhibited the lowest decrease. Additionally, the study evaluated the activities of five antioxidant enzymes, including Catalase, Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POX), in the wheat-stripe rust interaction under different integrated management approaches. The wheat variety Misr1 treated with Tilit (500 ppm), B. subtilis, Salicylic acid, Montoro (500 ppm), and P. putida exhibited the highest increase in all enzymatic activities. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of B. subtilis and P. putida as biocontrol agents for wheat stripe rust control in Egypt, emphasizing their potential role in sustainable, integrated, and environmentally friendly management practices.